Mallorca - No Rafa but Lots to See

As any tennis fan knows, Raphael Nadal is probably Mallorca's most famous citizen.  There is an internationally famous tennis academy here established by him.  There were no "Rafa sightings" on my visit here although I did see a tour bus that had his name emblazoned across the back of it. 

For background, Palma de Mallorca is the capital of the Balearic Islands.  It was founded by the Romans in 123 BC and later shaped by Byzantine, Moorish, and Catalan rule.  Under the Moors, it thrived as Medina Mayurqa until James I of Aragon conquered it in 1229 ushering in Christian rule and Gothic architecture.  Over centuries, Palma evolved into a vibrant Mediterranean port, with landmarks like La Seu Cathedral and Bellver Castle.  The 20^th century brought a tourism boom, transforming it into a cosmopolitan city rich in history, culture and coastal charm.  

I had booked a Viator tour called Best Palma de Mallorca and Valldemossa Tour from Cruise Port.  It was quite a long walk from where our ship was docked to the terminal where we were to meet our guide.  The harbour was filled with several cruise ships - Mein Schiff and Costa Toscana which can have up to 6600 passengers!  Glad my ship only has 700.  

Our first stop was the Castell de Bellver which is a well-preserved 14^th century royal fortress with fragrant pine woods, an interesting museum and superb views over Palma Bay.  The tour didn’t include a visit to the castle and was really only an opportunity to enjoy the views.  While the views were lovely, the sun was in the wrong location to be able to take any decent photos.  However, here is an example.

From there, we headed inland to Valldemossa.  This is one of most famous and most visited towns of Mallorca and yet one that retains its rustic charm perfectly.  Nestled in the Tramuntana Mountains, Valldemossa has it all:  history, culture, nature and amazing views.  While the town itself does not have a UNESCO designation, it is located within the Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.  This designation recognizes the area's exceptional cultural significance, stemming from millennia of human adaptation to the landscape, evident in its agricultural terraces, water management systems, dry-stone architecture, and olive and citrus groves.

On the way to Valldemossa, Jennifer provided background information about the island.  Mallorca’s airport is the third largest in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona.  The main crops grown in the island are almonds, olives, coca and grapes.  Apparently, potatoes are also grown and exported to the UK.  When we got to the village, Jennifer led us around, pointed out sites of interest including the Royal Carthusian Monastery where Chopin stayed for a time, and out to a viewpoint with lovely views across the valley.  At that point, we were given time for ourselves.  I joined Bob and Doug from Seattle, one of the couples on the tour.  We wandered around a bit and then decided to stop for a refreshment – cappuccinos for them and orange juice for me.  We decided to share one of the famous local pastries – Cocas De Patatas, basically a soft bun made with potato flour and sprinkled with powered sugar.  It was tasty but I certainly didn’t need more than a portion of it..  Shortly after that, we went back to our van and were driven back down the valley and back to Palma.  

We were dropped near the Palma Cathedral.  More commonly referred to as La Seu (a title also used by many other churches), it is a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral abutting the city walls and situated between the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and the Episcopal Palace of Mallorca.  Its rose window, with a diameter of nearly 14 meters, is the second-largest extant Gothic rose window, while its 44-meter high nave is the eighth-highest in the world.  The site of the cathedral was occupied by a mosque under Muslim rule.  Construction on the cathedral began shortly after the reconquest of the island in 1229, and continued into the 17th century.  Antoni Gaudí was invited to begin overseeing restoration works in 1903, and presided over wide-ranging changes in the interior of the cathedral.  Today, the cathedral is Palma's most popular tourist attraction.  From there, we wandered up to one of the main squares.  At that point, we were given some free time.  Doug went off to take some photos but Bob and I wanted to sit.  So, we found a little café/bar and had some water and a glass of wine.

 One of the things the Azamara cruise line is well know for is what they term "Azamazing Evenings" which is an entertainment event focussed on local culture and traditions.  Our visit to Mallorca finished with such an evening called Mallorca Evening in Pueblo Espanol.  We were bused to the venue. It was held in the Sala Magna in Pueblo Espanol and depicted the vibrant cultural heritage of Ball de Bot and fiery flamenco performances.  We were greeted by two towering Gegants – iconic figures of Mallorcan festivals – and given a welcome drink (Cava).  

Inside, the performances began with “ball de bot”, a traditional Mallorcan folk dance.  

The second part was all about flamenco – soulful guitars, emotive vocals and dramatic choreography. 

I had really enjoyed seeing what I saw of Mallorca - no wonder it is so popular as a tourist destination.  Next up, after an "at sea" day, is a visit to Tunisia.  That should be quite different from what we saw today!