BALEARICS

Balearics (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are the islands which form the Balearics)

Country: The Balearic Islands (Belong to Spain)
Official Name The Balearic Islands
Capital City: Palma de Mallorca
Population 983,131
Language: Catalan and Spanish
Time Zone GMT +1 in winter and GMT+2 in summer

Independence March 1st 1983
National Holiday 3rd March
Currency Euro
Summer Temp: 27 º C
Winter Temp: 15º C
Ethnic Groups Spanish
Religions Roman Catholic
Location: South-Western Europe, island in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula

Area:
total: 4992sq km
land: 4992sq km
water: 0sq km
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1238km
Climate: temperate climate
Terrain: undulating hills, plateaus, and lowlands.
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: 0 m
highest point: Puig Major 1445m
Natural resources: fish,
Natural hazards: NA

The landscape of the Balearic Islands is characterized by woodlands, fertile plains, and coastlines with numerous sandy coves separated by craggy cliffs. Majorca is the largest of the Balearics, with an area of 3,640 sq km (1,405 sq mi). The Sierra del Norte mountain range runs along the northern coast of the island, rising to between 1,070 and 1,525 m (3,500 and 5,000 ft) in height. Minorca, the second largest island, covers an area of 702 sq km (271 sq mi). Mount Toro, in central Minorca, is the island’s highest peak, at 358 m (1,175 ft). Ibiza has a rugged, indented coastline some 210 km (130 mi) long. The island has an area of 570 sq km (220 sq mi), and the highest point, at 472 m (1,550 ft), is Atalaiassa. With an area of 93 sq km (36 sq mi), Formentera is the smallest inhabited island of the group and lies immediately to the south of Ibiza. Dense pine forests cover much of the interior of Ibiza and Formentera, and the islands are often called las islas Pitiusas (pine-covered islands).
At the southernmost tip of Ibiza and the northernmost tip of Formentera are large, ancient expanses of salt pans, which are protected as nature reserves. The surrounding salt marshes and coastal lagoons provide an ideal breeding ground for many species of water fowl. Cabrera, one of the smaller islets, is a national park—the Archipelago de Cabrera National Park, designated in 1991. The park is an important habitat for seabirds, as well as a number of rare birds of prey, including ospreys, storm petrels, and falcons.

The region’s capital is the city of Palma on Majorca. Other large settlements are Mahón, capital of Minorca, and an important seaport and air and naval base; Ibiza,capital of Ibiza Island; Manacor and Inca, both on Majorca; and Ciudadella de Menorca. San Francisco Javier is the principal settlement on Formentera.
The Balearic Islands are one of the Catalan-speaking territories designated by the cultural term of Catalan Countries. The main islands are Majorca (Mallorca), Minorca (Menorca), Ibiza (Eivissa), and Formentera, all popular tourist destinations. Among the minor islands is Cabrera, which is the location of the Parc Nacional de l'Arxipèlag de Cabrera. Majorca and Minorca are the Balearic Islands proper, while the other islands are included in the appelation as part of the Autonomous Community. The islands can be further grouped, with Majorca, Minorca, and Cabrera as the Gymnesian Islands, and Ibiza and Formentera as the Pine Islands.

Ancient history
Of the earliest inhabitants of the islands, we have scant history but many legends. Among the various traditions respecting their population, the story, preserved by Lycophron, that certain shipwrecked Boeotians were cast naked on the islands, which were therefore called Gymnesiae, was evidently invented to account for the name. There is also a tradition that the islands were colonized from Rhodes after the Trojan war
· Jam cui Tlepolemus sator, et cui Lindus origo, Funda bella ferens Balearis et alite plumbo.
At all events, the islands had a very mixed population, of whose habits several strange stories are told: that they went naked, or clothed only in sheep-skins until the Phoenicians clothed them with broad-bordered tunics; others make them naked only in the heat of summer. Other legends hold that the inhabitants lived in hollow rocks and artificial caves, that they were remarkable for their love of women, and, when any were taken captive by pirates, they would give three or four men as the ransom for one woman, that they had no gold or silver coin, and forbade the importation of the precious metals, so that those of them who served as mercenaries took their pay in wine and women instead of money.
In ancient times, the islanders of the Gymnesian Islands constructed talayots, and were famous for their skill with the sling. As slingers they served, as mercenaries, first under the Carthaginians, and afterwards under the Romans. They went into battle ungirt, with only a small buckler, and a javelin burnt at the end, and in some cases tipped with a small iron point; but their effective weapons were their slings, of which each man carried three, wound round his head, or, as others tell us, one round the head, one round the body, and one in the hand. The three slings were of different lengths, for stones of different sizes; the largest they hurled with as much force as if it were flung from a catapult; and they seldom missed their mark. To this exercise they were trained from infancy, in order to earn their livelihood as mercenary soldiers. It is said that the mothers only allowed their children to eat bread when they had struck it off a post with the sling.
The Phoenicians took possession of the islands in very early times; a remarkable trace of their colonization is preserved in the town of Mago (Mahon in Minorca). After the fall of Carthage, the islands seem to have been virtually independent. Notwithstanding their celebrity in war, the people were generally very quiet and inoffensive. The Romans, however, easily found a pretext for charging them with complicity with the Mediterranean pirates, and they were conquered by Q. Caecilius Metellus, then surnamed Balearicus, in 123 BC. Metellus settled 3,000 Roman and Spanish colonists on the larger island, and founded the cities of Palma and Pollentia. The islands belonged, under the Roman Empire, to the conventus of Carthago Nova (modern Cartagena), in the province of Hispania Tarraconensis, of which province they formed, the fourth district, under the government of a praefectus pro legato. An inscription of the time of Nero mentions the PRAEF. PRAE LEGATO INSULAR. BALIARUM. They were afterwards made a separate province, probably in the division of the empire under Constantine.
The two largest islands (the Balearic Islands, in their historical sense) had numerous excellent harbours, though rocky at their mouth, and requiring care in entering them (Strabo, Eustath.; Port Mahon is one of the finest harbours in the world). Both were extremely fertile in all produce, except wine and olive oil. They were celebrated for their cattle, especially for the mules of the lesser island; they had an immense number of rabbits, and were free from all venomous reptiles. Among the snails valued by the Romans as a diet, was a species from the Balearic isles, called cavaticae, from their being bred in caves.Their chief mineral product was the red earth, called sinope, which was used by painters.

Post Roman Empire
In the chaos surrounding the fall of the Roman Empire, the islands were conquered by the Vandals. Subsequent conquerors include: the Byzantines, the Arabs, and the Aragonese. The latter brutally settled the islands, mainly by Catalan population, virtually extinguishing the previous populations, and initially ruled the Balearics as the vassal Kingdom of Mallorca, but in 1344 this ceased to exist and it was directly incorporated into the Crown of Aragon, which was later united dynastically with Castile as a result of the marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, and formally absorbed into Spain by the Nueva Planta decrees after the War of Spanish Succession. Minorca was a British dependency most of the 18th century, a time in which the island was conquered and reconquered and traded by British, French and Spanish forces in several wars.

Food
Balearic traditional cuisine is deeply related to the concept of Mediterranean diet, this is, rich in vegetables, cereal and pulses, and poor in fats.
Typical foods
Unsalted bread
Ensaimada (lard cake)
Flaó (cottage cheese tart)
Coca (similar to Italian pizza but without cheese). Typically Majorcan varieties include Parsley (juliverd), roasted peppers (prebes torrats), trampó (tomato, green pepper and onion salad)
Easter cakes like panades (meat cakes) or robiols (cottage cheese cakes)
Tumbet (fried courgette, potato, aubergine and bell pepper baked in tomato sauce). Tumbet is related to similar Mediterranean gastronomical concepts like samfaina or ratatouille.
Fava parada, fava bean and vegetable pure
Traditional sausages like sobrassada Lamb and piglet roasts (mè rostit, porcella rostida)
Aubergines or courgettes stuffed with minced meat
Arròs brut (dirty rice): meat, game and vegetable spicy rice in a meat broth
Lobster casserole (caldereta)
Different baked fishes, like grouper (anfós)
Arròs de peix, rice cooked in a fish broth with fish bites
Maó cheese (cow cheese vaguely resembling Grana Padano or Parmesan). Red wines from the Binissalem and Pla i Llevant areas

Getting There
If your sole reason for visiting Spain is a trip to the Balearics, there's absolutely no financial reason to fly to the mainland first. You can often get affordable flights as part of a resort package. If you're already enjoying Spanish hospitality, however, the cheapest flights are usually out of Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia or Malaga. Once you're on the islands, you can often arrange a cheaper charter flight back to the mainland.

