The Balearic Islands surprise and fascinate; each island has its own local personality and is different from the rest
The Archipelago of the Balearic Islands is made up of five islands: Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera. It is one of the main tourist resorts on the Mediterranean thanks to its mild temperatures, more than 300 days of sunshine a year, beautiful countryside, beaches, protected areas and options for leisure and relaxation, which make it a cosmopolitan resort visited by tourists from all over the world.
This beautiful location on the ancient Mare Nostrum is an archipelago made up of 5 islands and several small islands. It is divided into two groups of islands: to the northeast, the Gymnesian Islands (Majorca, Menorca and Cabrera); to the south-west, the Pitiusic Islands (Ibiza and Formentera). Its mild climate, more than 300 days of sunshine a year, beautiful countryside and beaches, cultural activities, options for leisure and relaxation and friendly local inhabitants have turned it into a cosmopolitan resort visited by tourists from all over the world, sometimes for holidays and sometimes to stay forever.
It comes as no surprise that the airport of the capital city, Palma de Mallorca, is one of the busiest in Spain. The Balearic Islands surprise and fascinate; each island has its own local personality and is different from the rest.
The traditional cuisine of the Balearic Islands, which comes from the islands’ fishing and farming activities before the rise of tourism, is very rich and varied. Local gastronomy includes the typical frit of Majorca, coques (vegetables, etc.), lobster stew, which is an exceptional dish from Menorca, oliaigua amb figues (figs), cuscussó (a Christmas dessert of Arab origin), Easterformatjades and gin, etc. Ibiza, with its flaó (herb cheesecake), and Formentera, with its fish salad, are just a few reasons for visiting the Balearic archipelago. Sweets include the popular ensaimada.Â
Majorca, the elegant large island, as it was called by the Romans, has everything you could dream of. The first tourists came to the island at the beginning of the 1920s and it was a resort for selective tourism until the Spanish Civil War, especially for intellectuals and artists. The cultural options on offer in Palma are the same as those of a city that is 10 times bigger, e.g. the Auditorium of Palma has one of the best concert halls in Europe. The island’s mild climate, clear skies, beautiful countryside, great history and
cosmopolitan atmosphere make it a privileged location. Majorca offers options for relaxation, culture and leisure and is a source of inspiration. Menorca is the island of wind and legend holds that north winds are capable of changing behaviour. It is the most eastern island on the Archipelago and has a strong personality that is different from the others. Dotted with megalithic monuments and numerous examples of its eventful history and culture, it offers many contrasts in an area of only 700 km². Its almost flat surface offers tourists the pleasant surprise of 216 km of coastline with numerous beaches and solitary coves. Menorca, the smaller island as it was called by the Romans in comparison with the larger island of Majorca, has an almost untouched, virgin atmosphere, as if time has stood still for these towns and villages, with their kind people and transparent shores, as part of a magic spell cast to ensure relaxation and rest.
Ibiza, the white island, so-called thanks to its typical white architecture, has become a cosmopolitan centre with entertainment options that are a great tourist attraction. In the past, it was famous for its hippie culture and nudist beaches; today it offers many more options for other members of the general public. A largeÂ
attraction. In the past, it was famous for its hippie culture and nudist beaches; today it offers many more options for other members of the general public. A large number of young people choose it because of its extraordinary nightlife, which actually begins in the evening at the island’s beautiful coves or in the city and ends with a night of fun and entertainment in one of its many fashionable bars or nightclubs. The island also has many years of history and was home to numerous Mediterranean cultures, such as the Punic and Roman peoples, both of whom left their mark on the location. Cultural visits are, therefore, of great interest if you can resist the almost magnetic attraction of the beach when you are on the island.
Travelling to Cabrera and spending more than one day on its deserted coasts is a privilege that might not have been reserved even for Robinson Crusoe. Since 1991, the island of Cabrera and the other small islands that can be found in this paradise were designated Natural Maritime and Land Reserves. Since then and to protect their animal and plant life, visits to the area have been supervised by ICONA (National Institute for the Conservation of Nature). The wonderful, virgin countryside of Cabrera offers a coastline with beautiful coves and with one single sandy beach on the East.
