Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest of the
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago forms a Provinces of Spain, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain, ...
, which are part of
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
, and the
seventh largest island in the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern Eur ...
.
The capital of the island,
Palma, is also the capital of the
autonomous community
The autonomous communities () are the first-level administrative divisions of Spain, created in accordance with the Spanish Constitution of 1978, with the aim of guaranteeing limited autonomy to the nationalities and regions that make up Sp ...
of the Balearic Islands. The Balearic Islands have been an autonomous region of Spain since 1983.
There are two small islands off the coast of Mallorca:
Cabrera (southeast of Palma) and
Dragonera
Dragonera (; ; "Dragon Island"), also called Sa Dragonera, is an uninhabited islet in the Balearic Islands, Spain, located just off the west coast of Majorca. It is currently a natural park, Parc Natural Sa Dragonera.
Geography
Geologically spe ...
(west of Palma). The
anthem
An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...
of Mallorca is "
La Balanguera".
Like the other Balearic Islands of
Menorca
Menorca or Minorca (from , later ''Minorica'') is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Mallorca. Its capital is Maó, situated on the isl ...
,
Ibiza
Ibiza (; ; ; #Names and pronunciation, see below) or Iviza is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the city of Valencia. It is the third largest of th ...
, and
Formentera
Formentera (, ) is a Spanish island located in the Mediterranean Sea, which belongs to the Balearic Islands autonomous community (Spain) together with Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza.
Formentera is the smallest and most southerly island of the ...
, the island is a highly popular holiday destination, particularly for tourists from the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
,
Ireland
Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
,
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, and the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. The international airport,
Palma de Mallorca Airport
Palma de Mallorca Airport — also known as Son Sant Joan Airport – is an international airport located east of Palma, Mallorca, Spain, adjacent to the village of Can Pastilla.
In 2024, the airport handled 33.3 million passengers, making ...
, is one of the busiest in Spain; it was used by 28 million passengers in 2017, with use increasing every year between 2012 and 2017.
Etymology
The name derives from
Classical Latin
Classical Latin is the form of Literary Latin recognized as a Literary language, literary standard language, standard by writers of the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. It formed parallel to Vulgar Latin around 75 BC out of Old Latin ...
, "larger island". Later, in
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Literary Latin used in Roman Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Western Europe during the Middle Ages. It was also the administrative language in the former Western Roman Empire, Roman Provinces of Mauretania, Numidi ...
, this became , "the larger one", in comparison to ''Menorca'', "the smaller one". This was then
hypercorrected to by
central Catalan
Central Catalan () is an Eastern Catalan dialect spoken in the whole province of Barcelona, the eastern half of the province of Tarragona and most of the province of Girona, except for its northern part, where a transition to Northern Catalan ...
scribes, which later came to be accepted as the standard spelling.
History
Prehistoric settlements

The Balearic Islands were first colonised by humans during the
3rd millennium BC
File:3rd millennium BC montage.jpg, 400x400px, From top left clockwise: Pyramid of Djoser; Khufu; Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; Cuneiform, a contract for the sale of a field and a house; Enheduana, a high pr ...
, around 2500–2300 BC from the Iberian Peninsula or southern France, by people associated with the
Bell Beaker culture
The Bell Beaker culture, also known as the Bell Beaker complex or Bell Beaker phenomenon, is an archaeological culture named after the inverted-bell beaker drinking vessel used at the beginning of the European Bronze Age, arising from around ...
. The arrival of humans resulted in the rapid extinction of the three species of terrestrial mammals native to Mallorca, the dwarf goat-antelope
''Myotragus balearicus'', the giant dormouse ''
Hypnomys morpheus
''Hypnomys'', otherwise known as Balearic giant dormice, is an extinct genus of dormouse (Gliridae) in the subfamily Leithiinae. Its species are considered examples of insular gigantism. They were endemic to the Balearic Islands in the western Me ...
,'' and the shrew ''
Nesiotites hidalgo'', all three of which had been continuously present on Mallorca for over 5 million years. The island's prehistoric settlements are called ''talaiots'' or ''talayots''. The people of the islands raised Bronze Age megaliths as part of their
Talaiotic culture
The Talaiotic culture or Talaiotic period is the name used to describe the society that existed on the Gymnesian Islands (the easternmost Balearic Islands) during the Iron Age. Its origins date from the end of the second millennium BC, when the i ...
.
A non-exhaustive list of settlements is the following:
*
Capocorb Vell (
Llucmajor
Llucmajor (; ) is the largest municipality (in terms of surface area) of the Balearic Island of Mallorca.
There are sixteen urban settlements in the municipality, including the town of Llucmajor and the coastal areas of s'Arenal, Cala Blava ...
municipality)
* Necròpoli de Son Real (east of Can Picafort,
Santa Margalida municipality)
* Novetiforme Alemany (
Magaluffa,
Calvià, Miconio)
* Poblat Talaiòtic de S'Illot (
S'Illot,
Sant Llorenç des Cardassar municipality)
* Poblat Talaiòtic de Son Fornés (
Montuïri municipality)
* Sa Canova de Morell (road to
Colònia de Sant Pere,
Artà
Artà () is one of the 53 independent municipalities on the Spain, Spanish Balearic Islands, Balearic island of Majorca. The small town of the same name is the administrative seat of this municipality in the region (''Comarca'') of Llevant.
Pop ...
municipality)
*
Ses Païsses (
Artà
Artà () is one of the 53 independent municipalities on the Spain, Spanish Balearic Islands, Balearic island of Majorca. The small town of the same name is the administrative seat of this municipality in the region (''Comarca'') of Llevant.
Pop ...
municipality)
* Ses Talaies de Can Jordi (
Santanyí municipality)
* S'Hospitalet Vell (road to Cales de Mallorca,
Manacor
Manacor () is a town and Municipalities of Spain, municipality on the island of Mallorca, part of the Spanish Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is the second-largest town in Mallorca, after the capi ...
municipality)
Phoenicians, Romans, and Late Antiquity

The
Phoenicians
Phoenicians were an ancient Semitic group of people who lived in the Phoenician city-states along a coastal strip in the Levant region of the eastern Mediterranean, primarily modern Lebanon and the Syrian coast. They developed a maritime civi ...
, a seafaring people from the
Levant
The Levant ( ) is the subregion that borders the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean sea to the west, and forms the core of West Asia and the political term, Middle East, ''Middle East''. In its narrowest sense, which is in use toda ...
, arrived around the eighth century BC and established numerous colonies. The island eventually came under the control of
Carthage
Carthage was an ancient city in Northern Africa, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classic ...
in North Africa, which had become the principal Phoenician city. After the
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War (218 to 201 BC) was the second of Punic Wars, three wars fought between Ancient Carthage, Carthage and Roman Republic, Rome, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean Basin, Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. For ...
, Carthage lost all of its overseas possessions and the
Romans took over.
The island was occupied by the Romans in 123 BC under
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus (born c. 170 BC) was a Roman statesman and general who was elected consul for the year 123 BC.
