3. The Balearic
5 Imagine the Mediterranean, 23 Ibiza,
a human-size world magic and myth
9 Mallorca, 29 Formentera,
Islands,
always something new to discover the colours of paradise
17 Menorca, 32 Geographical map and
tourist information
experience the
nature at its purest
Mediterranean
5. nature
Campos, Mallorca
Imagine the Mediterranean. A human-size
world. A place where life goes by slowly,
and time fills up with contents: the
Imagine the
Mediterranean.
sunlight, the sea water, the mountains. A
welcoming culture, where nobody feels
foreign. Imagine the Mediterranean. Imagine
the Balearic Islands.
The Balearics hold a repertoire of
Mediterranean sensations inside them.
To begin with, their scenery. Coves,
mountains, woods that reach down to the sea
A human-size world.
shore, rocky promontories, gullies and
torrents, plains with villages and crops,
hidden beauty spots, broad beaches. The
Balearics offer all this and much more.
Because at the same time they constitute one
5
6. nautical
Mirador de Ses Ànimes viewpoint, Mallorca Estany des Peix, Formentera
of the most complete, consolidated ranges of Islands is comprised of four islands which organic sediments such as shells or conches,
tourist options on offer in Europe. are alike and different at the same time. Each ground by the action of the water.
With services, modern, up-to-date one with its own personality: Mallorca, The range of beaches is extremely wide:
infrastructures, sports facilities for nautical Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Their extensive stretches of sand, enclosed coves,
activities and golf, natural parks, specially- location, in the centre of the Western rocks, nooks hidden away between cliffs.
designed centres for meetings and Mediterranean, blesses them with a mild With the great advantage that one can find
congresses, bicycle touring routes, a varied climate. Neither too hot during the summer both beaches with the full range of services,
range of gastronomy, and a good months, nor terribly cold when winter comes. close to towns, and unspoilt coves. Far from
communications system. everything. Where the experience of bathing
It is a concept of tourism that is both The most famous facet of the Balearics is is still absolute.
traditional and contemporary at the same their beaches. One of the more striking However, the Balearics are not just about
time. Keeping to the old ways, but characteristics of them is the softness and beaches. The islands’ variety of landscapes
complementing them with more up-to-date colour of the sand, which contrasts with the give rise to many itineraries: hiking, bicycle
criteria. Including respect for the blues and greens of the sea. This quality can tourism, excursions on horseback, boat trips,
environment and sustainability. be explained by the fact that since there are mountain and beach trails. From the big
no rivers on the islands, there is hardly any ravines, impressive sceneries in stone, to
The autonomous region of the Balearic mineral content. The sand is formed by mountains, placid agricultural plains,
6
7. culture
Dalt Vila, Ibiza
wooded areas, stretches of dunes, islets, salt cathedrals of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, confectionery... A repertoire of flavours to
marshes and wetlands. with Gothic and Baroque elements. The complete a range of gastronomy that swings
Villages and towns make up yet another stately mansions of Palma or Ciutadella. To from the most traditional, ancient dishes, to
chapter. The Balearics have had a difficult all this heritage we should add numerous include international tastes, modernity.
history of isolation and threats. During the modern art museums, art galleries, musical
16th century they were the frontier between and theatrical activities. Balearic society is Experiencing the Balearics is a way of
two worlds at war: the Christian and the open and cosmopolitan, but at the same time enjoying the Mediterranean. Not just its
Islamic cultures. This explains the defence has managed to maintain its traditional scenery, but above all as an interior
towers, the great walls that protect the towns, identity. The fairs, markets, crafts and experience of calm, beauty and plenitude.
and the fact that traditionally, the centres of folklore are very much alive, forcefully
population were inland. transmitting their centuries-old message.
Culture is yet another attraction. From the Thus the islands offer an invitation to the
impressive prehistoric constructions of senses. Balearic products have that same seal:
Mallorca and Menorca, to the rich Phoenician authenticity and tradition. The “ensaimada”
and Punic legacy of Ibiza or the megalithic and “sobrasada”, common to all four islands,
sepulchre of Ca na Costa in Formentera. The the wines, the oil, the cheeses, the
7
9. scenery
Valldemossa
It is an island, but one as varied as a continent.
