Balearic Islands Guide - Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza

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The Balearic Islands

A Traveller's Haven

The Balearic Islands – located off the Mediterranean coast to the east of the Iberian Peninsula – have been a traveller's haven for centuries.

The archipelago provides a singular landscape, culture and climate, which is both different from that of mainland Spain and also varies greatly from island to island.

For everything your heart desires, the Balearics make a perfect destination.

A Perfect Spot

Although the Balearic Islands are a single Autonomous Community with its capital in Palma, Mallorca, the archipelago consists of three main islands – Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza – the two smaller islands of Formentera and Cabrera plus a many tiny islands, which are home mainly to sheep and goats and make a fantastic day out for the more adventurous.

Apart from the nightlife in the main tourist centres, the main attraction of the islands is their beaches, coves and caves. But it must be remembered that much of the Balearics are a relatively undiscovered place of great natural beauty.

A short drive inland will take you far away from the noise of the crowds. One of my favourite spots, for example, is the National Park on Cabrera. It's a magical place, full of pinewoods and flowering bushes and is home to a selection of animal species that are unique to the Balearics.

A Strategic Position

Another thing that may surprise the visitor to the Balearics is the archipelago's rich historical and cultural patrimony. This is because of the islands' important strategic position - both militarily and commercially.

The Balearic Islands have been home to many cultures, and the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, the Romans, the Arabs and the Turks have all left their indelible mark on the islands.

In the thirteenth century, the Balearics were conquered by the troops of Jaume I – Count of Barcelona – and from this moment on Catalan became the official language of the islanders. However, much remains of the islands' previous inhabitants not only architecturally but also culturally. Much Mallorcan music, for example, whilst sung in Catalan has a distinctly Arabic lilt.

Tourism And More

The main economic base of the islands is now without doubt, tourism, and more traditional activities such as fishing and agriculture have been relegated - at least in monetary terms - to a poor second. Fortunately, though, many of the old traditions survive.

The islands also offer a broad range of services that survive on the back of tourism. There's a very strong health industry, a great nightlife as well as first class museums and musical events and some truly excellent fiestas. Furthermore, much of the money from tourism has been wisely invested in the preservation of virgin natural habitats and prehistoric ruins.

It's not surprising, then, that the islands not only attract mass tourism but have also become a haven for the super-rich, who come, build their mansions and luxury apartments and park their impressive yachts at the local marinas.

So What's On The Menu?

Another highlight of any visit to the Balearic Islands is the food and there are two dishes that stick in my mind, particularly. The first is pa amb oli – literally bread with oil. However, although dark granary bread and thick olive oil form the base of this dish, it is generally served with so much salad, cured meat and sometimes anchovies that it's a meal in itself.

The other 'must try' food is the Mallorcan cake ensaimada. These great doughy circles are covered in icing sugar and filled with a delicious sweet paste called cabello de angel. If you ever see a Spanish family arriving at the airport with six or seven large cardboard cake boxes in addition to their luggage, you'll know they've just come back from holiday in the Balearics.

There are many other great dishes, though including rice and noodle dishes with meat or fish, rabbit with garlic mayonnaise and the unforgettable sobrasada, which is somewhere between a cured meat and a spicy paté.

The Rough Guide to Mallorca and Menorca

I'm a big fan of the Rough Guides. I find them reliable, interesting and often wittily written.

We used this guide last summer when we were on holiday in Soller, Mallorca and not only did it give me enough information about churches and monuments but also led me to quite a few decent bars - something that ranks highly in my list of priorities!

The links below take you to a selection of books on the Balearic Islands. Should you choose to buy this one, make sure you get the 2007 edition.

Click Here for a Selection of Balearic Islands Guides on Amazon.Com and Here for Amazon.co.uk

Getting To The Balearic Islands

There are airports on each of the three main islands. I have added the Search Box below to help you find cheap flights from all major British airports.

You can either type in the name of your destination but often the airport code is more reliable.

The code for Palma, Mallorca is PMI, Mahon in Menorca is MAH and Ibiza's airport code is IBZ

The timetable for the ferry service from Barcelona hasn't yet been published but I will be adding this information as soon as it is available.

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Mallorca | Menorca | Ibiza

Airports
Mallorca Airport

Football Clubs:
Real Mallorca

Guides to The Balearic Islands:
On Amazon.co.uk | On Amazon.Com

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