Another option is making the trip by boat. A speedy Buque rapido is operated by Trasmediterrànea (www.trasmediterranea.es). It's a catamaran and there's only one a day in the mid-and high season. None operate in winter. It takes about 3.75 hours and costs a hefty US$103-222. The same company also operate a 'fast ferry' between Valencia and Palma that stops in Ibiza en route. It takes 6.5 hours to Palma and 4.5 hours to Ibiza and costs the same as the catamaran. Again, it only functions in the mid- and high-seasons. The third option is the buque convencionale - a slow ferry that operates all year and costs US$254-292. These go from Barcelona to Palma every day (7hrs), and Valencia and Palma (7.5hrs) six times a week. Finally, there's a service on Balearia from Denia on the coast between Valencia and Alicante to Palma (5 or 9.5 hours depending on the type of ferry) via Ibiza (2-4hrs). It only operates in the mid-and high-seasons and costs US$73-104 to Palma and US$50-70 to Ibiza.
Prices are only a guide

Mallorca
Many key resorts along the East Coast of Majorca such as Cales de Mallorca (a relatively new Majorca resort), Cala Millor and Cala d'or are top family friendly hotspots. Family friendly all inclusive hotels abound, great for families with young children.
There are some superb Majorca beaches along this stretch of Majorca's east coast, all pretty much with Blue flags for quality. Plenty going on as well - Majorca attraction wise, if you fancy a spot of cave and cove visiting. Majorca golf courses are scatted all along the Mallorca east coast, so golf fans are well catered for! There's a more laid back feel to the East Coast of Majorca compared to the Bay of Palma resorts of Magalluf and Palma Nova.
Cala Rajada, Cala Mitjana & Cala Torta
This northern area of the East coast of Majorca and Cala Rajada is an established resort, with a laid back feel and actually more popular with French and German visitors than British. Recognised for it's jagged rocky coastline and many coves, it's a most attractive part of the East Majorcan coastline. The beaches are of the highest quality as well, most have been given Blue Flags. An important fact to note about the beaches here, especially Son Moll, is that a few metres out the sea waters shelve out quite deeply, so families with small children will need to be mindful. This stretch of the coast is more popular with older visitors looking for a laid back holiday.
Not all of the Majorca East Coast is full on traditional Majorca holiday resort territory! The stretch of the north east Majorca coastline around Cala Mesquida and Cala Agulla has been recognised for its special ecological and environment value. The area is a specially protected bird sanctuary, with beautiful pine forests overlooking the beach. The name of the game here is peace, quiet and seclusion! There's lots of opportunities for camping around Cala Torta, with a car park and picnic area near the beach there.
Cala Torta itself has a superb horseshoe shaped bay with beautiful sands, dunes and pine forests framing it. There's also a little beach bar. You can actually walk over the rock headland to Cala Mitjana which is even more isolated - no beach bars here.
Capdepera has many of the most beautiful beaches and coves on Majorca's east coast. The areas of Cala Ratjada, Cala Mesquida, Canyamel and Font de Sa Cala are prime tourist spots, with excellent beaches, and with the Arta Caves nearby which make a spectacular family day out. Check out also Capdepera Castle up from Capdepera market square. There's also a couple of excellent golf courses around Capdepera.
Cala Millor Family Holiday Resort
Cala Millor is situated in the East of Mallorca, in the municipal districts of Son Servera and Sant Llorenc about 60 kms from Palma de Mallorca and about 20 km from the town of Manacor. Cala Millor is most definitely the largest developed resort on the East coast of Majorca, and is renowned as a prime family holiday resort base, with a fine sandy quality beach which stretches for about 6km. The beach is probably the key reason for development of Cala Millor as a resort, as it's unusual to find one so long and sandy along this coastline of rocks, coves and caves. The bay of Cala Millor is particularly sheltered as well!
No shortage of key attractions here with shops aplenty, bars, laid back discos (rather than pumping house) and restaurants. The Beach at Cala Millor, more than 20 km long and, on average 50 m wide, with fine, clean sand and blue and clear waters, has in the last few years been awarded the Blue Flag! Great news.
There's local markets nearby for something different, held every Friday in nearby Son Servera. Or branch out to Arta, or to Manacor for some outlet shopping.
For the lighter side of the area, try nearby Cala Bona. Hey up, they like a challenge British tourists, and Cala Bona fits the bill with it's narrow streets, and urr rather interesting driving conditions. Honk those horns! Cala Bona is not a holiday resort, rather a small traditional fishing village welcoming many tourist visitors who usually base themselves in nearby Cala Millor. The town today still has its original narrow streets, which from a drivers point of view can be a absolute nightmare to navigate without incurring the wrath of another drivers horn, along with a small working harbour, around which you'll find a wide variety of open air cafes and bars. Cala Bona is a firm favourite with British visitors.
Porto Cristo
You can reach Porto Cristo from Manacor, it's about 8 miles east of Manacor. There's a rather posh marina here, set within an attractive bay. Boat trips are available from here, plus there's plenty of shops and restaurants on the little promenade here. A slower pace, and less crowded. It's a handy spot for lunch as well if you're exploring the nearby caves.
Cala d'or
Cala d'Or has become a major Majorca tourist resort along the east coast of Majorca. It's actually a cluster of several resorts around little coves and inlets. Cruisers and yachts moor around the scattering of marinas. Cala Longa is the largest marina, which serves to split Cala d'Or in two so to speak. Cala d'Or sits within the municipal district of Santanyi on the southern half of the east coast of Majorca, about 40 miles from Palma. It was once a small fishing village, not no more though! It's billed as a 'posh' resort. If you're based at Cala D'or it's well worth taking a short trip inland for the charming Mallorca town of Santanyi which is crammed with delightful specialist shops, cafes and an attractive central church and square.
There's no shortage of good shops, restaurants, bars and clubs in Cala D'or. It's well worth considering arranging a Majorca car rental if you're staying in Cala D'or, which is only a short drive away from Palma Airport. You've the option then of pushing out to explore many of the key attractions along the East Coast of Majorca, including Arta coves, beautiful Felanitx and Arta to the north.
Cales de Mallorca
Cales de Mallorca is a modern purpose built resort on the east coast of Majorca, relatively new and perhaps a little thrown up hence the lack of established attractions you'll find in longer serving resorts like Cala Millor. All the same, it's an excellent Majorca family holiday choice with many of the hotels offering all-inclusive packages so you have everything at your hotel base. Good news for families with young kids. Cales de Mallorca sits approximately 70km or 44 miles away from Palma and Palma International airport. The resort is part of Manacor district, and the nearest inland town is actually Felanitx. Cales de Mallorca has a laid back family friendly feel as resorts on Majorca go. It's quiet, pretty relaxed and fairly self-contained, and makes a good base to explore the rest of the east coast of Mallorca. Majorca car hire is recommended if you're staying in this resort as public transport is sparse!
Beach fans will not be disappointed by Cales de Mallorca, which has three small sandy coves called Cala Antena, Cala Domingos Grans and Cala Domingos Petis. There's a selection of watersports and typical Majorca beach activities including pedalos. For families with young children especially, please be aware that on this stretch of the coast around Cales de Mallorca the sea does have strong undercurrents, and may not be suitable for poor swimmers or children. Cala Domingos is the largest beach, and this beach has been awarded the European Blue flag for cleanliness. It does get crowded in peak summer periods, as it's only 100m long!
Amenities are reasonable in this East Majorca resort, but lean towards the all inclusive Majorca hotel holiday, where you'll find most of the entertainment in Cales de Mallorca actually going on within the hotels which often suits families anyway! Other amenities are growing, and at present there's a reasonable selection of bars and shops centred mainly around the Centro Commercial. Check on booking that your hotel has all the amenities you need, as you may not find them elsewhere in the resort as yet! Most evening entertainment is hotel based, again which may suit many families. Laid back live music bars are growing though. If you're feeling adventurous, check out the superb Sunday morning market at the nearby town of Felanitx, considered by many to be one of the best in Majorca.

