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First things first, Majorca is spelt Mallorca by the Spanish and pronounced "May-yorca" although "Ma-lorca" is better than "Ma-jorca". Right, that's as clear as mud so we'll carry on.
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands all of which belong to Spain. It's 62 miles West to East and 47 miles North to South. It has 70 beaches of which 30 have 'Blue Flags' and its population of 530,000 is swelled by a staggering 5 million holiday makers who visit each year.
Like so many Mediterranean islands, Mallorca has had a long history and has been won and lost by various nations and cultures. As a result it is something of a melting pot. The first important settlement on Mallorca came with the Talayots in Capocorb Vell on the coast road east of Palma and below Llucmajor. These people were famous for their watch towers or Talaiots after which the Talaiotic period is named. Actually the name came from the Arab word for watchtower; Atalaya. There is a fine tower here right on the coast by the entrance to the cala (which means cover or inlet) and a little further in land are the wonderful remains of an entire village.
Heading further east (we did the whole island anti-clockwise in one day but I wouldn't recommend it) towards Felanitx and the Santuari de Sant Salvador or Ermita de Sant Salvador (either will do). This impressive lump of rock burst up out of the surrounding plains to a height of 510m. For reasons that are beyond me it seemed to be a mecca for cyclists. Hundreds of them pumped and sweated their way to the top, had a quick look at the cross and went down again! The view is worth the effort and the chapel at the top is said to be able to cure all disabilities.
Manacor is an industrial town and home to the famous Mallorcan Pearl factory. You will not be able to visit the island without being bombarded with literature about this tourist trap. The 'Pearls' are actually made out of fish scales.
Arta in the far eastern end of the island has some fine Talayot remains and towers. Then up to Alcudia and Pollenca where, as the name suggests, the Romans settled. There is some evidence of their stay in the form of the Roman Theatre just outside Alcudia town and the Roman bridge in Pollenca, which is still used today.
Now down the west coast and into the mountains which run all down the coast from Formentor in the extreme north to Andratx on the western tip. Progress through this part of the island is very slow and sometimes dangerous as the tiny roads twist up and down the mountains. Soller (So-yeh) is a fine town and a port which has little old narrow streets, lovely Spanish architecture and a great atmosphere. It also has a tiny wooden train or tram service which runs back and forth to the port. The trams actually come from San Francisco and are about 70 years old.
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