Career
Quintus Caecilius Metellus was the eldest son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus, the Roman consul o ...
. It flourished under Roman rule, during which time the towns of Pollentia (
Alcúdia
Alcúdia
() is a municipality and township of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.
It is the main tourism, tourist centre in the north of Majorca on the eastern coast. It is a large r ...
), and Palmaria (
Palma) were founded. In addition, the northern town of
Bocchoris, dating back to pre-Roman times, was a federated city to
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. The local economy was largely driven by
olive
The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'' ("European olive"), is a species of Subtropics, subtropical evergreen tree in the Family (biology), family Oleaceae. Originating in Anatolia, Asia Minor, it is abundant throughout the Mediterranean ...
cultivation,
viticulture
Viticulture (, "vine-growing"), viniculture (, "wine-growing"), or winegrowing is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of ''Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine ...
, and
salt mining
Salt mining extracts natural salt deposits from underground. The mined salt is usually in the form of halite (commonly known as rock salt), and extracted from evaporite Formation (geology), formations.
History
Before the advent of the moder ...
. Mallorcan soldiers were valued within the Roman legions for their skill with the
sling (
Balearic slingers Balearic may refer to:
*Of the Balearic Islands
*The Balearic dialect of Catalan
*Balearic horse, a term sometimes used to describe either or both of these horse breeds in the region:
** Mallorquín
** Menorquín horse
*Balearic beat
Balearic b ...
).
In 427,
Gunderic
Gunderic (; 379–428), King of Hasding Vandals (407-418), then King of Vandals and Alans (418–428), led the Hasding Vandals, a Germanic tribe originally residing near the Oder River, to take part in the barbarian invasions of the Western R ...
and the
Vandals
The Vandals were a Germanic people who were first reported in the written records as inhabitants of what is now Poland, during the period of the Roman Empire. Much later, in the fifth century, a group of Vandals led by kings established Vand ...
captured the island.
Geiseric
Gaiseric ( – 25 January 477), also known as Geiseric or Genseric (; reconstructed Vandalic language, Vandalic: ) was king of the Vandals and Alans from 428 to 477. He ruled over Vandal Kingdom, a kingdom and played a key role in the Fall of th ...
, son of Gunderic, governed Mallorca and used it as his base to loot and plunder settlements around the Mediterranean
[The Dark Ages in Mallorca](_blank)
mallorcaincognita.com, not dated until Roman rule was restored in 465.
Middle Ages
Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
In 534, Mallorca was recaptured from the
Vandals
The Vandals were a Germanic people who were first reported in the written records as inhabitants of what is now Poland, during the period of the Roman Empire. Much later, in the fifth century, a group of Vandals led by kings established Vand ...
by the
Eastern Roman Empire
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...
, led by
Apollinarius. Under Roman rule,
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
thrived and numerous churches were built.
From 707, the island was increasingly attacked by
Muslim
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
raiders from North Africa. Recurrent invasions led the islanders to ask
Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...
for help.
Islamic Mallorca

In 902, Issam al-Khawlani
( es)( ca) ()
conquered the Balearic Islands, and they became part of the
Emirate of Córdoba
An emirate is a territory ruled by an emir, a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the Muslim world. From a historical point of view, an emirate is a political-religious unit smaller than a caliphate. It can be considered equivalen ...
. The town of Palma was reshaped and expanded, and became known as Medina Mayurqa. Later on, with the
Caliphate of Córdoba
A caliphate ( ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with Khalifa, the title of caliph (; , ), a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of ...
at its height, the
Muslim
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
s improved agriculture with
irrigation
Irrigation (also referred to as watering of plants) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has bee ...
and developed local industries.
The caliphate was dismembered in 1015. Mallorca came under rule by the
Taifa of Dénia
The taifas (from ''ṭā'ifa'', plural ''ṭawā'if'', meaning "party, band, faction") were the independent Muslim principalities and kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula (modern Portugal and Spain), referred to by Muslims as al-Andalus, that em ...
, and from 1087 to 1114, was an
independent Taifa. During that period, the island was visited by
Ibn Hazm
Ibn Hazm (; November 994 – 15 August 1064) was an Andalusian Muslim polymath, historian, traditionist, jurist, philosopher, and theologian, born in the Córdoban Caliphate, present-day Spain. Described as one of the strictest hadith interpre ...
. However,
an expedition of Pisans and Catalans in 1114–15, led by
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer III ''the Great'' (11 November 1082 – 23 January or 19 July 1131) was the count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona from 1086 (jointly with Berenguer Ramon II and solely from 1097), Besalú from 1111, Cerdanya from 1117, and cou ...
, overran the island, laying siege to Palma for eight months. After the city fell, the invaders retreated due to problems in their own lands. They were replaced by the
Almoravides from North Africa, who ruled until 1176. The Almoravides were replaced by the
Almohad dynasty
The Almohad Caliphate (; or or from ) or Almohad Empire was a North African Berber Muslim empire founded in the 12th century. At its height, it controlled much of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus) and North Africa (the Maghreb).
The Almohad ...
until 1229.
Abu Yahya was the last Moorish leader of Mallorca.
Medieval Mallorca
In the ensuing confusion and unrest, King
James I of Aragon, also known as James the Conqueror, launched an
invasion
An invasion is a Offensive (military), military offensive of combatants of one geopolitics, geopolitical Legal entity, entity, usually in large numbers, entering territory (country subdivision), territory controlled by another similar entity, ...
which landed at
Santa Ponça, Mallorca, on 8–9 September 1229 with Catalan forces consisting of 15,000 men and 1,500 horses. His forces entered the city of Medina Mayurqa on 31 December 1229. In 1230, he annexed the island to his
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon (, ) ;, ; ; . was a composite monarchy ruled by one king, originated by the dynastic union of the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of Barcelona (later Principality of Catalonia) and ended as a consequence of the War of the Sp ...
under the name
''Regnum Maioricae''.
Modern era

From 1479, the Crown of Aragon was in
dynastic union
A dynastic union is a type of union in which different states are governed beneath the same dynasty, with their boundaries, their laws, and their interests remaining distinct from each other.
It is a form of association looser than a personal un ...
with that of
Castile. The
Barbary corsairs
The Barbary corsairs, Barbary pirates, Ottoman corsairs, or naval mujahideen (in Muslim sources) were mainly Muslim corsairs and privateers who operated from the largely independent Barbary states. This area was known in Europe as the Barba ...
of North Africa often attacked the Balearic Islands, and in response, the people built coastal
watchtower
A watchtower or guardtower (also spelt watch tower, guard tower) is a type of military/paramilitary or policiary tower used for guarding an area. Sometimes fortified, and armed with heavy weaponry, especially historically, the structures are ...
s and fortified churches. In 1570, King
Philip II of Spain
Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...
and his advisors were considering complete evacuation of the Balearic islands.