Move to the West of Majorca, and expect a different picture from the resorts around the Bay of Palma!
Ready for rugged coastlines, beautiful scenery practically untouched by tourism apart from a few hotspots, a literary history including a few expat Brits such as 'Goodbye to All That' Robert Graves who located himself in idyllic Deia, a nature park in the form of an island - Sa Dragonera which is a real haven for birdwatchers and pine forest hills with crystal blue sea waters. It's all here in West Mallorca.
West Majorca Key Resorts
North Majorca around the Pollenca Bay and the Bay of Alcudia are top Mallorca hotspots for all-inclusive family holidays. Perfect for families with young children, North Majorca is more laid back than the South, especially in peak summer season. It's all here for families around Alcudia - a choice of all-inclusive Majorca family holiday hotels with kids clubs and swimming pools galore, a great Majorca waterpark, blue flag Majorca beaches and all your typical family holiday resort amenities such as holiday shops, great family restaurants and chillded bars and lots of Majorca day trips perfect for families, such as pottering around Pollenca, taking a boat trip perhaps over to Menorca or cycling along the coast or at the S'Albufera Nature reserve.
Another of Majorca's most popular day trips is to the North - the sublime Lluc Monastery, well worth a look! There are lots of nature trails and walking to be had too around this monastery. North Majorca golf couldn't be better, with a choice of golf courses around Alcudia.
Key resorts and visiting points on the west side of Majorca include classic resorts, which do have very good sandy beaches, such as Santa Ponca in the South West and Peguera which is rather popular with German visitors. Camp de Mar, rather popular with celebrities such as Claudia Schiffer and Michael Schumacher, is pretty attractive. You're looking at some spectacular walking country on the west side of Majorca. Why not take a walk up to the ruined monastery of La Trapa for the best views down onto Sa Dragonera.
Pollenca at the Northern tip of Mallorca's Tramuntana mountains is a special location indeed. It's the perfect base from which to explore not just Lluc Monastery, but also Port de Pollenca, the S'Albufera wetlands, the Formentor Peninsula and the northern Majorca beaches around the Bay of Alcudia. Pollenca has rather a few spectacular churches, 3 in all including Nostra Senyora dels Angels, Nostra Senyora del Roser and the 16th century baroque Convent de sant Domingo which doubles up as the Pollenca Museum.
Pollenca's main square is a hive of activity, great people watching base, with ample cafes and bars. Watch out for the Roman stone bridge at the Northern edge of the town, which runs across the Torrent de Sant Jordi and was built about AD120. The name Pollenca originates from the Roman Pollentia, and Pollenca has remained pretty untouched by tourist crowds. In recent years it's become somewhat of a Majorca specialist shopping mecca. There's a rather lively Sunday market here.
Pollenca's Via Crucis or Way of the Cross
A key attraction in Pollenca is the Via Crucis, a walk which leads to the Calvari Chapel on top of the hills. Inside the chapel is a Gothic statue of Christ. You've a bit of a climb to reach it, 365 steps in total, passing various Stations of the Cross. Every Good Friday, if you fancy catching something rather special, they carry the statue of Christ down to the parish church in torchlight procession.
The Museau Municipal at the Convent de Santo Domingo has an interesting collection of Gothic sacred art, various archaeological finds from the area and a collection of paintings, with a nod to folklore. Head for the central square Placa Major after your hard climb for a selection of cafes and bars.
Pollenca Festival
Every year in July and August Pollenca has a lively festival with a mixture of classical concerts. They have some pretty top notch artists performing in this festival. Past festivals have included performances by the London Symphony Orchestra and in 2004 guest artists included Dame Felicity Lott the soprano, and Boris Berezovsky on the piano. Advanced booking is highly recommended as this is a most popular festival in Mallorca. Check the web link to the right for details.
The town of Alcudia has become a real hub within the Bay of Alcudia in Northern Majorca. Every Tuesday and Sunday tourists pour in particularly to visit the bustling market on these days, which offers a selection of clothes, handicrafts, ceramics and fruit and veg. Alcudia itself has a large old town surrounded by a low wall. This is an attraction to many who come to wander around the charming narrow cobbled streets and relax in the many cafes and restaurants. You'll find a few souvenir shops in Alcudia too! Transfer time from Palma airport is only bout one hour and 40 minutes, and Alcudia is increasingly a favourite with families who prefer the quieter pace, the pleasant beaches and the many bars, shops and cafes along the Bay of Alcudia. The nightlife has a more laid back, family friendly feel, and the beaches have warm shallow water in Alcudia Bay, most convenient for families with young children. The beaches within the Bay of Alcudia are a key attraction here, with fine, clean sand with a varied menu of water sports and other facilities. You're guaranteed never to be far away from a bar or restaurant, again most convenient for family holidays in Majorca.
There is a little religious museum in the church of Sant Jaume in Alcudia well worth a look. The building dates from the 13th century, but was reworked in a neo-Gothic style in the 1880s. Roman history abounds around the Bay of Alcudia, (the Romans made Alcudia the capital of the island) and you'll discover lots of information about the Romans in Alcudia in the Museu Monografic de Pollentia with things like coins and tombstones unearthed in excavations which have been going on since the 1920s.
Alcudia & Alcudia Bay.
Check out the 17th century shrine, situated about 4 and a half miles outside of Alcudia. You'll find a few Virgin images here, and the shrine called Ermita de la Victoria, situated on the road from Alcudia to Cap d'es Pinar (you can't unfortunately enter the Cap as it's a military zone!). Park up for the shrine after passing some small beaches, in a large marked car park. A good time to go is the 1st and 2nd July when the Mare de Deu de la Victoria extravaganza is celebrated. They whoop it up with bunyols which are potato doughnuts, and mistella which is a superb Mallorcan alcoholic drink. There's live music and so forth. Many join one of the many superb walks out from Ermita into the hills and the peaks of Penya Rotja and Talaia d'Alcudia.
Alcudia Bay Nightlife
You're certainly not short of good restaurants, bars and cafes in this area. Many are located along the beaches, but you'll find some great ones in the old town in Alcudia as well! The mix of traditional tourist resort amenities adjacent to one of the most varied eco-systems in the Med, S'Albufera nature reserve, is a little weird. Increasingly development in this area is a most sensitive issue. The beaches along the Bay of Alcudia, particularly around Can Picafort and Colonia de Son Serra are most pleasant, and kept in very good order, with clean promenades and so forth.
Nightlife in Port d'Alcudia is certainly the main centre in the north for after hours entertainment. The discos are more laid back up here though, and have a more Majorca family leaning in contrast to South Majorca resorts such as Magaluf and Palmanova. Many of the hotels and self catering apartment complexes around the Bay of Alcudia offer Mallorca all-inclusive family holidays, which means much of the entertainment is based within your holiday complex. Perfect for families.
Playa de Muro is a little like Cales de Mallorca further down the east coast of Majorca. Both these Majorca resorts are fairly new. It's probably a good idea to have a Majorca hire car if you're located at Playa de Muro, as it's a bit stuck in the middle of the Bay of Alcudia.
Can Picafort is a small and friendly Majorca resort with real character on the eastern tip of the beautiful Bay of Alcudia. Can Picafort offers all the traditional Mallorca resort facilities, including superb sandy beaches, go-karting, lots of shops and bars and water-sports.
You get a little extra though. Easy access to the S'Albufera Wetlands nature park, various historical sites to visit nearby including the Son Real Necropolis, and Can Picafort has an annual fiesta/festival which sits right up there with the best of Mallorca festivals. Most suitable for families with older children, and those who want a bit more than just a Majorca beach holiday.
Can Picafort nearby attractions include the iron age pre-historic Iron Age/Roman burial ground of Son Real Necropolis, known also as the Cemetery of the Phoenicians. It's only a short 20 minute walk from the Son Baulo beach. Check out also medieval farmsteads at Son Real and la Alquiería, as well as the nearby Rectory and Parish Church in Santa Margalida dating from the 16th century.

Serra de Tramuntana Mountains Trekking Cycling
Move into West Majorca for exellent Mallorca walking and cycling holidays. The Serra de Tramuntana range offers some of the Mediterranean's finest mountain scenery and is a world away from the Majorca resort crowds. Why not visit Mallorca in autumn and spring when the weather is cooler, and ideal for both walking and cycling.
Some of the best walking country in Majorca is on the West Coast upto the North and the stunningly beautiful Serra de Tramuntana mountains. A good starting point is Soller, with it's rugged coast. You can catch the scenic railway from Palma to Soller. From Soller branch out to amazing coastal locations like Deia. There are coastal paths along this stretch of coast in Majorca. Move upto the Serra de Tramuntana, essentially taking in Cuber Lake.

