Universitatea de Nord Baia Mare

Facultatea de Litere

Specializarea:Română-Engleză

An universitar:2010-2011

Tourism in Palma de

Mallorca

Student: Carmen Agoşton

Ianuarie 2011

Abstract

The topic of this essay is to underline the beauty of Palma de

Mallorca city. The town is making part of Majorca island, the largest of all

five Balearic islands. The Spanish city has a long history starting by year

123 B.C.. Nowadays, here you can get benefits from the old buildings and

monuments and also by the modern aspect of the town including

luxuriant hotels, nightclubs, fancy restaurants, or trendy clothes shops.

But we must not forget about the beautiful beaches and sea, both

being just the perfect way to relax for all ages categories, after a long

shop session.

Keywords: Palma, Majorca/Mallorca, island, Baleares,

Citat de Majorca

Tourism in Palma de Mallorca

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Palma de Mallorca city is the capital of Majorca island and of

Baleares. The city, is an “autonomous community”( no author, 2011,

Encyclopædia Britannica - online ) of Spain, and is located in the

western Mediterranean Sea(Vidraşcu şi fiii,2010:351, translation

mine).Palma, in full Palma de Mallorca, “lies on the southwestern coast

of the island of Majorca in the centre of 10 - mile - (16 km) - wide

Palma Bay.(no author, 2011, Encyclopædia Britannica - online).

Mallorca is the largest island of the Balearic Islands.

The city was known little as Palma before 123 B.C. when Majorca

was conquered by the Romans, transforming the archipelago in a

Roman province. After this, in the 5th century the community was

attacked by the Vandals and so ”it became part of the Byzantine

Empire a century later”. (no author, 2011, Encyclopædia Britannica -

online).

In the 8th century, the Arabs conquered the city and they kept it

until 1229 when it was conquered again but this time, by James I of

Aragon. After he died Palma got its independency but ”was again

incorporated into Aragon by Peter IV in the 14th century”.(no author,

2011, Encyclopædia Britannica - online).

Palma became part of the Spanish monarchy only in 1469 after

Ferdinand II of Aragon got married with Isabella I of Castillo.

In 2009, the population of the city of Palma proper was 401,270,

and the population of the entire urban area was 517,285, ranking as

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the twelfth largest urban area of Spain. Almost half of the total

population of Majorca live in Palma.(Wikipedia:2011).

The names Ciutat de Mallorca (English: City of Majorca) and

Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and they

are still used today, by people in Majorca. However, the official name

was Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca being an unofficial name coming

especially from its touristic character and it is being known only since

the beginning of the 20th century.

Viewed from the air, the city looks as though ”an elfin queen had

dropped her fan right into the great semi-circular bay in the southwest

of Majorca”.(Birnmeyer et al., 2000:202). The cathedral of La Seu

would be the hinge of the fan and the cathedral ribs would correspond

to the streets of Sant Miguel, Sindicat, Sant Feliu, Concepcio and Sant

Francesc.

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Image 1

The island of Mallorca contains in the area of Palma two

mountainous regions, each of them about aproximatively 50 miles

(80km) in length and occupying the wesstern and eastern thirds of the

island.They are separated by a lowland that terminates in Pollensa and

Alcudia bays on the north and in Palma Bay on the south. The higher

are the western mountains, raising to 4,741 feet (1,445m) at Mayor

Peak.

The island’s varied landscape includes, intensively terraced

slopes, olive groves, steep gullies, pine forests and fertile valleys. The

much less rugged hills in the southeast are known for their extensive

limestone caves and subterranean lakes.(no author, 1994:77).

”The central lowland, benefiting from the shelter provided by

mountains in the northwest, is a rich agricultural zone with a

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characteristic two-tier cultivation; olives, figs, apricots, oranges, and

almond trees form the upper tier, and the lower tier consists of cereals,

alfalfa, and legumes.”(no author, 1994:715).

The town’s economy is based primarily on agricultural products

and tourism, but stone quarries (especially of marble), superphosphate

works, and light manufactures (including pottery, pearls, glassware,

shoes, rugs, and souvenirs) provide some employment(715).

