Mallorca Island News Mallorca Island News
Independent travellers who come to Mallorca today may not be surprised to know that they are the latest in a long line of visitors lured by the island’s charms. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals and Byzantines are but some of those who came, saw and conquered, and in 903AD it was the turn of the Cordoban Moors, under whose rule the island prospered for over three hundred years.
Its domed roof is supported by twelve stone columns, and the sharp-eyed visitor may notice that each of them is different, having probably been recycled from earlier Roman buildings. It is not hard to imagine wealthy Arab noblemen and merchants discussing politics and trade while luxuriating in these intimate surroundings, or relaxing in the shade in its tranquil, well-tended courtyard; a world away from the bustle of the city.
Like the British, Mallorcans are proud of their long maritime history. Indeed, a recent article in a local newspaper even claimed that Christopher Columbus was born on the island! Whatever the merits of this claim, Mallorca’s sailing tradition is alive and well today. The island is home to an astonishing 20,000 leisure boats, and three times this number of yachts visit each year.
Palma’s history and traditional pleasures have enticed people to the city for centuries, but these days many visitors also come to discover one of its modern delights – shopping! Mallorca’s capital offers a wide and eclectic shopping experience; from exclusive designer boutiques to unique local craft shops and bustling markets. Such is its appeal, some have dubbed Palma ‘the mini Barcelona’, and this relative compactness is a boon for the shopper, as the main retail areas are all very close to each other.