Rural Mallorca West
Not all of Majorca's appeal at a top holiday destination is found on the coast! Move inland to Central Majorca and the delights of Mallorca's wine region around the Binisssalem area. Rural Mallorca to the west is Tramuntana mountain territory, offering dramatic coastal and mountain walking around Deia and challenging Majorca mountain cycling holidays. Deia has a selection of marvellous specialist shops and Mallorcan restaurants where al fresco dining is on the menu, admiring mountain views and sipping fine Mallorca wine!
Move towards Valldemossa for more dramatic mountain scenery, plus one of the most popular day trips on Majorca - Charterhouse - where George Sand and Chopin spent a rather disarsterous wet winter in their cell! (see George Sand's book 'Winter in Mallorca' for the full picture!). Stunning cultural rural Mallorca towns such as Soller and Arta are highly recommended, offering a choice of chic cafes, specialist shops, churches, Mallorca castles and a taste of the real Mallorca. Take the scenic train trip from Palma de Mallorca to Soller through the mountains - the perfect Majorca day trip for something a little different.
Deia firmly retains it's Mallorca historic charm. Coaches cannot stop here! British poet and author, Robert Graves loved Deia so much he settled here. In the late 1800s visitors first began to arrive in Deia, and since then this beautiful 'back to the sea' village has always been a favourite of artists, writers, musicians and celebrities.
Nearby Soller is perfect for Majorca window shopping. Head for Placa Constitucio, the lively and bustling main square in Soller. It's a most attractive square in which to relax, with a surround of mature trees, a few fountains and lots of great people watching cafe bases. Adjacent to the square is the spectacular church of Sant Bartomeu. Arta is Mallorcan through and through. For history, churches, fine Mallorcan food and a rather interesting annual festival, the Festa de Sant Antoni Abat, held every January you won't find better on Majorca.
Central Majorca, for example around Inca, offers some superb opportunities to enjoy great Majorca shopping, and sample some of the best Mallorca wines. Some may presume that all Majorca has to offer is on the coast. Well, you'd be mistaken and for the real Majorca one has to head inland a little! Central Majorca holds a thriving agricultural community growing fruit, wheat and vines to the east and west producing internationally renowned Mallorca wines.
For the best markets you should head to Es Pla (the plains). There's the odd luxury hotel and villa inland as well, and a few surprise centres such as Inca, renowned for it's leather production and Majorca shopping outlets including 'Land of Leather' and a huge Camper Shoes Warehouse (bargains here!). Santa Maria del Cami in central Majorca is famous for it's wine production. Lloseta to the south east of Soller is famous for it's cloth and it's shoes and Alaro close to Lloseta produces beautiful Mallorca ceramics.
Fine Dining Central Majorca
Easily accessible from both Palma de Mallorca and the Bay of Palma resorts such as Magaluf and S'Arenal, the Binissalem Mallorca wine region is situated in the centre of Majorca and consists of the municipalities of Santa Maria del Camí, Binissalem, Sencelles, Consell and Santa Eugénia. Perhaps one of the best known wine producers on Majorca is Bodega de Jose Luis Ferrer, situated on the southern tip of Binissalem. You can visit this vineyard, and many more in the region. Most have shops where you can purchase these superb wines.
For Mallorca fine food check out the area around Inca! You'll discover quite a few old wine cellars, now converted into charming restaurants in Inca. See also Algaida and Randa, both are superb locations for fine Mallorcan dining and Mallorcan wine. There are many cellars, and people visiting local sanctuaries around Llucmajor often frequent them, as do many Palma residents. Check out the 17th century convent Es Eco de Randa Hotel & Restaurant on C/Font 13, in Randa. This is a superb dining venue with terraces and beautiful gardens and a large dining room. In winter they have roaring open fires going and oil lamps. Expect traditional Majorcan fare here, with suckling pig and so forth.
Head into central Mallorca for the best of Mallorcan traditional food. Now then, we're really coming to Mallorcan cuisine supremo. In Santa Maria check out the Tompe L'oeil, with famous chef Marc Fosh who has a healthy living edge to his exquisite creations. Ever tried truffles, well you can get them here.
The Bay of Palma is split in two by most tourist information guidebooks on Majorca. They put the Brits on the west side of the bay, with the Germans prefering the East side. There's been much criticism of this part of Majorca, particularly around the rush to build high rise hotels in the 1960s and 1970s, making resorts like Magaluf and Palma Nova look like a concrete public toilet. Well, that's only a little of the story. Fact is, people who hit these Majorca resorts, to the west the youth holiday market seeking all things beer and clubland, to the east more popular with families who are heading for one of the best beaches on the island, simply love this part of Majorca and come back time and time again.
The municipality of Calvia has become rather rich from the tourist visitors to Magaluf, Palma Nova, Santa Ponsa, S'Arenal and C'an Pastilla, and they've been putting money back into these resorts as well, so expect pristine clean beach promenades, lovely clean fine sandy blue flag beaches and a friendly choice of bars and restaurants.
Magaluf and Palma Nova Not 'alf Bad!
Yes, Magaluf and Palma Nova are hot and sizzling Spanish versions of Blackpool during peak Majorca summer holiday season, but this is what Majorca holidaymakers are seeking, or to put it bluntly a vast choice of nightlife including some of the best known clubs on the Med, hundreds of bars, lots of restaurants including familiars, a superb standard of sandy beaches with ample watersports including wind surfing, water skiing, and more and of course lots of cheap bargain shops.
Oh, not to mention a few waterparks, go-karting, mini golf and all the rest. This part of the bay is becoming rather popular with stag weekends Magaluf style, and for long weekend Magaluf and Palmanova nightclub breaks! To book you cheap flghts to Majorca for Magaluf Stag weekends and Palmanova hen weekends, check out the cheap flight booking website links to the right.
Quieter Majorca Resorts in the Bay of Palma
Cala Portals Vells Cove is a rather beautiful spot south of Magaluf. There's a few lovely little beaches here, one of which happens to be a nudist beach. It is located between Cape Falco and Cape de Cala Figuera. Portals Vells is an inlet with three small beaches, one of them is nudist, the one known as El Mago (the Wizard), is the closest one to the Sol de Mallorca wharf. This is a great coastal strip for birds as marine sea birds nest here. You can reach Cala Portals Vells by taking the motorway towards Palmanova following the road in the direction of Andratx to the first roundabout turning to the left, the road sign Cap Cala Figuera appears. A top tip for pleasurable walking is to hike to El Faro de Cala Figuera (the Lighthouse) and visit the mares quarry caves on the right bank, where an image of the virgin can be found in its interior.
Illetes is situated on the side of the mountain, descending towards the sea and Cas Catala Illetes is a combination of tourist resort and residential area. Because of its location, very near to the city of Palma de Mallorca and the airport, this is one of the most propitious areas for holding large events such as congress and conventions. Illetes takes its name from the group of three 'small islands' (Iilletes in Catalan), sa Torre, s'Estenedor, and sa Caleta, buried deep in an area which is recognized as a true haven of peace.
Peguera, a key West Mallorca resort, is particularly popular with German visitors. It benefits from three superb sandy beaches, the usual Majorca resort facilities of ample bars, shops and restaurants, and it's a West Mallorca base with easy access to the dramatic scenery running up the C710 west coast.
Santa Ponca
Santa Ponca Beach is located at the bottom of the bay of the same name. King James I's troops landed here when the conquest of Majorca began under Arab dominion. A stone cross was erected in 1929 to mark the occasion! (it's been rebuilt since then as was struck by lightening). Santa Ponca beach is extremely pleasant and has achieved a Blue Flag qualification from the European Union, signifying it's quality. You can reach this beach from Palma along the motorway until it ends. Afterwards follow the dual carriageway until you arrive at the Santa Ponca windmill roundabout, you circle it and continue along the King James I Avenue to the Santa Ponca Square.
Peguera has a especial microclimate, which makes this area one of the most frequented by visitors in winter. Its dense pine groves and beaches take on a special beauty at different times of day and in different seasons. The area also offers a wide range of shops, most of them situated in the promenade which crosses Peguera, known as El Bulevar. On the edge of Peguera lies Cala Fornells, a tranquil refuge of typical Mediterranean beauty, dotted with two small coves that create a unique, very Mediterranean atmosphere.
The landing of King James is rather celebrated in these 'ere parts. Must have been pretty horrific at the time. The festivity commemorates the landing of the Catalan troops, under the command of King James, on 9th September 1229. Around this date in September lots of events take place, of which the most emblematic is the representation of the actual landing and the battle between the Christians and the Sarracens on Santa Ponca beach. There's a lot of these reinacted battles usually with Christians involved across the Mediterranean.
Magaluf on the west side of the Bay of Palma is a clubland/nightlife mecca resort in Majorca, with a real tongue in cheek character. Both Magaluf and Palma Nova evolved out of the post 1960s tourist boom, and today they really are on the list of top youth clubbing holiday nightlife destinations. Both are very good value for money vacation package holiday destinations. Extremely British, with Brit Bars all along the coastline here so yep it's like a home from home with the heat! And there's a real 'tongue in cheek' friendly feel to both Magaluf and Palma Nova, two Majorca resorts which kind of blend into one. There all here, Eastenders Bar, the Prince William Pub and the big clubs like BCM Magaluf. They kind of laugh at themselves these resorts, and they're friendly with it. Many miss the joke, but not the many that return year after year. Let it all hang out! Magaluf and Palma Nova quieten down out of the peak summer season, and make good laid back Majorca holiday destinations in late spring and early autumn!
Bonus, is the superb stretch of sandy beaches along this west coast of Palma Bay. Lots of bars, lots of clubs, lots of watersports sitting a-top of a giant bananna and so forth, plus waterparks, go-karting, mini golf, Macdonalds, Burger King, larger and cocktails on tap 24/7. Other water sports in abundance include paracending, doughnuting, Kite Surfing and jet skiing. Sound like your idea of heaven, is for many. Palma Nova and Magaluf are becoming increasingly popular with long-weekenders and stag and hen parties, with only an hours transfer time from the airport, or just 15 minutes by taxi, plus a short flight of just over two hours and lots of cheap deals.
Palma Nova
Palma Nova, along with Magaluf, has the advantage of being quite close to Palma Airport. An increasingly popular option is picking up your car hire Majorca at Palma Airport, then carting yourself along to your resort. Cheap car hire is on the menu in the Balearic Islands, so this is definitely a good option. Now then, there are a few Majorca travel guidebooks that suggest it's an easy drive to Palma Nova from Palma Airport. Well, it's quick for sure but driving along the coast road passing Palma Cathedral and the Palma Port can be nerve racking, especially when you're getting used to a new car.
Take the drive slow, there's quite a lot of building work going on in Palma at the moment so watch your lanes and keep on the coast road. The drive is easy once you get past Palma, and a good tip is to follow signs for Cala Mayor, and then just keep going until you get to Palma Nova and Magaluf. Once you've driven through Palma in your hire car, driving around the rest of Majorca will seem like a doddle! If you've opted for the all inclusive package holiday deal and are hopping on the coach then obviously this won't apply, and Palma Nova is the perfect family holiday or slightly more laid back Majorca resort option in comparison with neighbouring club bustling Magaluf.
Palma Nova quietens down even more during the winter months so do bear in mind that many clubs and bars will close during this period. But at this different seasonal point it's the perfect base to branch out from and explore Mallorca, especially the dramatic landscape of West Mallorca. Palma Nova, like Magaluf, has a superb sandy beach and one disco which runs on until the early hours. Palma Nova is probably like opting for Lytham St Annes to Blackpool, you're right next door to all the clubs and lively bars and restaurants of Magaluf, but you can leave that behind for a day or two and stay in Palma Nova for quieter bars and a quieter beach.
Palma Nova is a great cheaper base to consider if you're interested in pushing back into Palma de Mallorca, the capital of Majorca. Buses run from Palma Nova to Palma every half hour or so and only take about 30 minutes. (avoid driving into Palma, take the excellent and cheap bus service!!).
Palma Nova Bars
Palma Nova, along with Magaluf sit firming within the Med dance tour firmament, and much of the criticism which hits holiday resorts like this has been seen before. The criticism is to do with class, think Blackpool. Both resorts, Palma Nova and Magaluf, now really merge into one so you've easy access to all Magaluf has to offer. Palma Nova itself is more bar and restaurant land, with only one disco. Perfect for families seeking easy access to all that's on offer in the Bay of Palma, but a quieter less club noise rich Majorca resort base.
It's not just the music, sunshine, glorious sandy beaches and watersports that attract such a large number of people, not just young people I might add, to these two resorts. They are cheap, with pints going at around £2, in over 100 bars. Eating out is easy in Palma Nova, with cheap being the key word, and meals only setting you back about £12. Many of the bars serve snacks American style, and these bars stay open til 7am in the morning. All your recognisable favourites are there as well for quick grabs, including Macdonalds and Burger King. You can find a good range here though, contrary to perceptions there's a good mix of Spanish and English traditional food.
The permanent population of the Balearic Isles is over 700,000 and almost half of this figure live in the capital of Majorca and the Balearic Isles, Palma. Palma is modern, it's developing, more museums and art galleries are emerging, and the atmosphere of the city is cosmopolitan, somewhat a surprise perhaps. Take in the breathtaking architecture which reflects the city's heritage. There's a mix of influences including in the Majorca Baths the last vestiges of Arab influence, and there is Jewish influence. It's all in the architecture, from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture of its churches, convents and manor homes. Notable Palma attractions include the enormous and dramatic gothic cathedral of Mallorca, the Majorca baths of Moorish origin, the Almudaina Palace, the gothic Bellver Castle and not forgetting the exquisite Sa Llotja, a 15th century building with turrets designed by Guillem Sagrera who also worked on the design of the cathedral in Palma.
Palma is the seat of the Regional Authority for the Balearics, which have regional independence from Spain. The Spanish Royal family are rather partial to Palma, as are various celebrities. Tourists still generally bypass Palma, although all will catch the spectacularly designed Palma Airport, heading straight for that glorious sandy beach, but increasingly Palma is attracting attention and so it should, this city is a real cultural mecca.