Mallorca constitutes a kind of mosaic that is
difficult to sum up. It offers everything, from
Mallorca, always
something new
the grandeur of unchanged landscapes to the
commodity of beachfront hotels, from the
mountain chapels or the prehistoric
monuments to the leisure, shopping or cultural
to discover
centres. From the silence of the countryside to
the nightlife zones.
Everyone can choose the Mallorca they
prefer. With the advantage that the island is
easy to move around in, with no long
distances and good road infrastructures.
The largest of the Balearics invented one of
the first tourism formulae, back in the ‘60s.
A placid, accessible sea, beaches, villages and
9
10. Chapel of Sant Pere,
Mallorca Cathedral Patio of Palma Palma
towns with well-proportioned beauty, a without doubt its Gothic cathedral. When
relaxing, welcoming atmosphere. Above all, a you enter it, its huge interior space takes
pleasant, tranquil way of life. The you by surprise. It is the temple of light. It
counterpoint to the hustle and bustle and seems like a play on the vertical lights that
crowds of big cities. From those early days rise up from the earth towards the sky – the
right up to the present, Mallorca has been a candles, the altarpieces, the columns – and
leading destination. those that come down to the earth from the
sky, like the colours projected through the
An amiable,
Palma, the capital, concentrates many enormous rose windows.
tranquil way of life attractions. Firstly, the old town, still and
engrossed in itself. Alleyways that run The cathedral represents an enclosure for
between palaces with large patios, churches dialogue between man and spirit.
and convents. The experience of life in the
old town has barely changed in centuries. Mallorca Cathedral is also a history lesson,
Chiaroscuros, a monumental feel, the sound from the Middle Ages to our times, every era
of footsteps and bells. has left the very best of itself there. This is
The greatest symbol of Mallorca’s heritage is the case of the spectacular chapel conceived
10
11. meetings
Mallorca Cathedral
by the Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló. leather goods, fashion, footwear, artworks,
A daring, contemporary touch that contrasts furniture and decoration, fabrics. It is an
with the ancient solemnity of Gothic. invitation to window shop and stroll,
complemented by the terraces and cafés
That Palma of the Cathedral, the Lonja, dotted all around the city. Balearic products
Bellver Castle, the Baroque patios, coexists occupy pride of place amongst these
alongside the contemporary town. A purchases. The “ensaimada” is still
cosmopolitan capital with a complete range manufactured as it was centuries ago, as are
A cosmopolitan, active,
of services. Active, multi-coloured, modern. Mallorcan oil, which has its own special
multi-coloured and modern capital. The range of cultural activities is extensive: characteristics in terms of taste and texture,
concerts, exhibitions, festivals, bookshops. the cheeses, the wine, and cold meat
And it is a culture that is living, participative, products like “sobrasada”.
highly Mediterranean.
Palma is a human-size city. No wonder
The centre of Palma is also extremely people from all over the world have chosen it
attractive in terms of shopping. Here one can as their place of residence. Many companies
acquire anything, ranging from crafts to and professionals hold their business
11
12. meetings and congresses here, taking
advantage of the good communications, the
range of hotels, and the beautiful surroundings.
Let us leave Palma now. Because to speak of
Mallorca, is to speak above all of its beaches.
Its 550 km. of coastline enable one to
discover a huge variety of scenery. The large
tourist-oriented beaches, with the most up-to-
date services, are found in places like Playa
de Palma, S'Arenal, Palmanova, Magaluf,
Santa Ponça or the Bay of Alcúdia. In the
south or Migjorn we find the long belts of
sand of Sa Ràpita and Es Trenc, a dune
landscape with luminous waters. Where the
contrast between white and bright blue is
spectacular indeed. The coast is also an
important incentive for yachting. The
marinas and regattas like the Copa del Rey
are proof of just how important this activity is
on the island.
Those who prefer more family-oriented,
Cala Agulla
quieter beaches have a long list to choose
from: from the coves of the west like Sant
Elm to those in the east or the north-east, like
those found in the Artà and Capdepera area.
And finally, we have the remote coves, which
you have to walk to. Authentic scenic jewels
found above all in the mountainous areas,
like the Sierra de Tramuntana, the Formentor
peninsula or the Llevant natural park.
