Travel Majorca On Your Holidays In Spain - Discover The Unknown Parts Of The Balearic Island

Mallorca (derived from Latin "insula maior" (largerMallorca between Sóller and Pollenca,
island)), the largest of the Balearic islands,has becomethevillage of Lluc, an medieval place of pilgrimage,
a popular holiday destination for tourists from all overawaits discovery. The Monastery of Lluc/
the world in recent years.Monasteryof Our Lady of Lluc ("Monestir de Nostra
The name of the island has become a synonym forSenyora de Lluc") was founded in 1121 and dedicated
cheap mass tourism since the 1960s. Butbesides theto
well-known tourist centres around Palma de MallorcaSaint James of Santiago de Compostela ("San Jaime
and at the southern and eas-tern coast Mallorca alsode Compostela"), the patron saint of Spain.
offers many diverse landscapes, excellent sites andSince the Middle Ages millions of Roman-Catholic
perfect conditionsfor various leisure time sports, anchristians have followed the ancient
untouched Mediterranean fauna and flora, an unspoiltpilgrim´strail from Caimari to the Monastery of
Medi-terranean wildlife and numerous historical sights.Lluc to adore the Black Madonna of Lluc ("Virgen de
Charming little mountain villages, secludedand quietLluc" or "Nuestra Señora de Lluc", also called "La
sandy beaches and bays, peaceful and cozy fishingMoraneta" by the locals), the patron saint of Mallorca.
villages and the bizarre shaped,wild romantic rockyThe monastery was renovated by Antoni
coastline await discovery. These spots can be bestGaudí.
explored when you renta bike or car and go out onSituated at the northern coast of Mallorca, the
your own for the experience of the unknowncharming picturesque 13th century town of
Mallorca on its coastalroads or wooded, mountainousPollencawith its historical sights is also a worthwhile
hiking trails. Due to its geographical richness and itsday trip destination. You might walk the Way of the
wide rangeof vacation possibilities Mallorca is an idealCross ("Via Crucis") up to Cavalry Mountain ("El
holiday destination for individual vacation,Cavalri" or "El Calvario") and see the Mother of
groupvacation, couple vacation and family vacation.God at the Foot of the Cross ("Mare de Déu
The Palma de Mallorca region with its long-establisheddel Peu de la Creu" or "Madre de Dios del Pie de la
tourist infrastracture and the coastlineof the adjacentCruz"), a much-revered virgin statue housed in a
Migjorn and Llevant regions are the main tourist areachapel on top of the hill. The Plaça Major,
of Mallorca. The long sandy beaches such as Playa delthemain square of Pollenca, has some good cafes,
Palma offer a large variety of leisure time activitiesbars and restaurants and invites the traveller tohaving
such as windsur-fing, kitesurfing, sailing, waterskiing,a coffee and relaxing after a day´s strolling
jetskiing, boogieboarding, sea kayaking, scubathrough the twisted alleys of the medieval town
diving,surfing and swimming. The beaches may becentre. Pollenca also offers a wide range of shopping
crowded during high season. Palma de Mallorca,thepossibilities and the lively and busy Sunday market at
island´s capital, offers some interestingthe Plaça Major is also worth visiting.
historical sights, numerous bars, cafes andDominating the Plaça Major, the Church of Our
restau-rants, various shopping possibilities and aLady of the Angels ("Esglèsia de Nostra
vibrant nightlife programme. The 16th century PalmaSenyora dels Àngels" or "Iglesia de Nuestra
Cathedral ("La Seu de Palma" or "La CatedrálSeñora de
de Palma de Mallorca"), a Roman Catholic Cathe-dral,Los Angeles) built by the Knights Templar in the 13th
was built on the former site of an Arab Mosque andcentury impresses the visitor with its austere
impresses the visitor with its FrenchBaroque façade.