History of Palma de Majorca
The History of Palma de Majorca is diverse, and it's difficult to know where to start. Palma has been touched by history, including Moorish, and Roman roots, so there's an array of ornate buildings for viewing including of course the gothic cathedral, looming large overlooking the harbour and the Majorca Baths. Gaudi famously designed the Baldachin in Palma Cathedral with ceremonial canopy, lights and a multi-coloured crucifix suspended from the main alter of the cathedra. A truly magical visual experience. Check out also the royal palace and some art galleries and museums to die for. The latest addition on the art gallery front is the Es Baluard, Palma's Contemporary and Modern Art Museum.
Palma's museum of modern art is set on the ancient fort known as El Baluarte de San Pedro, within a charming Palma enclave. This area of Palma is experiencing some serious urban renewal, and the area is a beautiful public space with outdoor terraces, and a mix of modern and ancient architecture. Great views across towards the castle and bay as well! The building is still developing, but the exhibition is open, and is most important as it's the first fully fledged display of twentieth-century Majorcan artwork. Most of the work is by native Majorcan artists or by visiting artists. No doubt something to do with the sublime light and landscapes on Majorca. There's an international flavour here as well, with a comprehensive journey through twentieth-century art, nodding simultaneously to avant-garde art and young native artists.
The Parc de la Mar evolved in the 1960s and stretches from the southern section of Palma's city walls and Ronda Litoral to Badia de Palma. This park was designed by Josep Lluis Sert and renowned 20th century artist Joan Miro. See the cathedral reflected in a man-made lake, and a giant Miro mural - pure pleasure, and free! Lots of Palma attractions and activities are based within the Avingudas, the Avenues.
Getting around in Palma couldn't be easier than on foot. Cars not recommended here, and best left in one of the many car parks, for example the central Parc de la Mar one. Buses are particularly good and there are a number of bus routes running along the Passeig Maritim. Hop on the number 2 to the centre of the old city, or the number 15 along Platja de palma to S'Arenal, or the number three to the Joan Miro Museum in Cala Major. There are a selection of tourist buses as well which run every 20 minutes. For late night party goers there's a night bus as well which is really handy for bobbing about. Taxis, unlike in the UK, are cheap and there are a lot of them so this is another option. Ranks are scattered about the city, including one at the bottom of Avda d'Antoni Maura, one on Passeig d'es Born and one in Placa Weyler.
Eating and Drinking in Palma
Eating and drinking in Palma is about choice, and whats more choice from an impressive number of excellent restaurants serving everything from traditional Majorcan food to simple tapas. There's a selection of international restaurants as well as a huge number of delectable cafes - coffee is serious stuff here, as are hot chocolates and ensaimadas.
Check out the many restaurants with outdoor tables under arcades centred around the Placa Major which is the major central square in Palma. There's a variety of arts and crafts stalls, accompanied by live entertainment in this 19th century square, and a few souvenir shops dotted about.
Palma Tourist Information
The city council of Palma de Mallorca and the Council of Tourism offer a selection of cultural guided tours of Palma. These make a superb start if you're new to Palma de Majorca. Expert guides will escort you to various well known sites such as the Majorca Baths and Palma Cathedral. These tours will give you the chance to really get your bearings, then you can scoot off on your own to discover more of this cultural marvel of a city. Well worth a go! Check with Palma Tourist Information centre. The guided tours are ever so cheap as well, just 6 or 7 Euros.
The tours are quite specialised. Why not do them all. Choose from The City and the Sea, just 6 Euros. This tour takes you on a journey of Palma de Majorca's port, and it's maritime history. A must is the Jewish Quarter Tour, just 6 Euros again. This tour takes you around one of the most important Jewish areas in the whole of the Mediterranean, and includes a trip to the Museo de Mallorca - superb. Explore the modernist architecture in Palma de Majorca, and hop on the Modernism in Palma tour for just 7 Euros. The meeting point for these tours is the Placa de la Reina (Miro sculpture), and the duration is estimated for all at 2 hours. Tel: 00 34 636430 000 for information and booking from 9am to 6pm. For dates of tours see the Palma de Majorca website. All tour dates are guaranteed, and a selection of the tours run in Spanish, English and German.
Playa de Palma is kind of a bridge between Can Pastilla and El Arenal, and a great little Majorca resort in it's own right. It's ideally placed close to Palma de Mallorca, so if you're looking for a location with a Majorca resort feel and great beach, yet with easy access (you can walk to Palma centre) into Palma de Mallorca with it's marvellous shops, art galleries and museums, then Playa de Palma is for you. It's close to Palma Airport too, so transfer time to accommodation is short!
Playa de Palma offers the same great holiday facilities as C'an Pastilla and El Arenal, including a superb long sandy beach, and ample bars, restaurants, shops and all inclusive hotels. All these Majorca Bay of Palma east coast resorts offer a cheaper Majorca accommodation base with easy access to cultural hotspot Palma de Majorca, the Balearics capital, and an easy and cheap Majorca accommodation base to branch out from and explore the rest of Mallorca out of season. In season Playa de Palma is a popular, family friendly laid back Mallorca beach holiday.
C'an Pastilla, an attractive little Majorca resort is situated down the east side of the Bay of Palma. There's definitely a bit more of a family holiday feel to the East coast of the Bay of Palma, although nightlife, superb sandy beaches, an array of watersports and the biggest Waterpark in Europe also just happen to be on the menu! Bit more popular with the Germans they say (is there an arrangement? West coast British, East Coast German. Dig around and both West and East are a mix really, and you'll not run short of British bars on the East side!) The pace is perhaps a little slower than the West side of the Bay of Palma. A clean and pleasent promenade walkway links C'an Pastilla to S'Arenal, for those leisurely strolls and struttings and a friendly feel with a mix of German and British bars and restaurants running along the promenade make C'an Pastilla the perfect Majorca resort option, and definitely the quickest check-in time to your acommodation from Palma Airport.
C'an Pastilla is very close to Palma Airport, so if you like watching planes take off then hey, this is the spot. You get used to it after a while and it's quite entertaining. Out of season, for example early Spring many older Spanish visit these Majorca resorts. C'an Pastilla and S'Arenal, with their less in your face resort approach make perfect bases for both families and older visitors
Aqualand El Arenal is located near the El Arenal beach in the south of the island of Mallorca. It offers visitors the opportunity to spend an unforgettable day with their families and friends enjoying state of the art attractions such as the Tsunami, the Grand Canyon and the Devil's Tail. Also, three great areas for the tots, the Mini Park, the Dragoland and Polynesia. Relax at the end of the day on our fantastic green lawns and in the Jacuzzi.

