Majorca

Majorca ("Mallorca" in Spanish and Catalan interchangeable in English) is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the Balearic Islands. It is the largest by area and second most populated island of Spain (after Tenerife in the Canary Islands).

The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca (in the municipality of Palma). The anthem of Majorca is La Balanguera.

Like the other Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Formentera and Minorca, the island is a highly popular holiday destination, particularly for tourists from Germany and the United Kingdom. The name derives from Latin "insula maior", "larger island"; later "Majorica", "the larger one" in comparison to Minorca.

Geography

Majorca has two mountainous regions each about 70 km in length. These occupy the north-western (Serra de Tramuntana or Tramuntana range) and eastern thirds of the island. The highest peak on Majorca is Puig Major (1,445 m) in the Sierra de Tramuntana the neighbouring peak at Puig de Massanella is the highest accessible peak (1,364 m). The northeast coast comprises two bays: the Bahia de Pollença and the larger Bahia d'Alcúdia. The northern coast is rugged and has many cliffs. The central zone extending from Palma is a generally flat, fertile plain, known as Es Pla.

The most important peaks are:

• Sierra de Tramuntana: Puig Major (1445 m), Massanella (1364 m), Puig Tomir (1102 m), Puig de l'Ofre (1090 m), Puig d'es Teix (1064 m) and Puig de Galatzó (1027 m).
• Sierra de Levante: Puig de Morell (562 m), Bec de Ferrutx (519 m) and Puig de Sant Salvador (510 m).
• Apart from those mountain ranges the following peaks need to be mentioned: Puig de Randa (543 m) and Puig de Galdent (420 m).

The regions of Majorca are not administratively recognized but there exists a consensus between the geographers about them:

Palma de Mallorca, Pla de Mallorca, Sierra de Tramontana, Raiguer, Migjorn, Llevant.

Climate

The climate is Mediterranean with high temperatures in summer (exceeding 30 °C) and moderately low in winter (seldom below 5 °C), with markedly higher precipitation in the Serra de Tramuntana. Summers are hot in the plains and winters mild to cool, getting colder in the Tramuntana range; in this part of the island brief episodes of snow during the winter are not unusual.

Architecture

The Cathedral Santa María in Palma de Mallorca, famous for containing one of the biggest rosettes in gothic style, widely known as the “Eye of the Gothic”.

The Castle of Bellver, is one of the only 3 castles in Europe with a round floor.

The Monastery of Lluc, most important place of pilgrimage within the island, as here you find the Virgin of Lluc (Patron of Majorca).

The Promenade of Calviá, considered as the green lungs of the region, with a route of 32 kilometres.

The Castle of Bendinat constructed in the XIX. century by the Marqués of the Romans.

Gastronomy

Olives and almonds are typical elements of the Majorcan diet. The island now has more than 4 million almond and olive trees. The cuisine is basically based on pork, fish and vegetables with generous use of garlic and olive oil. It is mainly rooted in local ingredients.

The sausages come in several different varieties - first you have sobrasada, which is raw minced pork with hot red pepper, botifarro, which is cured pork with blood, as well as spicy chorizo from Spain. No bar would be complete without its jamon serrano, which is a whole cured ham that is displayed on an attractive slicing-board.

Majorcan Specialities

A side effect of the matanca was frit mallorqui, a fry-up of the most perishable offal with potatoes, onions and tomatoes. Today you will find it on menus alongside tumbet, a Majorcan-style ratatouille that is made up of aubergines, potatoes and peppers in olive oil, and sopes mallorquines, a thick broth of thinly-sliced brown bread and vegetables. Other classic dishes include llom amb col, which is pork wrapped in cabbage with pine nuts and raisins and lechona asada, a roast suckling pig.

Although Paella is not an actual Majorcan dish but available everywhere, there are all sorts of Paella including; paella ciega, which means blind man's paella and comes without bones! The local equivalent is arros brat - 'dirty rice', which is saffron rice cooked with chicken, pork and vegetables. Fish is mostly imported and frozen - restaurants have to state this - but lobster, prawns, sardines and sea bass are all good. Sea Bass that is baked in rock salt is a Majorcan specialty.

Desserts are not Majorca's strong point - often the choice is between Ice cream (helado), creme caramel and flan. An alternative is almond cake, which is served with toasted almond ice-cream - gato de almendras. Majorcans are very proud of ensaimadas, fluffy, spiral-shaped pastries dusted with sugar and filled with anything from pumpkin jam to sobrasada sausage; the secret ingredient is said to be the lard in the pastry. Cheeses include Mahon from Minorca and Manchego from central Spain as well as local varieties.

Festivals & Events

The Balearics have a lively tradition of festivals and popular holidays. Especially during spring and summer time all villages celebrate their own patron. The tourist offices on the islands give out yearly programs with local celebrations. The most national and religious holidays take place in Majorca. During Holy week, Christmas and New Years many parades and traditional festivities take place everywhere on the islands. Other religious holidays are also celebrated and visitors are always welcome to join in with the locals. Following is a list of the most important festivals.

The 5th January is the start of Los Reyes Magos, celebrated in all Spain. The Spanish celebrate this more exuberantly than Christmas, families come together and children get presents. From the harbor of Palma de Majorca a cavalry procession goes through the city accompanied by fireworks and the next day they hand out small presents to the children.

The 16th January the island celebrates the Revetlla de Sant Antoni. When the night falls, the people of the villages Artà, Manacor, Sant Joan and Sa Pobla lit enormous bonfires and in Sa Pobla you can try the culinary specialty “espinagades”.

In February Majorca celebrates carnival. Several parades with floats, giants and demons take place in Palma de Majorca and its surroundings for the carnival of Sa.

Either in March or April on Thursday and Good Friday before Easter there are several processions in Majorca and Ibiza, like the ones in Palma de Majorca and Sineu or the nocturnal one in Pollença.

On the 2nd Sunday in May the festival of Moors and Christians takes place in Soller. This event commemorates the victory of the Christians over the Turkish pirates in 1561. The battlefield from back then is being called back to live by the locals who perform in the original costumes from that time. This is festival is quite important for the locals and very spectacular to see.

On the 29th June the Festes patronals de Sant Pere take place in Palma, Port d’Alcúdia and Port d’Andratx. In these towns there are several processions, both over land and at sea along the coast.

On the first Sunday in October it’s Torrada des botifarró in Sant Joan. One can taste the typical cold meat and enjoy the regional dances on traditional music around the bonfires.

On the second Sunday in November it’s Dijous Bo in the village of Inca. This is the most important festivity of the region.

On the 30th December, just before the end of the year Palma de Majorca celebrates la Festa de l’Estendard. This national holiday in Majorca commemorates the coming of the troops of Jaume I who defeated the Moors.