About Mallorca

Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands and concentrates most of the population, almost 741,000 inhabitants. Foreign population totals 16 per cent. Most are German and British residents followed by immigrants from the Maghreb, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Subsaharan Africa.

Palma de Mallorca is the capital of Mallorca and the Balearics. It has almost half the population of the island, followed by Calvià (47,934 inhabitants), Manacor (37,963), Inca (28,306), Llucmajor (33,222), Marratxí (31,120), Felanitx (17,443), Pollença (16,570) and Alcúdia (17,435).

The earliest prehistoric evidence of human presence dates from the Bronze Age. The “talaiots” (burial monuments) belong to this period and can be visited in the settlements of Capocorp Vell (Llucmajor) and Ses Paises (Artà). Phoenicians and Greeks were on the island and in 123 BCE Quintus Caecilius Metellus brought the island under Roman rule. The Romans founded the cities of Pollentia (present-day Alcúdia) and Palma. Mallorca was invaded by the Vandals in 468, the Byzantines in 533 and the Arabs in 902. The Arab Baths and the arch of the Almudaina Palace in Palma are traces of this period.

As a result of the pirate raids that the Arabs conducted from the Balearics capturing Catalan vessels, King Jaume I of Aragon decided to conquer Mallorca in December 1229. His successor King Jaume II started the building of the Cathedral and Bellver Castle. Aragon and Castille united after the war of succession in the 18th century. As a result, Spain was founded as a national and political unity of which Mallorca has remained part.

The Catalan language of the Balearics and Spanish are the official languages of Mallorca. The Consell Insular de Mallorca is the regional government of Mallorca and is in charge of implementing the policies affecting the island as a whole.

Mallorca has a average of 2,983 sun hours per year. The island enjoys excellent weather throughout the year with mild average temperatures ranging from 5-12 ºC in winter to 23-29ºC in summer. Mallorca has a typical Mediterranean climate with a seasonal rainfall pattern characterized by its irregularity. It varies a lot each year. Most of the rain falls in just a few days with heavy or very heavy rainfall in autumn and light rainfall the rest of the year.

Light clothes are advisable in spring and summer even though it gets a bit chilly in the evening and at night, when you might appreciate a sweater. In autumn and winter the sun shines in Mallorca and the temperatures are good. The wind usually blows and it is better to wrap up well.

The island has 53 municipalities. Most of them belong to a “Mancomunitat” in order to coordinate efforts and work together in fields such as adult education, culture, solid waste collection, economic and employment promotion and assistance for elderly people.

The interior of the island is known as “Es Pla” (the plains). The “Mancomunitat Pla de Mallorca” encompasses the municipalities of Algaida, Ariany, Costitx, Lloret de Vistalegre, Llubí, Maria de la Salut, Montuïri, Petra, Porreres, Santa Eugènia, Sant Joan de Sineu, Sencelles, Sineu and Vilafranca de Bonany. In the south, “Mancomunitat es Mitjorn” includes Campos and Ses Salines, which also belong to “Mancomunitat Sud-Mallorca” together with Felanitx and Santanyí. In the centre of the island, “Mancomunitat Es Raiguer” encompasses Alaró, Binissalem, Búger, Campanet, Consell, Lloseta, Mancor de la Vall, Marratxí, Santa María del Camí and Selva. There are two “mancomunitats” in the north: “Mancomunitat Tramuntana” formed by Banyalbufar, Bunyola, Deià, Escorca, Esporles, Estellencs, Fornalutx, Puigpunyent, Sóller and Valldemossa; and “Mancomunitat Nord” formed by Alcúdia, Pollença, Artà, Muro, Sa Pobla and Santa Margalida.