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Majorca (or Mallorca in
the Spanish and
Catalan languages) is the largest island of Spain. The name
derives from Latin insula maior, "larger
island"; later Maiorica. It is located in
the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the Balearic Islands, known in Catalan
as the Illes Balears and in Spanish as the Islas Baleares. Like the
other Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Formentera, and Minorca, the island is a
very popular tourist
destination, especially for Germans and British visitors. Indeed, since the 1960s,
Mallorca has become synonymous with mass tourism. However, there are
many very beautiful and unspoilt areas on the island, and with some
discernment you will be able to find delightful coastline, superb
mountain walks, and quiet, traditional restaurants in delightful
mountain villages.
The capital of the island is the attractive city of Palma, which is
also the capital of the
autonomous region of the Balearic Islands. Since the
advent of mass tourism Palma has grown significantly: tourist
numbers visiting the island increased from 600,000 to over 21
million between 1960 and 2001, with the majority of those arriving
through Palma airport.
Majorca's History
Mallorca has been the
object of human habitation since at least the Paleolithic period (6000–4000 BC),
as proven by the existence of burial chambers from that period. The Romans
occupied Majorca in 120 BC, giving the island a period of prosperity
and confidence during which the towns of Pollentia (Alcúdia), and Palmaria
(Palma) were came into being. The economy was largely driven by olive
growth, viniculture, and salt production.
This period of prosperity came to an end in 426, when the Vandals sacked the island;
later, around 530, Majorca was conquered by the Byzantine
Empire and during this period Christianity flourished and many churches were
constructed. However, from 700 onwards, Muslim
raiders from North Africa posed an increasing threat, until in 900 the Caliphate of Cordoba conquered
the island. This brought about another period of prosperity for the island,
in which the Moors improved agriculture with new methods of irrigation,
and
local industries became much more prosperous. After the Caliphate
was broken up in 1015, Majorca came under the rule of the Taifa of
Denia, and eventually became an independent taifa until a raiding
party of Pisans and Catalans conquered the island in 1114,
laying siege to the capital Palma for 8 months. A series of
invasions and counter-invasions followed until King James I of Aragon
conquered the island definitively with 15,000 men and
1,500 horses, annexing the island to his Crown of Aragon after a 3
month campaign. When he died the island was initially inherited by
his son James II, who was crowned king of Mallorca. In
1344, his brother Peter IV of Aragon invaded, and took Majorca back
into the Crown of Aragon.
From 1480 onwards, the Crown of Aragon was unified with that of
Castile. This turbulent history continued when the War of the Spanish
Succession led to the unified Spanish monarchy, under which Majorca
became part of the Spanish province of Baleares, roughly the same as
the current Balearic Islands. The capital of Majorca, Palma, was
originally a Roman camp known as Palmaria. Like the rest of the
island and indeed much of the Roman empire, Palma saw several Vandal
sackings during the fall of the Roman Empire. Palma was
made the capital of the autonomous region of the Balearic
Islands in 1983.
Majorca's Geography
Majorca has two mountainous regions,
both of which are about 70 km
in length. They occupy the north-western part of the island (the Serra de Tramuntana or
Tramuntana range) and the eastern third of the island. The highest
mountain is Puig Major (1,445 m) in the Serra de Tramuntana, but it is
inside a military area and not open to public access. The neighbouring
mountain - Puig de Massanella -
is the highest accessible peak (1,364 m). The northeastern
coast of Majorca has two sweeping bays: the Badia de Pollença and the
rather larger Badia d'Alcúdia. The northern coast is generally rugged and
has many cliffs. The central zone extending from Palma is generally
flat fertile plain known as Es Pla.
The climate is Mediterranean, though there is a lot more rain in
the Serra de Tramuntana than the plain. Summers are hot; winters
mild to cool, an d obviously much colder in the Tramuntana range.
Indeed, snow is not unusual in the Serra de Tramuntana
Nearby Mallorca there are two uninhabited small islands: Cabrera
(southeast of Palma) and Dragonera (west of Palma).
The island is administratively divided into
these municipalities:
Alaró
Alcúdia
Algaida
Andratx
Ariany
Artà
Banyalbufar
Binissalem
Búger
Bunyola
Calvià
Campanet
Campos
Capdepera
Consell
Costitx
Deià
Escorca
Esporles
Estellencs
Felanitx Fornalutx
Inca
Lloret de Vistalegre
Lloseta
Llubí
Llucmajor
Manacor
Mancor de la Vall
Maria de la Salut
Marratxí
Montuïri
Muro
Palma
Petra
sa Pobla
Pollença
Porreres
Puigpunyent
Santa Eugènia
Santa Margalida
Santa Maria del Camí
Santanyí
Sant Joan
Sant Llorenç des Cardassar
Selva
Sencelles
Ses Salines
Sineu
Sóller
Son Servera
Valldemossa
Vilafranca de Bonany
A Selection Of People
from Mallorca or Associated With Mallorca
Majorcans of note include writer and philosopher Ramon Llull, and the Franciscan friar who founded the mission
in Alta California, Junípero Serra. Men of note from the nineteenth century
include the military general
Joaquin Jovellar y Soler and the Spanish Prime Minister,
Antonio Maura Montaner. In our time, there have been sportsmen Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moyà.
The island has played host to many people of note. But some of the
most famous are Frédéric Chopin and
Georges Sand, who were romantically involved in Valldemossa and
lived in rooms within the monastery
for a short time. The book Sands wrote about the experience has
proved to be an enduring bestseller, but did not endear her to the
locals! Robert Graves moved to Majorca and became the island's most
famous adopted son. Joan Miró died in Son Abrines, Palma, on
Christmas Day 1983, after living on the island towards the end of
his life. In 1992 the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró was established in
his memory.
Mallorca is also home to contemporary artists Miquel Barceló, José María Sicilia and
Astrid Colomar.
Mallorcan
Language and Politics
The official languages of Majorca are Catalan and Spanish. The local
dialect of Catalan is Mallorquí, even though the dialects are
different in each island and in each village. Typically, young
Majorcans are bilingual in Catalan and Spanish, with some knowledge
of English or German as a foreign language, especially due to the
large number of tourists and foreign residents on the island.
The Balearic Islands, of which Majorca
forms part, is one of the Spanish autonomous communities. It has
been governed by a coalition of different leftist and
nationalist parties including the Partit Socialista (PSOE) under
Francesc Antich.
There is a specific government for the island which is called
Consell Insular de Mallorca (Majorca Insular Council) with
competences in culture, roads, railways (see Serveis Ferroviaris de
Mallorca) and municipal administration. The insular councillors are
the same which are elected for the Balearic Parliament representing
the island.
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