In the early 18th century, the
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict fought between 1701 and 1714. The immediate cause was the death of the childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700, which led to a struggle for control of the Spanish E ...
resulted in the replacement of that dynastic union with a unified Spanish monarchy under the rule of the new
Bourbon Dynasty
The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a dynasty that originated in the Kingdom of France as a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Kingdom of Navarre, Navarre in the 16th century. A br ...
. The last episode of the War of Spanish Succession was the conquest of the island of Mallorca. It took place on 2 July 1715 when the island capitulated to the arrival of a Bourbon fleet. In 1716, the
Nueva Planta decrees
The Nueva Planta decrees (, , ) were a number of decrees signed between 1707 and 1716 by Philip V of Spain, Philip V, the first House of Bourbon, Bourbon Monarchy of Spain, King of Spain, during and shortly after the end of the War of the Spani ...
made Mallorca part of the
Spanish province of Baleares, roughly the same to present-day
Illes Balears
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago forms a Provinces of Spain, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain, ...
province and autonomous community.
20th century and today
A
Nationalist
Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...
stronghold at the start of the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
, Mallorca was subjected to an
amphibious landing, on 16 August 1936, aimed at driving the Nationalists from Mallorca and reclaiming the island for the
Republic
A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...
. Although the Republicans heavily outnumbered their opponents and managed to push inland, superior Nationalist air power, provided mainly by
Fascist Italy
Fascist Italy () is a term which is used in historiography to describe the Kingdom of Italy between 1922 and 1943, when Benito Mussolini and the National Fascist Party controlled the country, transforming it into a totalitarian dictatorship. Th ...
as part of the
Italian occupation of Majorca, forced the Republicans to retreat and to leave the island completely by 12 September. Those events became known as the
Battle of Majorca.
Since the 1950s, the advent of mass
tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...
has transformed the island into a destination for foreign visitors and attracted many service workers from mainland Spain. The boom in tourism caused Palma to grow significantly.
In the 21st century, urban redevelopment, under the so‑called ''Pla Mirall'' (English "Mirror Plan"), attracted groups of
immigrant workers from outside the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
, especially from Africa and South America.
Archaeology
In September 2019, A 3,200-year-old well-preserved
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...
sword
A sword is an edged and bladed weapons, edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter ...
was discovered by archaeologists under the leadership of Jaume Deya and Pablo Galera on the Mallorca Island in the
Puigpunyent from the stone megaliths site called
Talaiot
A talaiot, or talayot (), is a Bronze Age megalith found on the islands of Menorca and Majorca forming part of the Talaiotic Culture or Talaiotic Period. Talaiots date back to the late second millennium and early first millennium BC. There are ...
. Specialists assumed that the weapon was made when the
Talaiotic culture
The Talaiotic culture or Talaiotic period is the name used to describe the society that existed on the Gymnesian Islands (the easternmost Balearic Islands) during the Iron Age. Its origins date from the end of the second millennium BC, when the i ...
was in critical decline. The sword will be on display at the nearby Majorca Museum.
Palma
The capital of Mallorca, Palma, was founded as a Roman camp called Palmaria upon the remains of a
Talaiot
A talaiot, or talayot (), is a Bronze Age megalith found on the islands of Menorca and Majorca forming part of the Talaiotic Culture or Talaiotic Period. Talaiots date back to the late second millennium and early first millennium BC. There are ...
ic settlement. The turbulent history of the city had it subject to several Vandal sackings during the
fall of the Western Roman Empire
The fall of the Western Roman Empire, also called the fall of the Roman Empire or the fall of Rome, was the loss of central political control in the Western Roman Empire, a process in which the Empire failed to enforce its rule, and its vast ...
. It was later reconquered by the
Byzantines, established by the Moors (who called it Medina Mayurqa), and finally occupied by
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror ( Catalan/Valencian: ''Jaume I or Jaume el Conqueridor''; Aragonese: ''Chaime I'' ''o Conqueridor''; ; 2 February 1208 – 27 July 1276) was King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1 ...
. In 1983, Palma became the capital of the
autonomous region
An autonomous administrative division (also referred to as an autonomous area, zone, entity, unit, region, subdivision, province, or territory) is a subnational administrative division or territory, internal territory of a sovereign state that has ...
of the
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago forms a Provinces of Spain, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain, ...
. Palma has a famous tourist attraction, the cathedral, Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca, standing in the heart of the City looking out over the sea.
Climate
Mallorca has a
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
:
''Csa''), with mild and relatively wet winters and hot, bright, dry summers. Precipitation in the
Serra de Tramuntana is markedly higher. Summers are hot in the plains, and winters are mild, getting colder and wetter in the Tramuntana range, where brief episodes of snow during the winter are not unusual, especially in the
Puig Major
Puig Major is the highest peak on the Spanish island of Majorca. With an elevation of above sea level. It is situated in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. As the mountain is located in a military zone, the neighbouring peak Puig de Massanell ...
. The two wettest months in Mallorca are October and November. Storms and heavy rain are not uncommon during the autumn.
Geography
Geology
Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands are geologically an extension of the fold mountains of the
Betic Cordillera of
Andalusia
Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...
. They consist primarily of sediments deposited in the
Tethys Sea
The Tethys Ocean ( ; ), also called the Tethys Sea or the Neo-Tethys, was a prehistoric ocean during much of the Mesozoic Era and early-mid Cenozoic Era. It was the predecessor to the modern Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Eurasia ...
during the
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic Era is the Era (geology), era of Earth's Geologic time scale, geological history, lasting from about , comprising the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Period (geology), Periods. It is characterized by the dominance of archosaurian r ...
era. These marine deposits have given rise to calcareous rocks which are often
fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...
iferous. The folding of the Betic Cordillera and Mallorcan ranges resulted from
subduction
Subduction is a geological process in which the oceanic lithosphere and some continental lithosphere is recycled into the Earth's mantle at the convergent boundaries between tectonic plates. Where one tectonic plate converges with a second p ...
of the
African Plate beneath the
Eurasian Plate with eventual collision. Tectonic movements led to different elevation and lowering zones in the late
Tertiary
Tertiary (from Latin, meaning 'third' or 'of the third degree/order..') may refer to:
* Tertiary period, an obsolete geologic period spanning from 66 to 2.6 million years ago
* Tertiary (chemistry), a term describing bonding patterns in organic ch ...
, which is why the connection to the mainland has been severed at the current sea level.
The limestones, which predominate throughout Mallorca, are readily water-soluble, and have given rise to extensive areas of
karst
Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...
. In addition to limestone,
dolomitic rocks are mainly present in the mountainous regions of Mallorca; the Serra de Tramuntana and the Serres de Llevant. The Serres de Llevant also contain
marl
Marl is an earthy material rich in carbonate minerals, Clay minerals, clays, and silt. When Lithification, hardened into rock, this becomes marlstone. It is formed in marine or freshwater environments, often through the activities of algae.
M ...
, the more rapid erosion of which has resulted in the lower elevations of the island's southeastern mountains. Marl is limestone with a high proportion of
clay minerals
Clay minerals are hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates (e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4), sometimes with variable amounts of iron, magnesium, alkali metals, alkaline earths, and other cations found on or near some planetary surfaces.
