Palma is the capital of the island Mallorca and also the capital of the autonomous archipelago ‘Islas Baleares’. With 400,000 inhabitants Palma is the largest city on the island which represents about half of the islands total population. The city was founded by the Romans after they conquered the island in the second century AC.
Today Palma is a cosmopolitan city with many narrow streets and alleys where you can enjoy a drink on one of the many terraces or visit the small boutiques as well as the high street brand shops.
The magnificent cathedral ‘La Seu’ should not be missed during a visit to the city. The restoration works in the 18th and 19th century were partly done by Antoni Gaudi. He designed the chandeliers and the crown above the pulpit, but the most radical change which Gaudi carried through was changing the stained glass windows. After purchasing a ticket you can quietly enjoy this beautiful cathedral.
A fun and comfortable way to see the city is with the city-sightseeing bus. A ticket costs around 15 Euro and is valid for 24 hours. There are 16 stops, the first stop is located next to the cathedral.
It is also possible to rent a bicycle to explore the squares and narrow streets. The blue ‘city bikes’ are available for rent with your credit card, however you must organize this in advance online and ask for a password and personal code. Furthermore there are various bicycle rental companies throughout the city, for example on the ‘Borne’.
The indoor market in Santa Catalina and the ‘Mercado Olivar’ are two foodmarkets that we like to visit. Here you will find fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. There are also stalls that are selling sushi, oysters & champagne, tapas & cañas (Spanish beers) for a light lunch. The many locals who visit the markets provide a truly Spanish atmosphere and make a visit to these markets worth your while. The markets open at 08.00hrs and close at 14.00hrs.
Regarding cuisine the old town of Palma offers together with the Santa Catalina neighbourhood a varied choice of restaurants. There are, for example, many tapas bars for a casual evening. One of our favourites is restaurant Ombu at the Plaza de kla Reina. For Asian cuisine we recommend restaurant Koh, Dukes and the sushi restaurant Arume. Forn de San Joan & Canela Bistro offer a superb, creative Mediterranean cuisine.
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