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Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands (east
of the Spanish mainland), is the largest city in Mallorca; the
population of the Palma municipality was approximately 380 000
at the beginning of 2004. Half the population of Mallorca lives
in the city of Palma.
The city occupies the north western end of a bay in the south
west of the island of Mallorca.
The name Palma dates back to the Roman settlement on the site
of the present city, although the area was originally settled
during the Bronze Age. In the early middle ages it was invaded
by Arabs, who named it Madina Mayurqa. In 1229 it was conquered
by King Jaime I, ruler of Valencia and Aragon, and became an
important trade city. Attacks by Turkish pirates in the 17th
century led to a century long decline, finishing when Charles
III opened trading with the Indies. Mallorcans call their city
La Ciutat (the city) in everyday talk.
Sites to see in Palma de Mallorca include:
- Castell
de Bellver: Bellver Castle is built on the ruins of a
Muslim site. It contains a museum of archaeological finds
and classical sculptures as well as having an excellent view
of the bay
- Catedral
de Mallorca
- Banys
Àrabs: The Arab bath building is the only building
in Palma dating to the Arab settlement. The baths were constructed
in the tenth century, and were sauna-style: the floor was
heated and water added to make the room steamy. A small courtyard
and the two rooms of the baths themselves are open to ten
people at a time.
- Museo de Arte Español Contemporáneo
- Palau De L'almudaina
- Basilica De Sant Francesc
Mallorca is also known for its pleasant climate, resorts and
warm sand beaches.
Summary derived in part from wikitravel.org
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