The Balearic Island of Majorca is the third largest Spanish Island and is located in the Meditteranean. It is popular for Majorca holidays, particularly Majorca package deals. The Island Capital Palma is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.
Other major Islands in this archipelago include Ibiza, Formentera and Minorca. Package Holidays to the island started in 1952 so it is one of the oldest destinations in the Meditteranean for international holidaymakers seeking Majorca package deals. Majorca holidays are especially popular with Britons and Germans.
The early history of the Island includes burial chambers from the Palaeolithic (6000-4000 BC) before Roman occupation under Quintus Caecillius Metellus. The decline of Rome allowed the Vandals to sack the Island and annex it to there kingdom which is in modern day Eastern German.
A couple of centuries of Byzantine rule gave way to the Moors ruling the Island and increasingly improved the way of life with improvements to Agriculture, development of local industry and prosperity. Modern twentieth century history saw the Island a nationalist stronghold during the Spanish Civil War of 1936. The Italians backed the nationalists and this enabled the outnumbered Nationalists to push the Spanish republics out.
Tourism has increased dramatically since 1960. In 1960 only 500,000 people visited the Island while in 2001 this had risen to over 19 million, one of the reasons for this dramatic rise is the availability of Majorca package deals.
The climate of the island is essentially Meditteranean with average summer temperatures of around 26 degrees C.
The two mountainous regions of Majorca both run for 70km in length. The island highest peak is Puig major which is slightly higher than Ben Nevis at 1,445m. It is situated in the Serra de Tramuntuna. The mountain range gets much more precipitation than the lower parts of the island. The Island is surrounded by two small uninhabited islands, Cabrera and Dragonera.
Tourist attractions include Bellver Castle. Built for King James II of Aragon it resides on top of a hill near the island capital Palma. Palma’s Cathedral La seu designed in French gothic style with Spanish levantino. The cathedral has the 7th highest nave height in the world.
The island has had some famous past residents such as the composer Frederic Chopin. The English poet Robert Grave lived out his life on the Island. The surrealist artist Joan Miro painted and lived on the Island. The hollywood actor George Sanders lived on the island from 1967 to 1972.
The official languages are Catalan and Spanish. With many young Majorcans being bi-lingual in English and German.
The Island has over 4 million almond and olive trees and these fruits are part of the diet. True Majorcan foods include Sobrassada (a raw cured sausage), arros bruut-saffron rice cooked with chicken, pork and vegetables. For puddings a majorcan speciality is ensaimada, a pastry desert sometimes filled with cream, chocolate or covered with apricot.
Majorca holidays have a lot to offer the holiday maker.
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