Palma de Mallorca

Palma is the capital of Majorca and a major tourist center. We visited it already twice, and the second time we came on New Year's.


Both times we stayed at Hotel Palma Bellver (booking.com). There are Premium Room with Sea View that offer the best view of the city. Also under the hotel there is a large and inexpensive covered parking, only 5 euros per day (N 39 34.104 E 2 37.885).








The second time we stayed there to watch New Year's fireworks. And we succeeded, the whole city was visible from the balcony.






Palma has really good promenade. It is huge, in the city its length is 5 kilometers, though you can walk another 15 kilometers, since all the suburbs are connected.




In the very center, on the promenade, stand the main attractions of the city - the Palm Cathedral and the Almuden Palace.


The construction of the cathedral began in 1230, after the victory over the Moors (Arabs). The main construction was completed at the end of the 16th century, but some work was carried out even in the 20th century. The cathedral was conceived as a tomb for local kings, they rest inside.


Nearby is the 13th-century Almuden Palace. If the cathedral was built on the ruins of the Moorish mosque, the palace was built on the site of the Alcazar - the Moorish fortress.


The beautiful Parc de la Mar was built in 1984, after the famous artist and sculptor Joan Miro chose the project among the finalists.


Palma also has an old city, we walked there on New Year's Eve.






















If the backlighting of the central streets was still more or less normal.




The Christmas markets turned out to be not so good. After Germany and Austria, they look just silly.


And this huge Santa, which can scare children, is the best proof.


One of the markets is located in the central square of Plaza Mayor. It is interesting because the central office of the Spanish Inquisition, a prison and a torture chamber were located here. In 1823, the people of Palma looted and burned the building, thereby closing the shameful page of history.


Another interesting place in Palma is the gothic castle Belver. It can be reached on foot from the city or drove by car (N 39 33.758 E 2 37.179).


It was built in the years 1300-1311, as the summer royal residence. But later it was used as a real defensive castle with the artillery.


In the 18th century it became a prison. The road that leads to the castle was built by prisoners.


In 1976, the Museum of the History of Palma opened in the castle.


On the roof there is an observation deck overlooking the city.




Of the restaurants we visited the following:

 - PadThaiWok (Avinguda de Gabriel Roca, 3), Asian Takeaway

 - Prosecco Santa Catalina Ristorante Pizzeria (Carrer de Sant Magí, 48) - good pizza

 - Block House (Avinguda de Gabriel Roca, 54) - grill and burgers, located in the Porto Pi Centro Comercial shopping center on the waterfront, there is also a large Carrefour supermarket.

Getting there: there is a large airport in Palma, which is connected to the city by bus A1 (map). Estació Intermodal Train Station (N 39 34.560 E 2 39.240) is located in the very center of the city and hidden underground. There is also a bus station from where buses travel throughout the island.