Back From Barcelona – Mallorca – #1 – A General Overview

I am back from yet another magical vacation in Spain. It was actually 2 little mini-vacations in 1. The first part of our trip was to the island of Mallorca. We spent 5 days in Mallorca and 5 days in Barcelona. The second part of our trip was to Barcelona, with a one-day trip to the separate tiny country of Andorra.

I just finished editing all my Mallorca pictures. I took a ton of pictures on our trip; well over 1200. NO, I am not going to bore you with all of them, but I certainly will share the highlights to give you all a feel for what life in Spain is like.

Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest island of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain, and the seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Mallorca is known as the pearl of the Mediterranean. It is easy to see how it got this name, since it’s seascapes that surround the island are absolutely breathtaking.

Mallorca, as well as the rest of Spain, has a very old and rich history with influences from all all over, dating back to before the times of the Ancient Romans. Before Mallorca was conquered by the Ancient Romans, it was inhabited by the Foners. These people were very skilled at weaponry, especially mastering the art of the slingshot, or the fonda. The Romans conquered Mallorca in 123 BC and reigned over the area until it was sacked by the North Africans. In 554, it was under Byzantine rule and remained so until 902, when the Moors conquered the island. The Moors remained in power for over 327 years, before the island became “Christianized” in 1228, and has remained a Christian/Catholic region ever since. Mallorca was annexed to Spain in 1492 when the country was unified under the reign of the Catholic Monarchs. Mallorca is part of Spain, but it is also Catalan. The Catalans have a different language and are technically a separate people than the Spanish, even though their cultures have a blended history with a lot of similarities. Right now there is a battle taking place for the Catalans to regain their independence from Spain.

This is a depiction of the transfer of powers from the defeated Muslim Moors to the Spanish, led by King Jaimie the 1st (James the 1st).

The island of Mallorca might be one of Spain’s most historic islands, but its capital city of Palma de Mallorca, which is also the largest city by far on the island, is best known for its beaches and bustling modern and cosmopolitan lifestyle. The island as a whole is known for its secluded coves, limestone mountains, Spanish architecture, wineries and fresh produce farms, and oh so much more. Mallorca is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe, for both celebrities and normal working people alike. Since the mid 20th century, tourism has been is main economic force.

I saw Mallorca from both above the sea and below. I took my scuba gear and did some diving as well. Larry only did 1 dive, but I did a few more, and definitely would have done more if Larry had let me. 🙂 The diving was much better in Mallorca than it was in Southern Spain, around Malaga, Marbella and the Costal del Sol area. The water was much clearer, with better visibility, it was warmer, and there was so much more marine life to see. There were lots of big schools of fish swimming in big circles, something I don’t normally see, even though many of the fish species were the same I see elsewhere. I will most definitely dive in Mallorca again, given the chance. It’s NOT Cozumel, but it was still nice diving indeed.

We rented a car while in Mallorca, and we literally saw most of the island. It is amazingly beautiful. We did so many things and saw so much. There is plenty more coming your way. This is just the first of many installments. Enjoy or disfutar! 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe and stay well. ‘Til next time.