Majorca
A scenically beautiful island and a favourite with many visitors from around the world, Majorca remains the single most popular holiday destination in Europe.
Largest of the Balearic Islands, Majorca has everything - big, lively resorts and tiny, sandy bays; picture-postcard mountain villages and spectacular scenery artists drool over; a central plain of rolling farmland and olive trees; and hotels in glorious seclusion where you can doze a week or two away. Palma, the island’s beautiful capital, is a delight for both sightseeing and shopping. The classy boutiques along Jaime III are as fashionable as you can find, while the Saturday market is light years different. You’ll find here, too, a huge choice of restaurants ranging from family run little places in the old quarter near the cathedral, with daily menus of local specialities, to fish restaurants serving the best of today’s catch and smart international eateries. Just to the west of Palma, on the way to Illetas, lies peaceful C’as Catala, close to an excellent shopping centre and the cafés and restaurants of Cala Mayor. Nearby is the Marivent Palace, summer residence of the Spanish royal family. Illetas, also a peaceful spot, is a sleepy resort, with just a smattering of cafeterias and restaurants, and a few handy shops. The centre of Palma is only some 10 minutes’ from both C’as Catala and Illetas. Next is Costa d’En Blanes, a stretch of coast dotted with little bays and pine covered headlands, which has a sleepy atmosphere set between the busy resort of Palma Nova and the very fashionable marina of Puerto Portals. Here are some excellent restaurants and, in summer, a very lively night-time bar scene. On the south coast, Paguera, is a large beach resort, with a pedestrianised main street of nice shops, coffee and cakes cafés, an enormous choice of restaurants, a huge beach but a quite low-key atmosphere. The spectacular mountain range running up the north-west of the island is where some of the prettiest towns and villages are hidden. Deya, made famous by Robert Graves, Valldemosa, Soller and Puerto Soller are in total contrast to the big beach resorts and are well-worth a visit. A picturesque hamlet much loved by artists including Picasso, Lluc-Alcari consists of just a few dwellings and the Hotel Costa d’Or, close to Deya with spectacular views over the sea. For sheer breath-taking vistas though, go right to the north, to the Formentor Peninsula - the sea cliffs here, the Bay of Pollensa and nearby delightful Cala San Vicente, are a photographers dream. Cala San Vicente has for over 40 years been a favourite weekend retreat for Mallorquins, evidenced by the many private villas in the area and some excellent restaurants. But still it enjoys a very calming air, while being within easy reach of nearby Puerto Pollensa. Puerto Pollensa is one of the most sought after resorts on the island; its peaceful image, and slow pace, suits many regular visitors. Beaches are good, lots of dining out options and a wide selection of shops provide ample variety to while away your days. The huge Bay of Alcudia is in the north-east corner of the island, with an enormous beach sweeping almost unbroken for some 18 miles around the bay. The modern resort of Puerto de Alcudia centres around the harbour and has some fine restaurants and ample shopping possibilities. The old walled town of Alcudia with its fascinating narrow alleyways is just inland. Leaving the Bay of Alcudia we reach Cala Mesquida, a real get-away-from-it-all beach where watersports can be enjoyed and some delightful countryside explored if you like walking. No late night bright lights here, but a great spot for a family beachside break. The bustling inland town of Capdepera is some 6 kms south, with the larger resort of Cala Ratjada a further 3 kms. Coming down the east coast is where you’ll discover many little bays with maybe one hotel and a beach bar serving fresh grilled fish, between the larger resorts of Cala Millor and Cala d’Or. Cala d’Or, definitely one of the prettiest parts of this coast, is really a series of little bays outside the village itself, each with perhaps two or three hotels and a lovely little beach. At night everyone seems to gather in the village to relax in one of the many cafés and restaurants and ice cream parlours. With such variety on a relatively small island, it’s easy to see why Majorca pleases so many people and why so many people of such differing tastes return time after time.
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