Clay mineral ...
. The eroded material was washed into the sea or deposited in the interior of the island of the Pla de Mallorca, bright marls in the north-east of the island and ferrous clays in the middle of Mallorca, which gives the soil its characteristic reddish colour.
Mountains of Mallorca
Mallorca features a landscape characterised by a series of mountain ranges. The highest peak,
Puig Major
Puig Major is the highest peak on the Spanish island of Majorca. With an elevation of above sea level. It is situated in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. As the mountain is located in a military zone, the neighbouring peak Puig de Massanell ...
, stands at approximately 1,445 meters (4,741 feet) above sea level. Other notable peaks include
Puig de Massanella,
Puig Tomir,
Puig de l'Ofre, and
Puig des Teix, all exceeding 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in elevation. These mountains are part of the
Serra de Tramuntana range with numerous peaks over 1,000 meters, offering opportunities for hiking and exploration with views of the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...
. While not towering in comparison to some mountain ranges globally, the Mallorcan mountains provide visitors with diverse outdoor experiences and panoramic views of the island's rugged terrain and coastline.
Ten tallest mountains of Mallorca
Regions

Mallorca is the largest island of Spain by area and second most populated (after
Tenerife
Tenerife ( ; ; formerly spelled ''Teneriffe'') is the largest and most populous island of the Canary Islands, an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain. With a land area of and a population of 965,575 inhabitants as of A ...
in the
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the cont ...
).
Mallorca has two mountainous regions, the
Serra de Tramuntana and Serres de Llevant. Both are about in length and occupy the northwestern and eastern parts of the island respectively.
The highest peak in Mallorca is
Puig Major
Puig Major is the highest peak on the Spanish island of Majorca. With an elevation of above sea level. It is situated in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. As the mountain is located in a military zone, the neighbouring peak Puig de Massanell ...
, at , in the Serra de Tramuntana.
As this is a military zone, the neighbouring peak at
Puig de Massanella is the highest accessible peak at . The northeast coast comprises two bays: the Badia de Pollença and the larger Badia d'Alcúdia.
The northern coast is rugged and has many cliffs. The central zone, extending from Palma, is a generally flat, fertile plain known as ''Es Pla''. The island has a variety of
cave
Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's Planetary surface, surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance undergrou ...
s both above and below the sea – two of the caves, the
above sea level
Height above mean sea level is a measure of a location's vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) in reference to a vertical datum based on a historic mean sea level. In geodesy, it is formalized as orthometric height. The zero level ...
Coves dels Hams and the
Coves del Drach, also contain underground lakes and are open to tours. Both are located near the eastern coastal town of
Porto Cristo
Porto Cristo is a small town on the eastern coast of Mallorca. It is from the town of Manacor and is within the Manacor municipality.
Geography
The village is located in a major tourist area between Costa de los Pinos and Cala Murada. Its sma ...
. Small uninhabited islands lie off the southern and western coasts; the
Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Mallorca (in the municipality of Palma), while
Dragonara is administratively included in the municipality of Andratx. Other notable areas include the
Alfabia Mountains,
Es Cornadors and
Cap de Formentor
Cap de Formentor () is the northernmost point of Majorca, Mallorca, on the Formentor peninsula.
Location
Cap de Formentor is located on the northernmost point of the Balearic Islands, Balearic Island Majorca, Mallorca in Spain. Its highest poi ...
. The
Cap de Formentor
Cap de Formentor () is the northernmost point of Majorca, Mallorca, on the Formentor peninsula.
Location
Cap de Formentor is located on the northernmost point of the Balearic Islands, Balearic Island Majorca, Mallorca in Spain. Its highest poi ...
is one of the places where the tourists can enjoy the pleasure of its beach which is golden and very thin.
World Heritage Site
The Cultural Landscape of the
Serra de Tramuntana was registered as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
in 2011.
Municipalities

The island (including the small offshore islands of Cabrera and Dragonera) is administratively divided into 53 municipalities. The areas and populations of the municipalities (according to the ''Instituto Nacional de Estadística'', Spain) are:
Comarques
File:Karte Serra de Tramuntana 2022.png, Serra de Tramuntana
File:Karte Raiguer 2022.png, Raiguer
File:Karte Pla de Mallorca 2022.png, Pla de Mallorca
File:Karte Llevant 2022.png, Llevant
File:Karte Migjorn 2022.png, Migjorn
File:Karte Palma 2022.png, Palma
Population
Mallorca is the most populous island in the Balearic Islands and the second most populous island in Spain, after
Tenerife
Tenerife ( ; ; formerly spelled ''Teneriffe'') is the largest and most populous island of the Canary Islands, an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain. With a land area of and a population of 965,575 inhabitants as of A ...
,
in the
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the cont ...
, being also the fourth most populous island in the Mediterranean after
Sicily
Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...
,
Sardinia
Sardinia ( ; ; ) is the Mediterranean islands#By area, second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, and one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. It is located west of the Italian Peninsula, north of Tunisia an ...
and
Cyprus
Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...
. It had a Census population of 920,605 inhabitants at the start of 2021,
[Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2021.] and an official estimate of 940,332 at the start of 2023.
[Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2023.]
Economy

Since the 1950s, Mallorca has become a major tourist destination, and the tourism business has become the main source of revenue for the island.
The island's popularity as a tourist destination has steadily grown since the 1950s, with many artists and academics choosing to visit and live on the island. The number of visitors to Mallorca continued to increase with holiday makers in the 1970s approaching 3 million a year. In 2010 over 6 million visitors came to Mallorca. In 2013, Mallorca was visited by nearly 9.5 million tourists, and the
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago forms a Provinces of Spain, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain, ...
as a whole reached 13 million tourists. In 2017, ten million tourists visited the island. The rapid growth of the tourism industry has led to some locals protesting the effects of mass tourism on the island.
Mallorca has been jokingly referred to as the 17th Federal State of Germany, due to the high number of German tourists, although people from the island reject this label and deem it "an insult".
Due to a high number of expats choosing to settle down in the area, Mallorca has recently also become a business hub economy of its own, due to a high number of particularly foreign enterprises choosing to either relocate, or expand, to the island.
Attempts to
build illegally caused a scandal in 2006 in Port
Andratx that the newspaper ''
El País
(; ) is a Spanish-language daily newspaper in Spain. is based in the capital city of Madrid and it is owned by the Spanish media conglomerate PRISA.
It is the second-most circulated daily newspaper in Spain . is the most read newspaper in ...
'' named "caso Andratx".
A main reason for illegal building permits, corruption and
black market
A black market is a Secrecy, clandestine Market (economics), market or series of transactions that has some aspect of illegality, or is not compliant with an institutional set of rules. If the rule defines the set of goods and services who ...
construction is that communities have few ways to finance themselves other than through permits.
The former mayor was incarcerated in 2009 after being prosecuted for taking bribes to permit illegal house building.
