An Introduction to Palma De Mallorca
Palma Mallorca, Palma Majorca
About Palma
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Mallorca (Majorca) and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain.
The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people on the island.
The city occupies the north western end of a bay in the south west of the island of Mallorca. The city council also has jurisdiction over the sub-archipelago of Cabrera including the islands of Cabrera, Conejera, Estells, Imperial, Rodon, Foradada, Plana, and Pobra.
The name Palma dates back to the Roman settlement on the site of the present city, although the area was originally settled during the Bronze Age.
In the early middle ages it was conquered by Arabs, who named it Madina Mayurqa. In 1229 it was conquered by King Jaime I, ruler of Valencia and Aragon, and became an important trade city. Attacks by Turkish pirates in the 17th century led to a century long decline, finishing when Charles III opened trading with the Indies.
Palma is bordered by rocky inlets and marinas on the south side, whilst many of the tourist resorts are positioned towards the east side of the city. The central zone that extends from Palma is generally a flat fertile plain known as Es Pla.
The city became a tourist destination in the 1950s, and tourist numbers have continually increased in the subsequent half century.
Palma is now a very popular tourist destination particularly for those looking for short City Breaks in the Sun. Each year thousands of tourists arrive in Palma via cruise ships and via Palma Airport.
Palma has a thriving nightlife scene and a fantastic variety of bars, hotels and restaurants.