Palma, also known as Palma de Mallorca, is the capital and largest city of the Balearic Islands in Spain. Palma is on the south coast of Mallorca Island and has a lot to offer travelers beyond tons of beautiful beach options!
Points of interest include:
1. The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma who's construction was begun by King James I of Aragon in 1229 but only finished in 1601 on the site of a Moorish-era mosque.
2. The Royal Palace of La Almudaina is the official summer residence of the Spanish King, Felipe VI, and Royal Family, who also reside in the Palacio de la Zarzuela in Madrid. The castle is of Roman origin, is a modification of the Muslim alcázar begun in 1281, during the reigns of James II of Majorca , son of James I of Aragon, Sancho of Majorca, James III of Majorca, and Peter IV in 1349.
3. Bellver Castle is a Gothic-style castle on a hill 3 km to the west of the center of Palma built in the 14th century for King James II of Majorca, and is one of the few circular castles in Europe. It first served as the residence of the Kings of Majorca, and afterward long used as a military prison throughout the 18th to mid-20th century, and now seats the city's History Museum.
4. Es Baluard Museum of Art is connected to the old city fortified walls and features 700 works of art linked to artists of the Balearic Islands.
5. Plaza Mayor & Born DE Palmafeature a prominent public square with ample outdoor craft marketa, shops & cafes.
6. Playa De Illetas is actually quite a swanky beach with two beach clubs. Las Terrazas overlooks the beach and is ideal for lunch or dinner while Purobeach is situated on a rocky platform at the end of the beach and is all about chilling in the sun on a lounger. The sand is soft and golden, and the sea crystal clear and welcoming. Sun beds and parasols are available to hire, and there are toilets, ramps for the disabled and lifeguards on duty. It's a popular beach with yachts as it boasts a sheltered bay. There are also lots of watersports on offer as well as restaurants and bars.
While there are tons of beautiful beaches near Palma, we were limited on time because we were on a cruise and it was a real shame we couldn't visit more beaches. If you're here for a day trip, I definitely visitimh Playa De Illetas because there is a bus route directly to the beach and it is fairly close to the city with less than a 10 minute bus ride. On hot summer says, so many patrons are taking this bus that this bus can reach capacity so you may need to wait or take a taxi at a later time. Overall we had a great time on our visit to Palma of Mallorca island got to see a lot and still had a nice time at the beach. The city is actually very built up and offers tons of bus options for getting around which is convenient! I definitely recommend visiting this island for all its history, art, shops, castles, and beautiful beaches! read more