Top 10 arrivals by nationality
Data from Institute of Statistics of Balearic Islands
Politics and government
Regional government
The Balearic Islands, of which Mallorca forms part, are one of the
autonomous communities of Spain
The autonomous communities () are the first-level political divisions of Spain, administrative divisions of Spain, created in accordance with the Constitution of Spain, Spanish Constitution of 1978, with the aim of guaranteeing limited autonom ...
.
As a whole, they are currently governed by the
People's Party of the Balearic Islands (PP), with
Marga Prohens as their President.
Insular government
The specific government institution for the island is the commonly known as ''Council of Mallorca'', created in 1978.
It is responsible for culture, roads, railways (see
Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca) and municipal administration. As of September 2023, (
PP) serves as president of the Insular Council.
Results of the elections to the Council of Mallorca
Elections are held every four years concurrently with
local elections
Local may refer to:
Geography and transportation
* Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand
* Local, Missouri, a community in the United States
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Local'' (comics), a limited series comic book by Bria ...
. From 1983 to 2007, councilors were indirectly elected from the results of the election to
Parliament of the Balearic Islands
The Parliament of the Balearic Islands (Catalan language, Catalan: ''Parlament de les Illes Balears''; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Parlamento de las Islas Baleares'') is the unicameral List of Spanish regional legislatures, autonomous parliament ...
for the constituency of
Mallorca
Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain, and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
The capital of the island, Palma, Majorca, Palma, i ...
. Since 2007, however, separate direct elections are held to elect the Council.
Culture
Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria
Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria
Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria (, ; 4 August 1847 – 12 October 1915) was an Austrian archduke of the House of Habsburg. He became known as a champion for Mallorca's wildlife, in an era when the term "conservation movement, conservation" was ...
() was a pioneer of tourism in the Balearic Islands. He first arrived on the island in 1867, travelling under his title "Count of Neuendorf". He later settled in Mallorca, buying up wild areas of land in order to preserve and enjoy them. Nowadays, a number of hiking routes are named after him.
Ludwig Salvator loved the island of Mallorca. He became fluent in Catalan, carried out research into the island's flora and fauna, history, and culture to produce his main work, ''Die Balearen'', a comprehensive collection of books about the Balearic Islands, consisting of 7 volumes. It took him 22 years to complete.
Nowadays, several streets or buildings on the island are named after him (i.e., ''Arxiduc Lluís Salvador'').
Chopin in Mallorca

The Polish composer and pianist
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin (born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin; 1 March 181017 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period who wrote primarily for Piano solo, solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown ...
, together with French writer Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin (pseudonym:
George Sand
Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil (; 1 July 1804 – 8 June 1876), best known by her pen name George Sand (), was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist. Being more renowned than either Victor Hugo or Honoré de Balz ...
), resided in
Valldemossa
Valldemossa () is a village and municipality on the island of Mallorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is famous for one landmark: the Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa, built at the beginning of the 14th ce ...
in the winter of 1838–39. Apparently, Chopin's health had already deteriorated and his doctor recommended that he go to the Balearic Islands to recuperate, where he still spent a rather miserable winter.
Nonetheless, his time in Mallorca was a productive period for Chopin. He managed to finish the
Preludes, Op. 28, that he started writing in 1835. He was also able to undertake work on his
Ballade No. 2, Op. 38; two Polonaises, Op. 40; and the
Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39.
Literature
French writer Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin (pseudonym:
George Sand
Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil (; 1 July 1804 – 8 June 1876), best known by her pen name George Sand (), was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist. Being more renowned than either Victor Hugo or Honoré de Balz ...
), at that time in a relationship with
Chopin, described her stay in Mallorca in ''
A Winter in Majorca'', published in 1855. Other famous writers used Mallorca as the setting for their works. While on the island, the Nicaraguan poet
Rubén Darío
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento (18 January 1867 – 6 February 1916), known as Rubén Darío ( , ), was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-language literary movement known as '' modernismo'' (modernism) that flourished at the end of ...
started writing the novel ''El oro de Mallorca'', and wrote several poems, such as ''La isla de oro''.
The poet
Miquel Costa i Llobera wrote in 1875 his famous ode,
the Pine of Formentor, as well as other poems concerning old Mallorcan traditions and fantasies. Many of the works of
Baltasar Porcel take place in Mallorca.
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English people, English author known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving ...
visited the island in the early 20th century and stayed in Palma and Port de Pollença. She would later write the book ''
Problem at Pollensa Bay and Other Stories'', a collection of short stories, of which the first one takes place in
Port de Pollença
Port de Pollença (Balearic ; ) is a small town in northern Majorca, Spain, on the Bay of Pollença about 6 km east of Pollença and two kilometres southeast of Cala Sant Vicenç, Majorca, Cala Sant Vicenç. Cap de Formentor is connected to ...
, starring
Parker Pyne.
Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo ( ; ; 24 August 1899 – 14 June 1986) was an Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet and translator regarded as a key figure in Spanish literature, Spanish-language and international literatur ...
visited Mallorca twice, accompanied by his family. He published his poems ''La estrella'' (1920) and ''Catedral'' (1921) in the regional magazine ''Baleares''. The latter poem shows his admiration for the monumental
Cathedral of Palma.
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes ( ; ; ) are awards administered by the Nobel Foundation and granted in accordance with the principle of "for the greatest benefit to humankind". The prizes were first awarded in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of Alfred N ...
winner
Camilo José Cela came to Mallorca in 1954, visiting
Pollença
Pollença () is a town and municipality in the northern part of the island of Mallorca, near Cap de Formentor and Alcúdia. It lies inland, about west of its port, Port de Pollença.
History
The origin of the name "Pollença" can be traced ba ...
, and then moving to
Palma, where he settled permanently. In 1956, Cela founded the magazine ''Papeles de Son Armadans''. He is also credited as founder of
Alfaguara
Alfaguara is a Spanish-language publishing house that serves markets in Hispanic America, Spain and the United States. It was founded by the Spanish writer and Nobel Prize winner Camilo José Cela.
History and profile
Alfaguara was establishe ...
.
The English writer and poet
Robert Graves
Captain Robert von Ranke Graves (24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985) was an English poet, soldier, historical novelist and critic. His father was Alfred Perceval Graves, a celebrated Irish poet and figure in the Gaelic revival; they were b ...
moved to Mallorca with his family in 1946. The house is now a museum. He died in 1985 and was buried in the small churchyard on a hill at
Deià.
Ira Levin
Ira Marvin Levin (August 27, 1929 – November 12, 2007) was an American novelist, playwright, and songwriter. His works include the novels '' A Kiss Before Dying'' (1953), '' Rosemary's Baby'' (1967), '' The Stepford Wives'' (1972), '' This Perf ...
set part of his dystopian novel ''
This Perfect Day'' in Mallorca, making the island a centre of resistance in a world otherwise dominated by a computer.
