If you are planning a Palma de Mallorca holiday and are looking for a hotel or apartment, the following information may help by giving you an overview of the resort and the surrounding area.

Located on the south coast of the island of Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca is the capital of Spain’s Balearic Islands. After the usual European experience of strife [occupied over the centuries by Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines and Spaniards, among others], the port was the base of corsair pirates in the 17th century, then flourished in the 1800s. Everything changed with the growth of tourism from the 1950s, completely altering the traditional culture of Palma. Over 10 million visitors arrive each year, so this isnt a place for quiet relaxation.

Plenty of old buildings remain from the pre-tourist era. Those approaching by boat see the famed Gothic Cathedral above the ancient Almudaina Palace, once the residence of Moorish kings. To the left – an elegant seaside promenade with its grand hotels and yacht harbour. To the right – glimpses of Palma de Mallorca’s famous white beaches. Above it all – the white circular battlements of the imposing 14th century Bellver Castle.

This historical framework is surrounded by a cosmopolitan modern city. At its hears is the elongated tree-shaded central plaza [Es Born] an ideal place to sit with a coffee at the hub of the citys bustling social life, close to the exclusive shops on Avenida Rey Jaime III.

For all that tourism is king, Palma de Mallorca retains a real sense of history. Apart from many major historic buildings, there is plenty of vernacular architecture for those who appreciate original character. For example, the barrios [distinctive quarters] should definitely be explored – one of the most interesting being Portella, behind the Cathedral. Here you will find narrow streets, 15th century mansions and Arab monuments such as the old baths. And is may even double the pleasure to know that tourists – only here for sun, sea and nightlife – will be oblivious to it all.