Menorca
Talayotic settlements are everywhere in Menorca, particularly in the south east corner of this Balearic Island. Many Talayot settlements are extremely intact. Talayot is a pre-historic period, and one in which much activity was afoot it appears in Menorca! Human settlement in Menorca has been verified right back to the Bronze Age (2000 BC) and this period is the pre-Talayotic period which left various burial monuments such as megalithic tombs and collective tombs called navetas. The best known of these is the Naveta de Tudons. Towards 1400 B.C. this period evolved into the Talayotic period dated between 2000 and 1000 BC, significant for it's production of various large stone constructions known as talayots. Talayots is derived from the arabic word atalaya which means watchtower. It is this prehistoric period, and the many Talayotic contructions produced as a result that attracts so many visitors to Menorca.
Talayot Settlements Menorca
One of the most magnificent and famous Talayot settlements on Menorca is Trepuco near Mao, but there are approximately 1,6000 megalithic sites across the island, mostly in rural locations, and with a greater concentration in the south on the more fertile plains - makes sense for some of the earliest settlements to be located here! There's a superb very well preserved Taula in Trepuco. Taulas are signficant to the Talayotic period and are two slabs of rock, with another placed on top of them in a T shape, much like the structures at Stonehenge. Mind you, you can see a 10 foot (3m) high taula at Talati de Dalt settlement to the west of Mao
Other features significant to these settlements are talayot circular or square buildings. Nobody knows for sure their original use, but various ideas are on the table such as their function as tombs, guard-houses, meeting places or perhaps living quarters. Navetas can also be seen. These have a shape like an upturned boat and there are about 10 accross Menorca. These were almost certainly dwellings.
The key Talayotic sites across the island include Trepuco and Talati de Dalt near Mao, Torretrencada, Torre Llafuda and Naveta d'es Tudons to the west near Ciutadella. Most prolific are those on the west, including Torre d'en Gaumes and Torralba d'en Salord. Torre d'en Gaumes is the largest
From Trepuco just a kilometre south of Mao move on to Torralba d'en Salort off the road to Alaior. This settlement is extremely well preserved, and has a tall taula set within a sanctuary and no less than two pretty intact talayots. Push on to see the two navetas at Rafal Rubi.
Talati de Dalt Settlement
This Talayotic site is the most intact and popular on Menorca. You can see why with it's large taula and defensive wall. There's been a lot of excavation work on this site, and pick up the very useful leaflet which guides you round the site, and some very friendly help and advice as you enter. Talati de Dalt is a superb settlement to explore. You're literally left alone with your guide leaflet to wander around this ancient prehistoric site. It's a spiritual experience for sure, and it's well worth taking time to explore this most significant angle of Menorcan history.
Between the end of the 2nd millennium and the beginning of the 1st, the first houses were constructed here at Talati and activity continued until the Roman conquest at 123 BC.
Cales Coves & Menorca Burial Caves
Apart from the beautiful bay at Cales Coves on the South East coast of Menorca you'll also discover a few fascinating burial caves. There's about 100 caves in all around Cales Coves, carved into the cliffs. Some you can reach some not. If you're there early in the morning check out Cales Coves smaller second bay by clambering over the rock head, then go for a dip in the bay's other fork.
For a cave with a bit of a myth have a look in on Cova d'en Xoroi. A onetime notorious pirate haunt, with wackaday myth attached of stolen virgins and so forth. Today it's a superb cliff carved bar, where you can sit peacefully sipping your chosen apperetif looking out to see.
Cova d'en Xoroi, Cala en Porter, Tel: 971 37 72 36. Open from 10.30am to 9pm daily, disco 11pm to 5am daily, but the disco is closed out of season from October to May.
Menorca Museums
Ateneo de Mao Cultural Centre and library. Holds a collection of 16th and 18th century ceramics. C/ sa rovellade de dalt, 25, Mao, Tel: 34 971 360 553
Colection Hernandez Mora-Hernandez de Sanz, Menorquin culture s. XVIII and XIX, Claustre del Carme, 5, 07701 - Mao. Tel: 34 971 350 597
Menorca Museum, Mao. Based in the old Franciscan Convent, which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The building has had various uses including serving as a nautical school, a public library, high school and children's home but since 1989 it has been Menorca's key archeological finds museum. Avda. Doctor Guàrdia s/n, Maó. Tel: 34 971 350 955.
The Scientific, Literary and Artistic Library, Mao. Discover an interesting library with various important collections. C/ Comte de Cifuentes, 25, .Maó. Also in Mao, is the interesting Funeral Museum on Cementerio de Maó, Maó.
Environmental Museums Menorca
The Environmental Museum is situated in the urban area of Ferreries, and gives lots of information on the environment in Menorca and its natural, cultural and traditional values. It holds temporary exhibitions and organises excursions to discover the many nature reserves in Menorca. Mallorca, 2, Ferreries. Tel: 34 971 374 505
Ecomuseum del Cabo de Cavalleria, Finca de Santa Teresa. Cabo de Cavalleria-Port sa Nitja, s/n. Es Mercadal. Tel: 34 971 359 999
Menorca Museums
Menorca Military Museum takes you through the journey of many an invading visitor on Menorca. The museum is in Es Castell to the south east of Mao, situated in the Quarter de Cala Corp. The building itself was constructed by the English in 1771 and sits on Placa Esplanada, s/n, Es Castell.
Sant Domingo Convent, a beautiful building dating from the XVI century. Today it's the setting of many cultural activities such as the Pollenca Music Festival. Located in the same building, the Pollenca Museum houses a collection of contemporary painting, the Atilio Bo, Es Castell. Check out also in Es Castell the Exhibition Centre Sa Industria, Es Castell. Tel: 34 971 368 278.
Colection Hernandez Mora-Hernandez de Sanz, Menorquin culture s. XVIII and XIX, Claustre del Carme, 5, 07701 - Mao. Tel: +34 971 350 597.
Exhibition Centre de Sa Unitat Sanitaria, Lepanto, 17, Es Mercadal. Tel: +34 971 375 002.
Menorca Museums
Gallery Arantza & Cia, Es Forn, 9, Alaior. Tel: 34 971 378 561.
Exhibition Centre Sant Diego, Es Banyer, s/n, Alaior. Tel: 34 971 372 862.
Molí de Dalt Ethnological Museum. The focus here is obviously Ethnology. C/ de Sant Lluís, 4, 07710 - Sant Lluís. Tel: 34 971 151 084.