Music and dance
The
Ball dels Cossiers is the island's traditional dance. It is believed to have been imported from Catalonia in the 13th or 14th century, after the
Aragonese conquest of the island under
King Jaime I. In the dance, three pairs of dancers, who are typically male, defend a "Lady," who is played by a man or a woman, from a
demon
A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in folklore, mythology, religion, occultism, and literature; these beliefs are reflected in Media (communication), media including
f ...
or
devil
A devil is the mythical personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conce ...
. Another Mallorcan dance is
Correfoc
''Correfocs'' (); literally in English language, English "fire-runs") are among the most striking features present in Valencian Community, Valencian and Catalonia, Catalan festivals. In the ''correfoc'', a group of individuals will dress as d ...
, an elaborate festival of dance and pyrotechnics that is also of Catalan origin. The island's folk music strongly resembles that of
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
, and is centered around traditional instruments like the
xeremies (bagpipe) and
guitarra de canya (a reed or bone
xylophone
The xylophone (; ) is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets. Each bar is an idiophone tuned to a pitch of a musical scale, whether pentatonic or heptatonic in the case of many African ...
-like instrument suspended from the neck).
While folk music is still played and enjoyed by many on the island, a number of other musical traditions have become popular in Mallorca in the 21st century, including
electronic dance music
Electronic dance music (EDM), also referred to as dance music or club music, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres originally made for nightclubs, raves, and List of electronic dance music festivals, festivals. It is generally ...
, classical music, and
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
, all of which have annual festivals on the island.
Art
Joan Miró
Joan Miró i Ferrà ( , ; ; 20 April 1893 – 25 December 1983) was a Catalan Spanish painter, sculptor and Ceramic art, ceramist. A museum dedicated to his work, the Fundació Joan Miró, was established in his native city of Barcelona ...
, a Spanish painter, sculptor, and ceramicist, had close ties to the island throughout his life. He married Pilar Juncosa in Palma in 1929 and settled permanently in Mallorca in 1954. The
Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró in Mallorca has a collection of his works.
Es Baluard in Palma is a museum of modern and contemporary art which exhibits the work of Balearic artists and artists related to the Balearic Islands.
Film
The
Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival is the fastest growing Mediterranean film festival and has taken place annually every November since 2011, attracting filmmakers, producers, and directors globally. It is hosted at the Teatro Principal in Palma de Mallorca.
Mallorcan cartographic school

Mallorca has a long history of seafaring. The
Majorcan cartographic school or the "
Catalan school" refers to a collection of
cartographer
Cartography (; from , 'papyrus, sheet of paper, map'; and , 'write') is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an imagined reality) can ...
s,
cosmographer
The term cosmography has two distinct meanings: traditionally it has been the protoscience of mapping the general features of the cosmos, heaven and Earth; more recently, it has been used to describe the ongoing effort to determine the large-sca ...
s, and
navigational instrument makers who flourished in Mallorca and partly in mainland
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
in the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. Mallorcan cosmographers and cartographers developed breakthroughs in cartographic techniques, namely the "normal
portolan chart
Portolan charts are nautical charts, first made in the 13th century in the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean basin and later expanded to include other regions. The word ''portolan'' comes from the Italian language, Italian ''portolano'', meaning " ...
", which was fine-tuned for navigational use and the plotting by compass of navigational routes, prerequisites for the discovery of the
New World
The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...
.
Cuisine

In 2005, there were over 2,400 restaurants on the island of Mallorca according to the Mallorcan Tourist Board, ranging from small bars to full restaurants. Olives and almonds are typical of the Mallorcan diet. Among the foods that are typical from Mallorca are ''
sobrassada
in Catalan, or in Spanish, is a raw, cured sausage from the Balearic Islands (Spain) made with ground pork, paprika, salt and other spices. , along with , are traditional Balearic meat products prepared in the laborious but festive rites t ...
'', ''arròs brut'' (saffron rice cooked with chicken, pork and vegetables), and the sweet pastry ''
ensaïmada
The ''ensaïmada'' is a pastry product from Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, commonly found in southwestern Europe, Latin America and the Philippines.
The ''ensaïmada de Mallorca'' is made with strong flour, water, sugar, eggs, mother doug ...
''. Also Pa amb oli is a popular dish.
Herbs de Majorca
Hierbas de Mallorca or Herbs de Majorca (; ) is a Mallorcan herbal liqueur of medicinal origin. A form of the generic Hierbas, Hierbas de Mallorca has a protected designation of origin and can only be made in Mallorca.
Origins
Hierbas de Ma ...
is a herbal liqueur.
Language
The two official languages of Mallorca are
Catalan and
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas
**Spanish cuisine
**Spanish history
**Spanish culture
...
,
[Article 4 of the ] a dialect of the former being the
indigenous language
An indigenous language, or autochthonous language, is a language that is native to a region and spoken by its indigenous peoples. Indigenous languages are not necessarily national languages but they can be; for example, Aymara is both an indigen ...
of Mallorca. The local
dialect
A dialect is a Variety (linguistics), variety of language spoken by a particular group of people. This may include dominant and standard language, standardized varieties as well as Vernacular language, vernacular, unwritten, or non-standardize ...
of Catalan spoken in the island is ''
Mallorquí'', with slightly different variants in most villages. Education is bilingual in Catalan and Spanish, with some teaching of English.
In 2012, the then-governing
People's Party announced its intention to end preferential treatment for Catalan in the island's schools to bring parity to the two languages of the island. It was said that this could lead Mallorcan Catalan to become extinct in the fairly near future, as it was being used in a situation of
diglossia
In linguistics, diglossia ( , ) is where two dialects or languages are used (in fairly strict compartmentalization) by a single language community. In addition to the community's everyday or vernacular language variety (labeled "L" or "low" v ...
in favour of the Spanish language. However, following a
May 2015 election that swept a pro-Catalan party into power, this policy was dropped.
Transportation

*
Palma de Mallorca Airport
Palma de Mallorca Airport — also known as Son Sant Joan Airport – is an international airport located east of Palma, Mallorca, Spain, adjacent to the village of Can Pastilla.
In 2024, the airport handled 33.3 million passengers, making ...
*
Mallorca rail network
**
Palma de Mallorca Metro
**
Ferrocarril de Sóller
Mallorca bus system (TIB)A
trackless train is in operation in several tourist areas.
Water transport
There are approximately 79 ferries between Mallorca and other destinations every week, most of them to mainland Spain.
*
Baleària
**to the Balearic Islands from Dénia, Valencia and Barcelona
*
Trasmediterránea
Trasmediterránea operates passengers and cargo ferries between mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and northern Africa's Spanish territories. Since 2017 the majority of the company belongs to Naviera Armas.
History
The ...
** Mainland-
Baleares: regular lines, in both directions, from:
***
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
to
Palma de Mallorca
Palma (, ; ), also known as Palma de Mallorca (officially between 1983 and 1988, 2006–2008, and 2012–2016), is the capital and largest city of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. It is ...