Gothic style. The Almudaina Palace ("Palau deLocated at the northwestern coast of Mallorca, the
l´Almudaina" or "Palacio de la Almudaina"),charming, quiet town of Sóller surprises
aformer Muslim fortress built in the 11th centurythevisitor with some interesting sights. The Botanical
under the Almoravid dynasty, is a spectacularpiece ofGardens of Sóller ("Jardí
medieval Moorish architecture. It was restored in theBotànic de Sóller" or "Jardín
14th century on the order theBotánico de Sóller") and the Balearic
Catholic Spanish king Jaime II of Aragón as aMuseum of Natural Sciences ("Museu Balear de
palace.Ciènces Naturals" or "Museo Balear de
The northern and western coast of the island isCiencias Naturales") invite to exploring the huge
occupied by a long mountain range, the Tramun-tanabiodiver-sity of Mallorca and are worthwhile day trip
range ("Serra de Tramuntana" or "Sierra dedestinations. The Bank of Sóller ("Banc de
Tramuntana"), which reaches from Andratx toSóller",
Cap Formentor. The Tramuntana range with its wild"Banco Central Hispano" or "antiguo Banco de
romantic and rough mountain scenery,bizarre shapedSóller") and the Parish Church of Sant
rocks, pine woods and steep coastline can be bestBartomeu ("Església de Sant Bartomeu" or
explored on mountainoushiking trails. Its calmness and"Iglesia de Sant Bartomeu") located at Plaça
isolation contrast with the noisy and crowded touristConstitució, themain square of Sóller,
areas at the southern and eastern coast of Mallorca.are further spectacular monuments. Founded in 1248
It is ideal for lovers of ecotourism and a perfectand originally builtin Gothic style, the church was
holiday destination for travellers seeking privacy andrenovated in 1904 by Joan Rubió I Bellver, a
calmness. Some charming, picturesque old villagessuchpupil of Antoni Gaudí,in Art Noveau style. The
as Lluc, Pollenca, Alcúdia, Sóller, Alaro,bank was built in 1889 and designed in Modernist style
Arta and Deià lie hidden in the Tramuntanaby Rubió in 1912.
moun-tains, all of which are worth a day trip.The Museum of the Casal de Cultura ("Museu del
Located at the northeastern coast of Mallorca, theCasal de Cultura" or "Museo del Casal de
city of Alcúdia offers shopping possibilitiesCultura") is also worth a visit. You might as well make
andother tourist attractions. Its nearby mile-long anda trip with the Sóller Train ("Ferrocarril de
sandy beach invites to sunbathing and offers alargeSóller") running between Palma de Mallorca
variety of water sports activities such as surfing,and Sóller since 1912 and enjoy the diversity
windsurfing, parasailing, sailing, scubadiving, canoeing,of
kayaking, kitesurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding andMallorcas many different landscapes. A trip with this
bathing. Take a strollthrough the charming picturesqueancient train is really an unforgettable eventand a
old town of Alcúdia and visit its weeklymain tourist attraction.
markets. The nearbyFurther historical sites of interest in the Tramuntana
Roman amphitheatre is a worthwile historicalmountains are Alaró Castle, Valdemossa
monument.Monastery, the Monastery of San Salvador ("Santuari
The close-by Hidropark ("Parque Acuático")de Sant Salvador" or "Monasterio de San Salvador") in
with its swimming and boating pools, mini-golfFelanitx and The King´s Castle ("El Castell del
coursesand giant water slides is a worthwhile day tripRey" or "El Castell del Rei") in Pollenca. Mallorca is also
destination for families. The nearby S'Albuferaa paradise for golf players and offers a wide range
Natio-nal Park ("Parc Natural de S'Albufera" or "Parqueof first-class golf courses in Andratx, Santa Ponsa,
Natural de S'Albufera de Mallorca") with its dunes, saltSon Gual and Canyamel, just to mention a few.
water marshes, lagoons and lakes fascinates theNature lovers and loversof ecotourism might also visit
visitor with its untouched Mediterranean floraandSa Dragonera Nature Park, Cala Mondragó
fauna and unspoilt wildlife. It is known among natureNature Park and Cabrera National Park and enjoy
lovers for its birdwatching sites.Mediterranean nature in its purest form on numerous
Set high in the mountains near the northern coast ofhiking trails and intotal calmness.