Ibiza
Ibiza really started to get a name for itself as a Spanish Mediterranean island with a difference during the 1930s, when a selection of avent garde notables such as Walter Benjamin began visiting. Ibiza, as is well documented, was adopted by the hippie generation in the late 1960s and it's popularity grew. Today it's a mix, much like Menorca and Mallorca. Hit creative dance culture at it's best in key Ibiza club resorts like San Antonio or Ibiza town, or push out into Ibiza history and Dalt Villa, the old medieval part of Eivissa with it's gothic cathedral and sprawling castle.
Take in over 50 Ibiza beaches. Most Ibiza beaches are long and sandy, often with little rocky islets off shore. You'll find a choice of nudist beaches. Ibiza, Formentera and other outlying islets in the area have been dubed the Pitiusas meaning pine tree islands. If you move towards the North of Ibiza it gets pretty rural, and you'll see plenty of olive groves, fig groves and almond trees of course, common in the Balearic Islands. The North West of Ibiza is prime walking territory, especially along the coast.
Ibiza Beaches
Blending beaches with clubbing is particularly the case with Platja d'en Bossa, one of the largest idyllic sandy beaches on Ibiza, south of Eivissa. This fantastic beach is very popular with young clubbers, especially towards the southern end where a great club scene has evolved over the last 20 years, including clubs like Space (opening party 5th June 2005). Larger Ibiza clubs are taking over a little, and the classic Ibiza favourite Bora Bora beach party sadly is no more! Platja D'en Bossa beach is popular with families as well, with a great Ibiza waterpark being positioned right behind the beach called Aguamar near Sant Jordi.
Other popular Ibiza beaches include Cala de Boix, near Punta Prima. This one's a nice quiet beach even in peak season and it's framed by green hills, and you have a superb view of Illa de Tagomago. For a good nudist beach Ibiza head up to Cala es Figueral. This is a long and sandy beach with a selection of idyllic little rocky islets just off shore. The northern end od Cala es Figueral is a recognised nudist beach. Move further south to Platja des Canar, a great little beach attached to the popular resort of the same name. There's a pleasure boat harbour near the beach, plus plenty of bars, restaurants and shops to keep you entertained. Other great beaches include Platja des Niu Blau, noted for it's pine fragrance and many pine trees and it's shallow water, great for families with young kids. Cala Llonga beach you'll find between Puig de ses Torretes and Punta Roja, on a beautiful 300 metre wide bay. Cala Llonga itself is a charming, laid back friendly resort, popular with package holiday makers. Check out also Platja del Pinos beach near Santa Eularia.
Ibiza's west coast has some of the most dramatic and spectacular coastal scenery on the Balearics. Es Vedra rock, and it's smaller islet sister Es Vedranell have long been iconic features of Ibiza, and the sunset backdrops to these islets really are a must see on any visit to Ibiza.
All along Ibiza's west coast you'll find an array of little cove beaches, perfect territory for scuba diving and there are plenty of scuba diving companies and instructers to be found. Favourite beach hotspots include Cala Conta with it's views across to Illa S'Espartar, Cala Tarida with the longest sandy beach on Ibiza's west coast and Cala d'Hort. We're talking a rocky coast here, with great swimming to rocks off shore. If you're looking for adventure, hidden blue flag Ibiza beaches, scuba diving, walking and Ibiza trekking or a good selection of small coves where you can moor your private boat and watch the spectacular sunsets - then head for Ibiza's west coast!
Ibiza Nightlife
Ibiza nightlife has a worldwide reputation as one of the best. Ibiza clubs galore, and there's some big names here with Amnesia and all the rest. Ibiza is a dance mecca, with key Ibiza dance hotspots being Eivissa/Ibiza Town, San Antonio to the west, and San Rafel in the middle.
Ibiza Club novice, it's well worth doing your homework before you go and there's plenty of Ibiza club scene websites about to help you along. One of the best is the Gay Ibiza site, with strong down to earth advice on the best clubs, combined with practical help and support and urr what to avoid aka the potential drugs dodgy side.
Art and Culture of Ibiza
Ibiza Town/Eivissa and it's superb hilltop village Dalt Villa is probably the best place to start for your Ibiza culture tour. There's a superb Archeological musuem high up on the top, plus an ornate church and superb views across Eivissa.
Ibiza has a special position in the history of the hippie movement, and some have suggested the dance culture currently thriving in parts of Ibiza, is a direct descendant of the hippie flockings to Ibiza and Formentera in the 1960s. They could have a point. However, that hippie culture which was fleeing the consumerist culture of Europe to take haven in the wild and unspoilt Pitiusas islands (Ibiza and Formentera) is a little different from the dance culture nestled there now. That sits firming within consumerism. Still the radial bohemian edge to Ibiza remains, with a do as you feel kind of approach, and there are many parts of Ibiza and Formentera which remain unspoilt and idyllic.
Ibiza, like the other Balearic Islands, has a selection of festivals running through the year, all with different themes. Check out Santa Eularia's festival at the beginning of May, or the bonfires and fireworks across Ibiza around 23rd June to herald the coming of summer. For one of the best firework displays check out the Festival of Sant Cristofol in Es Canar around 10th July. In the 2nd fortnight in July every year in Eivissa there's a superb jazz festival, well worth checking out. Formentera has it's big festival in July, commencing usually around the 25th, celebrating their patron saint and holding a host of cultural events. Ibiza festivals do it with style.
Ibiza Shopping
The 'feel' of Ibiza has been greatly influenced by the influx of the beat generation and hippies in the 1960s. Ibiza back in the 1960s was pretty untouched, but today some of the commercialism they were escaping back then has arrived. The legacy of this influx survives on Ibiza, not just in it's laid back party feel but also in the many clothes and jewellery markets across the Pitiusas Islands including Formentera. Some have suggested that hippie festivals and spiritual events and dances were indeed the forerunners to todays pulsing dance scene on the island.
Fashions in Ibiza have a style all their own, called Ad-Lib, where what you want etc. There's a kind of fashion line, all white loose fit clothing usually cotton and a bit duff really, hopping on the hippy bandwagon. Move on to Las Dalias Hippy Market for a bit more colour.
Check out that Eivissa/Ibiza Town shopping, some of the best and stylish clothes shops you're like to find on the Balearic Islands. If you like shopping, and you're on one of the other Balearic Islands it's well worth considering hopping on a boat from Palma or Mao over to Eivissa for a day of shopping heaven!!
Ibiza West
Ibiza west sure is best. The coast road from the Cala Conta to the Cala d'Hort weaves through pinewoods and is an essential trip on any Ibiza visit. Off the South West coast of Ibiza are the famous, much painted by artists, Es Vedra and Es Vedranell rocks. Sunset sublimity indeed, and one of the most dramatic and beautiful sites on the Balearics.
Ibiza West inland hosts the highest point on Ibiza, Sa Talaia on the way upto the idyllic village of Sant Josep. This is indeed a different side to Ibiza away from the clubs and Ibiza party territory. Along the west coast of Ibiza you'll discover a series of creeks and coves. Check out Cala d'Hort particularly.