,
Ibiza
Ibiza (; ; ; #Names and pronunciation, see below) or Iviza is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the city of Valencia. It is the third largest of th ...
and
Mahón
Mahón (), officially Maó (, ; formerly spelled ''Mahó''), and also written as Mahon or Port Mahon in English, is the capital and second largest city of Menorca. The city is located on the eastern coast of the island, which is part of the ar ...
.
***
Valencia
Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...
to Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Mahón.
***
Gandia
Gandia (, ) is a city and Municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Valencian Community, eastern Spain on the Mediterranean. Gandia is located on the Costa de Valencia, south of Valencia, Spain, Valencia and north of Alicante. Vehicles can ...
to Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza.
Cycling
One of Europe's most popular cycling destinations
Mallorca cycling routessuch as the popular 24 km cycle track (segregated cycle lane) which runs between Porto Cristo and Cala Bona via Sa Coma and Cala Millor are must rides.
Renowned Mallorcans

Some of the earliest famous Mallorcans lived on the island before its reconquest from the Moors. Famous Mallorcans include:
*
Ramon Llull
Ramon Llull (; ; – 1316), sometimes anglicized as ''Raymond Lully'', was a philosopher, theologian, poet, missionary, Christian apologist and former knight from the Kingdom of Majorca.
He invented a philosophical system known as the ''Art ...
, a medieval friar, writer and philosopher, who wrote the first major work of
Catalan Literature
Catalan literature (or Valencian literature) is the name conventionally used to refer to literature written in the Catalan language. The focus of this article is not just the literature of Catalonia, but literature written in Catalan from anywhe ...
;
*
Al-Humaydī, Moorish historian, born on the island in 1029.
*
Abraham Cresques, a 14th-century Jewish
cartographer
Cartography (; from , 'papyrus, sheet of paper, map'; and , 'write') is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an imagined reality) can ...
of the
Majorcan cartographic school from Palma, believed to be the author of the
Catalan Atlas
The Catalan Atlas (, ) is a medieval world map, or mappa mundi, probably created in the late 1370s or the early 1380s (often conventionally dated 1375), that has been described as the most important map of the Middle Ages in the Catalan language, ...
;
*
Catalina Tomas, 16th-century
canoness
A canoness is a member of a religious community of women, historically a stable community dedicated to the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours in a particular church. The name corresponds to a canon, the male equivalent, and both roles share a ...
and
mystic, one of the
patron saint
A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, fa ...
s of the island
*
Junípero Serra
Saint Junípero Serra Ferrer (; ; November 24, 1713August 28, 1784), popularly known simply as Junipero Serra, was a Spanish Roman Catholic, Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Order. He is credited with establishing the Francis ...
, the
Franciscan
The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...
friar who founded the mission chain in
Alta California
Alta California (, ), also known as Nueva California () among other names, was a province of New Spain formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of , but was made a separat ...
in 1769.
*
Miquel Costa i Llobera, a famous Mallorcan poet, who wrote
The Pine of Formentor.
*
Joaquín Jovellar y Soler, 19th century military commander.
*
Antonio Maura
Antonio Maura Montaner (2 May 1853 – 13 December 1925) was Prime Minister of Spain on five separate occasions.
Early life
Maura was born in Palma de Mallorca, Palma, on the island of Mallorca, he was the seventh child in a family of t ...
, two-time Spanish Prime Minister during the reign of King
Alfonso XIII
Alfonso XIII (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Alfonso León Fernando María Jaime Isidro Pascual Antonio de Borbón y Habsburgo-Lorena''; French language, French: ''Alphonse Léon Ferdinand Marie Jacques Isidore Pascal Antoine de Bourbon''; 17 May ...
.
*
Robert Graves
Captain Robert von Ranke Graves (24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985) was an English poet, soldier, historical novelist and critic. His father was Alfred Perceval Graves, a celebrated Irish poet and figure in the Gaelic revival; they were b ...
, English writer and poet who lived for many years in Mallorca, buried in a small churchyard on a hill at
Deià
*
Joan Daurer, painter active between 1358-1374.
Notable residents, alive in modern times
*
Eaktay Ahn (1906–1965), founder of the Balearic Symphony Orchestra and composer of the Korean national anthem, lived in Mallorca from 1946 until his death in 1965.
*
Jeffrey Archer
Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare (born 15 April 1940) is an English novelist and former politician. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Louth (Lincolnshire) from 1969 to 1974, but did not seek re-election after a fina ...
, English novelist, owns a villa in Mallorca
*
Marco Asensio, Spanish footballer, former
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (), commonly referred to as Real Madrid, is a Spanish professional Football club (association football), football club based in Madrid. The club competes in La Liga, th ...
player and currently at
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain () or simply PSG, is a French professional Association football, football club based in Paris. They compete in Ligue 1, the French football league system, top d ...
, was born in
Palma, Mallorca.
*
Miquel Barceló
Miquel Barceló Artigues (born 1957) is a Spanish painter.
Career
Barceló was born at Felanitx, Mallorca.
After having studied at the Arts and Crafts School of Palma de Mallorca, Palma for two years, he enrolled at the Fine Arts School ...
, contemporary painter, created sculptures in
Palma Cathedral
The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, more commonly referred to as La Seu (a title also used by many other churches), is a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral located in Palma, Mallorca, Spain. It is the Cathedral of the diocese of Mallorca, and is ...
.
*
Concha Buika, contemporary flamenco singer. Concha Buika was born on 11 May 1972, in Palma de Mallorca.
*
Jean Batten
Jane Gardner Batten (15 September 1909 – 22 November 1982), commonly known as Jean Batten, was a New Zealand Aircraft pilot, aviator who made several record-breaking flights – including the first solo flight from England to New Zealand i ...
, the New Zealand aviator, died in Mallorca in 1982.
*
Conor Benn, British professional boxer, spent twelve years of his childhood living in Mallorca.
*
Nigel Benn
Nigel Gregory Benn (born 22 January 1964), is a former British professional boxer who competed from 1987 to 1996. A two-weight world champion, he held the WBO middleweight title in 1990 and reigned as the WBC super-middleweight champion f ...
, former British professional boxer who moved with his family to Mallorca following the conclusion of his boxing career.
*
Maria del Mar Bonet
Maria del Mar Bonet i Verdaguer (Balearic Catalan: ; born 1947 in Palma de Mallorca) is a Spanish singer from the island of Majorca.
Early life and career
Bonet studied ceramics in the school of arts, but eventually decided to dedicate herself ...
, musician, member of the
Catalan language
Catalan () is a Western Romance languages, Western Romance language and is the official language of Andorra, and the official language of three autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous communities in eastern Spain: Catalonia, the Balearic I ...
group
Els Setze Jutges in the 1960s with brother Joan Ramon Bonet.
*Samuel Bouriah, better known as
DJ Sammy
Samuel Bouriah (born 19 October 1969), better known by his stage name DJ Sammy, is a Spanish DJ and record producer. He has released five albums and has had five top-10 hits, including a cover of Bryan Adams' "Heaven", which reached number one ...