The city’s economy is varied also with tourism, commerce, and

the manufacture of furniture, footwear, fabrics, and foodstuffs as the

most important industries. A tourist boom beginning in the second half

of the 20th century transformed Palma into an attractive place for

visitors and workers from the mainland.(no author, 1963:168) Other

important industries in the city are fishing, wine and brandy making,

jewelry, ceramics, embroidery,and various agricultural processing

enterprises.

The old quarters of Palma have many notable homes built in the

16th and 18th centuries. Historic buildings include the Gothic cathedral

(1230–1601); Bellver Castle (14th century), on the hill of the same

name; La Lonja (early 15th century), the former exchange, now a

museum; Almudaina Palace (restored in the 12th and 16th centuries),

former residence of the Arab dynasty and now the captain general’s

headquarters; the Consulate of the Sea (17th century); the bishop’s

palace (17th century); and the town hall (16th century), housing the

archives of the old kingdom of Majorca.(no author, 2008, The Columbia

Encyclopedia-online)

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The modern city, with its fine buildings, promenades, and

gardens, stretches along the coast for seven miles (11 km). Palma’s

cultural facilities include a section of the University of Barcelona and

art museums and galleries. Palma is the headquarters of the University

of the Balearic Islands.

The population grew significantly, along with ”urban

development, including luxury hotels on the coastline.”(no author,

2002:62). ”Historic buildings and monuments were restored with the

help of immigrants, mainly from Latin America and Africa.”(But,

Carmen, Radu David, 2007:345 translation mine). Palma’s many

artisans produce embroidery, pottery, artistic glasswork and ironwork,

palmetto and raffia basketwork, and olive woodcarving, mostly for

tourists. Palma is linked to the mainland by frequent air and steamer

services from Barcelona and Valencia. An airport lies about 5 miles (8

km) east of the city centre .

Image2

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To sum up what i have talked about, I can say that in my opinion

Palma de Mallorca it is a beautifull place where you can spend a

wonderfull, relaxing and calm holiday or if you prefer the nightlife it is

also a very good place to spend your vacation; you can choose from

the variety of all types of nightclubs,or fancy,elegant restaurants.

For those who want to relax and enjoy their few days of holiday

in a totally calm and relaxation they can choose either to stay at the

hotel’s pool, either to go to the beach and get a fine bronze while they

take a nap lying on the sand. Don’t forget to get a ride through the

shops before returning back home.

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Reference List

Birnmeyer, Susane. van Cleve, Susanne. (2000). ”Majorca. Culture and

Life”. (Ute Edda Hammer et al. Eds.). Germany:Konemann. p.202.

But, Carmen. Radu, David. (2007). ”Ghid Complet Spania”.

Oradea:Aquila’93. p.345.

No author. (2002).Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge (International

Edition, p.62). U.S.A.:Grolier Inc.

No author. (1994). ”Majorca”. In The New Encyclopaedia Britannica.

(Vol.7,p.715). Rome: Encyclopaedia Bitannica.

No author. (1994). ”Majorca”. In Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia.

(p.77). New York:Lexicon Publications Inc.

(1964). ”Mallorca”. In Americana Corporation. (International Edition

p.168). New York:AmericanA Corporation.

”Palma”. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2011. Retrieved January 6,

2011from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/440117/Palma

”Palma”. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved

January 5, 2011 from Encyclopedia.com:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Palma.html

”Palma”.World Encyclopedia.1980.Retrieved January5, 2011 from

Encyclopedia.com:http://www.encyclopedya.com/doc/10142-Palma.html

Vidraşcu şi fiii. (2010). Enciclopedia Universala Britanica.(Vol.9, p.351),

Bucureşti:G.Canale.

Image1: Mallorca Map: http://mappery.com/maps/Mallorca-tourists-

Map-2.mediumthumb.jpg.

Image2:La Seu Cathedrale: http://www.billige-pensionen-in.de/palma-

de-mallorca/palma-de-mallorca-07.jpg.

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