Es Vedra and Es Vedranell Islets Ibiza
Standing almost 400 metres above the sea, Es Vedra Rock is a memorable attraction on Ibiza. The rock takes on an almost magical appearance at sunset and was once the home to a hermit, who lived on the rock for several years. Boats rides are available, allowing a closer look at this beautiful, natural phenomenon and other rocky isles nearby.
Both Es Vedra and Es Vedranell are now protected by the Cala d'Hort Nature Reserve. Es Vedranell is closer to the coast and much smaller in size. It has a strange shape, which contributes to highlight the magic presence of es Vedra. The best place to view es Vedra and es Vedranell is Cala d'Hort, whether from the beach, the terrace of a restaurant, or on an Ibiza boat trip.
Why not take a walk upto the 18th defence tower Torre del Pirata, for superb views of Es Vedra.
Blue Flag Beaches Ibiza West Coast
For spectacular views of Es Vedra and Es Vedranell head for Cala d'Hort on Ibiza's West Coast. Essentially Cala d'Hort is a charming creek set in a jagged coastline surrounded by wooded hills. You can hire boats here to set off on your own journey exploring the islets just off the coast. The theme of Ibiza's west coast is rocky coves, with smaller beaches often surrounded by jagged cliffs and pinewoods to dramatic effect. There is a little comparison with the West coast of Ibiza and the West coast of Mallorca. West is best then if you're looking for a holiday away from the crowds, and prefer rocky coves, romantic idyllic beaches and dramatic scenery. At Cala d'Hort there's a sprinkling of good bars and restaurants as well, but the views are what you go for!
Cala Vedella is a good example of what to expect on Ibiza's west coast. Cala Vedella has a beautiful cove/bay Blue Flag sandy beach which is very small compared to the likes of the sandy beach at Playa d'en Bossa. Cala Vedella, what beauty though with a bay surround by pine grove covered hills and Cala Vedella plus other hotspots along Ibiza's west coast are very popular scuba diving areas.
It's easy to detour off the Ibiza West winding coast road to private little bays and coves. Try Cala Carbo beach and turn left off at the signpost on the San Jose/ Cala Vadella road. At Cala Carbo you'll discover a lovely little sheltered sandy cove surrounded by rocky, pine clad hills. Cala Carbo beach is a mix of sand and pebbles under shallow waters near the shore and like many of the little coves and bays along Ibiza's west coast it is popular with private boats and a popular place to moor and watch the sunsets. Limited parking only is available at Cala Carbo! Watch out for the Cala Carbo restaurant as well. Superb fish dishes.
Move up Ibiza's west coast again, and discover the secluded beach south of Cala Tarida. Idyllic indeed, with it's small sandy beach which has a few pedaloes for hiring! There's some great walking and Ibiza trekking country just inland as well so walkers will love this spot! The longest and widest sandy beach on Ibiza's West coast can be found at Cala Tarida which is very popular with families. Sea waters are crystal clear, and shallow towards the right of the beach, with more rocks to the left. There's some exciting swimming to be had here, and you can swim out to strange shaped rocks off shore for a private sunbathe. At Cala Tarida and some of the other Ibiza hidden beaches on the west coast there is no shade provided so it's wise to bring along you're own umbrella. Ferries from San Antonio and San Jose will drop you at Cala Tarida beach, but you can get there by bus and car as well. At Cala Tarida facilities include pedaloes, a diving school, and volleyball.
Blue Flag Beaches Ibiza West Coast
Ibiza beaches with great views across to off shore islets don't come better than Cala Conta with it's two lovely sandy beaches, plus a little third beach only accessible by steps knocked into the descending rocks. The views across to Illa S'Espartar are spectacular. Beautiful sunsets and crystal clear waters as well - perfect Ibiza heaven.
Cala Bassa Beach along the top of the west coast of Ibiza, easily accessible from San Antonio has fine white sand and is popular fishing territory. It's also a great spot for walking, with ample shady pine forests. Cala Bassa is a very popular family holiday spot, as the waters are shallow and there's fun watersports such as pedaloes, banana boat water rides, and volleyball. This Ibiza west coast beach is only a 10 minute drive from San Antonio as well so it's easy to head off their in the hire car for a day trip.
For that really hidden secluded Ibiza beach feel, choose Cala Salada just north of San Antonio. No ferries come to this little gem of an Ibiza beach so it's quieter and much less touristy! Check out the paths that stretch off from the beach as well, these are very popular with walkers.
Ibiza Scuba Diving
Ibiza scuba diving fanatics, you're in for a treat. Have you heard about the spectacular diving sites awaiting you on Ibiza's west coast? You'd expect good scuba diving territory off this idyllic rocky coast. You can scuba dive around the islets of Es Vedra and Es Vedranell as well.
San Antonio, or Sant Antoni (us Brits do like to change things!!) is absolutely crammed with bars, restaurants, clubs and a superb long sandy beach. San Antonio is definitely an Ibiza resort which comes alive in the summer months, out of season is has a much quieter leisurely feel so bear this in mind. For San Antonio nightlife, try Es Paradis club with all your English DJ favourites and more. Choose from a selection of restaurants covering the full range of Spanish/Majorca, English traditional, fish restaurants and general Mediterranean influenced food fare. Cafe bars are numerous and perfect for pre-club drinks.
Eivissa or Ibiza old town is a historical gem to say the least. History abounds, and it was the Phoenicians who landed and developed Eivissa in the mid-7th century BC. Dalt Vila is the upper part of the town and the oldest bit, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. Included in the World Heritage title are the acropolis of Dalt Vila in the old town of Eivissa, the underwater posidonia meadows, which are an essential source for the rich marine biodiversity of the Pitiusas Islands, the Phoenician settlement of Sa Caleta and the Punic necropolis Puig des Molins, location point for the first settlers on Ibiza. There seems to be a little shifting in tourist emphasis across the whole of the Balearics, including Ibiza, towards cultural tourism and taking care to preserve these treasures.
Eivissa Old Town sits perched on a rocky promontory, spectacularly looking out to sea. You can easily see why it was such a sort after and strategic spot! There's lots going on in Dalt Vila and you can easily avoid the Ibiza club mayhem if that's not you're bag. Check out the superb Museu d'art Contemporani, and of course 'Our Lady of the Snows' Cathedral, one of the most impressive buildings on Ibiza. The Placa de la Vila is crammed with little shops, cafes and restaurants
Playa d'en Bossa Ibiza is fast becoming a renowned clubbing Ibiza holiday destination. It's got all the essentials, a great sandy Ibiza beach, perfect for Ibiza beach parties, plus it's close to Ibiza Town with it's great clothes shopping, Ibiza gay scene and Ibiza clubs, as well as a fair bit of Ibiza culture Dalt Villa style. Playa d'en Bossa is also known as Platja d'en Bossa, it's Catalan name, and is only a few kilometres south of Ibiza Town (Eivissa). Playa d'en Bossa is stylish and trendy, with great Ibiza party venues, plus the longest sandy beach on Ibiza.
Playa d'en Bossa is now Ibiza's third biggest town. For a cheaper clubbing option choose San Antonio, but if you fancy exploring an Ibiza resort with a newer and more evolving edge then Playa d'en Bossa is for you. It's fast becoming one of Ibiza's new party capitals.