, dance artist and producer.
*
Faye Emerson
Faye Margaret Emerson (July 8, 1917 – March 9, 1983) was an American film and stage actress and television interviewer who gained fame as a film actress in the 1940s before transitioning to television in the 1950s and hosting her own talk show ...
and Anne Lindsay Clark, divorcees of
Elliott Roosevelt Elliott Roosevelt may refer to:
* Elliott Roosevelt (socialite) (1860–1894), American socialite, father-in-law of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, father of Eleanor Roosevelt, younger brother of President Theodore Roosevelt, and grandfather of G ...
and
John Aspinwall Roosevelt
John Aspinwall Roosevelt II (March 13, 1916 – April 27, 1981) was an American businessman and the sixth and last child of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt.
Early life
John Aspinwall Roosevelt II was the yo ...
(US Officials and sons of
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...
) respectively, retired to Mallorca in 1965. Emerson died in
Deià in 1983.
*
Sheila Ferguson
Sheila Diana Ferguson (born October 8, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and author, who has worked primarily in the United Kingdom. Between 1966 and 1986, she was a member of the American female soul music group The Three Degree ...
, resident, a former member of
the Three Degrees
The Three Degrees are an American female vocal group formed circa 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although 12 women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The current line-up consists of Helen Scott, Valerie Ho ...
.
*
Rudy Fernández basketball player.
*
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood Sr. (January 18, 1938 – January 20, 1997) was an American professional baseball center fielder and activist. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Redlegs, St. Louis Cardinals, and Washin ...
, baseball player, purchased a bar in
Palma, Majorca
Palma (, ; ), also known as Palma de Mallorca (officially between 1983 and 1988, 2006–2008, and 2012–2016), is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. It is situated on the south coast of M ...
after leaving the
Washington Senators in 1971.
*
Antònia Font, contemporary pop band in the
Mallorcan dialect of Catalan.
*
Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos (born 4 January 1990) is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, he was known for his vision, pinpoint precision passing, crossing, and set-p ...
, footballer for
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (), commonly referred to as Real Madrid, is a Spanish professional Football club (association football), football club based in Madrid. The club competes in La Liga, th ...
and
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team () represents Germany in men's international Association football, football and played its first match in 1908. The team is governed by the German Football Association (''Deutscher Fußball-Bund''), founded ...
.
*
Cynthia Lennon (1939–2015), former wife of
John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...
, lived and died in Mallorca.
*
Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo Guerrero (; born 4 May 1987) is a Spanish former professional Grand Prix motorcycle racing, motorcycle racer. He is a five-time World Champion, with three List of 500cc/MotoGP Motorcycle World Champions, MotoGP World Championships ...
professional motorcycle road racer, won the world 250cc Grand Prix motorcycle title in 2006 and 2007, and the 2010 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, 2010, 2012 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, 2012 & 2015 MotoGP World Championships.
*Colm Meaney, Irish actor, resides in the town of Sóller.
*Mads Mikkelsen, Danish actor, purchased a vacation home in Mallorca, where he spends most of his time.
*Joan Mir, professional motorcycle road racer and 2020 MotoGP World Champion.
*Carlos Moyá, former world No.1 tennis player and coach of Rafael Nadal.
*Xisco (footballer, born 1980), Xisco Muñoz, former footballer and coach (FC Dinamo Tbilisi, Watford F.C), was born in
Manacor
Manacor () is a town and Municipalities of Spain, municipality on the island of Mallorca, part of the Spanish Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is the second-largest town in Mallorca, after the capi ...
.
*Rafael Nadal, 22-time major champion and former world No. 1 tennis player, lives in Manacor.
*Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal's uncle and his former coach.
*Miguel Ángel Nadal, Rafael Nadal's uncle, former FC Barcelona and Spanish international footballer.
*John Noakes, former British TV presenter, lived in
Andratx.
*Jean Emile Oosterlynck, the Flemish painter, lived in Mallorca from 1979 until his death in 1996.
*Hana Soukupova, supermodel, owns a villa in Mallorca.
*José María Sicilia, painter, resides in the town of Sóller.
*Jørn Utzon, an architect best known for designing the Sydney Opera House, designed and built two houses in Mallorca, Can Lis and Can Feliz.
*Agustí Villaronga (born 1953), filmmaker, born in Palma.
Gallery
File:Cathedral palma mallorca spain 2007 08 15.jpg, ''La Seu'', Palma Cathedral
The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, more commonly referred to as La Seu (a title also used by many other churches), is a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral located in Palma, Mallorca, Spain. It is the Cathedral of the diocese of Mallorca, and is ...
File:Castillo de Bellver.jpg, Bellver Castle
File:PuigMajor5.jpg, Lakes Cúber and Gorg Blau, Serra de Tramuntana
File:Puig Major 21.jpg, ''Puig Major'', highest peak in Mallorca
File:Valldemossa 2003.jpg, Valldemossa
Valldemossa () is a village and municipality on the island of Mallorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is famous for one landmark: the Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa, built at the beginning of the 14th ce ...
File:Torrente de Pareis from boat 02.jpg, Sa Calobra, Escorca
File:Cap Formentor.jpg, ''Cap de Formentor
Cap de Formentor () is the northernmost point of Majorca, Mallorca, on the Formentor peninsula.
Location
Cap de Formentor is located on the northernmost point of the Balearic Islands, Balearic Island Majorca, Mallorca in Spain. Its highest poi ...
''
File:Porta Pollença Sunrise Bird.jpg, Sunrise across Pollensa Bay, Port de Pollença
Port de Pollença (Balearic ; ) is a small town in northern Majorca, Spain, on the Bay of Pollença about 6 km east of Pollença and two kilometres southeast of Cala Sant Vicenç, Majorca, Cala Sant Vicenç. Cap de Formentor is connected to ...
File:Cap de ses Salines.jpg, ''Cap de Ses Salines''
File:Spain mallorca cala agulla a.jpg, Cala Agulla, Capdepera
File:Mallorca schönste Strände Cala Amarador (30182046834).jpg, Aerial of Cala Amarador beach
File:Mallorca schönste Strände Westküste Bucht (30697030362).jpg, Aerial of Cala Llombards beach
File:Mallorca Palma Strand (30725674811).jpg, Platja de Palma beach
File:Mallorca Platja de Palma Strand (30178917243).jpg, Aerial of Platja de Palma beach
File:Vista parcial de Deià (3).jpg, Deià
File:Sa Foradada (Na Foradada).jpg, ''Sa Foradada''
File:1. Port de Sóller (Mallorca).jpg, Port de Sóller
File:Platja de Muro Beach, Mallorca.jpg, Platja de Muro
File:Port Adriano, Mallorca.jpg, Port Adriano
See also
* Gymnesian Islands
* Observatorio Astronómico de Mallorca
* RCD Mallorca – local association football club
Notes
References
External links
mallorca.com - all about Mallorca - weekly updated portal with information about regions, beaches, sights, the life & activities on the island
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