Culture and Sightseeing
The diversity of culture in Majorca reflects the variety of settlers and
invaders - Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Moors and Catalans -
the island has received.
An evening stroll in Pollensa takes in the town's Roman bridge the Pont Roma,
and nearby Alcudia has extensive Roman remains.
Moorish influence can be seen everywhere, especially in the old quarter of
Palma and the well-preserved Arab baths. But also dotted throughout the
island are wells shaded by palms, conjuring up Arabia.
The modern history of Majorca begins from 1229, when Jaume I of Aragon led an
expedition of 150 ships and 16,000 men to reclaim the island. They landed at
Santa Ponsa after storms diverted them from the original plan of landing at
Puerto Pollensa.
Of Palma, Jaume I wrote "It seemed to me the most beautiful city we had ever
seen."
Over the next century work was begun on the cathedral and Bellver castle in
Palma.
Majorca remained a separate kingdom until 1716 when it became formally a
province of Spain, although it had no independent king from 1349.
Some favourite sights to see
Palma Cathedral, one of the best sited cathedrals anywhere, poised high on the
sea wall overlooking the magnificent harbour
La Granja, a largely unspoiled 18th century private estate in the mountains
Els Calderers, a mansion and farm in the central plain of Majorca
Alfabia and Raixa both are excellent examples of aristocratic estate gardens.
So what's going on here? The ladies are sampling perfumes at La Granja
distilled from local blossoms - almond, orange, jasmine, lemon, and some secret
concoctions too. You can also see many aspects of Majorca's rural past from
weaving to olive-pressing here.
A delightfully old fashioned narrow gauge railway complete with quaint wooden
carriages runs between Palma and Soller, a town which retains much charm from
the 19th century, a period when it traded oranges and wine for French goods.
Deia, tucked in a spectacular mountain landscape overlooking the sea, was home
to Robert Graves, Britain's Poet Laureate.
Valldemossa, a stunning mountain town forever linked with the names Frederic
Chopin and Georges Sand in the winter 1838-9. They stayed in the monastery and
their rooms, containing his piano, are still visitable. The story of their
stay here is told in her book "A Winter in Majorca".
Although the stay was not entirely happy, owing to Chopin's increasing
illness, she does describe some magical moments, "in Majorca, I was able to
contemplate the ocean such as I have dreamed it to be, as crystal-clear and as
blue as the sky ... every step brought us a new vista more enchanting than the
one before."
The caves of Drac are believed to have inspired Jules Verne's novel A Journey
to the Centre of the Earth. There are also spectacular caves at nearby
Campanet.
The monastery of Lluc, said to be the spiritual heart of Majorca, is high in
the mountains and home to a famous boys' choir, who sing briefly every day.
For art and music lovers, winter is a good time to visit galleries and museums,
or catch one of the many free concerts put on in the "Winter in Majorca" series.
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