In accordance with the new tourism criteria,
which include environmental protection
values, Mallorca has protected areas. The
most important one is without doubt the
maritime-terrestrial national park of the
Cabrera archipelago, located off the south of
the island. It is a refuge that has been
preserved absolutely intact, and can be Cala Llombards
12
14. visited on organized trips that leave from the
south of the island. Other places of natural
interest are the wetland of Albufera de
Mallorca, in Muro; the Llevant natural park
in the Artà mountains; the islet of Sa
Dragonera or the coves of the Mondragó area.
These protected zones allow one to follow
extremely interesting routes.
The Tramuntana mountain range also has
different hiking circuits. The scenery here is
breathtaking – valleys, rocky precipices,
cliffs, high-mountain landscapes that contrast
with the line of the sea as a horizon. There
are refuges from where one can cover
different routes.
Another important aspect is the golf courses.
Mallorca has 24 facilities for practising this
sport which is so closely linked to the
scenery, and which has contributed to
creating a different image of the island.
Mallorca is also a leading enclave in cultural
tourism. This is probably due to its romantic
character.
Alcanada Golf
14
15. golf The scenery of the north coast, of Valldemossa
or Deià, looks like something from a
nineteenth-century engraving. Grandiose
nature corresponding to the most exalted
states of mind. This is where the stories of
Chopin, George Sand, the Archduke Ludwig
Salvator or Robert Graves are kept alive.
Music, painting and literature have always
found a source of inspiration in this island.
To get to know Mallorca, one must also enjoy
its gastronomy. Both in Palma and in any
other town, there are restaurants where one
can try typical dishes like "ses sopes", "llom
amb col" or "frit de matances".
Discovering Mallorca therefore offers an
extensive range of experiences. The list of
possibilities is so long that you can visit the
island several times and your trip will be
different every time. Never the same. There
will always be a new Mallorca to discover. In
spite of being well-known by all, in spite of
being so famous all over the world, it is a
region that holds secrets for anyone who
wishes to seek them out.
Everyone will find a tailor-made experience.
And end up thinking of Mallorca as a large
home, a place limited in geography, but
infinite in the manner of experiencing it.
Son Marroig, Deià
15
17. reserve
Menorcan countryside
Menorca is an island with a great personality.
Very different to the rest of the Balearics. A
special place where the scenery, the history,
Menorca, nature
at its purest
the traditions and the lifestyle combine in a
unique world. In 1993 UNESCO awarded it
the status of Biosphere Reserve, in
recognition of its natural and cultural values.
The nucleus of the reserve is the Parque
Natural de s’Albufera des Grau, in the north-
east of the island.
Menorcan geography is characterised by a
plain configuration, with low elevations. A
sweet, undulating relief. In its northern region,
the earth looks dark and slatey. In the south,
on the other hand, the torrents have opened
up deep ravines in the calcareous rock. On
17
18. Cavalleria lighthouse Torralba d’en Salord
reaching the sea these water courses form exaggeration, an open-air museum. Its
perfect coves. The nearest thing to the ideal archaeological heritage is amongst the most
beach, a sheltering semicircle of woods and important in the Mediterranean. Monuments
cliffs, a valley behind, and in front, the clear like the Naveta des Tudons or the walled
horizon, the sky and the sea. prehistoric villages of Torre d’en Galmés and
Trepucó are very famous indeed. As well as
And as though the landscape in itself were their historic interest, they offer a unique
Its archaeological heritage not magical enough, the whole island possess sensation. The experience of their majesty, of
is one of the most important a great unity of scale. The "llocs" or country their telluric force. As though the stone of the
in the Mediterranean houses, painted white, dominate the constructions vibrated with the scenery.
perspective of woods, pasture lands, and Menorca also contains a wealth of museums,
many stone walls. The hills are never too from the Museum of Menorca in Maó to the
high. The promontories and inlets trace out a Municipal Museum in Ciutadella, and
welcoming, picturesque image. The sky including the Ecomuseu del Cap de
seems immense and the colours alive. Cavalleria, in the north of the island.
The range of monuments in Menorca is Whilst each and every one of the villages on
exceptional. It has been called, without the island has its charm and maintains its
18
19. archaeology
Maó Diocesan museum
own character and personality, Maó, the Maó has a highly-prized shopping centre and
capital, deserves a special mention. It jewellery industry. The town boasts above all
dominates a natural port in the shape of a clothes and footwear shops, a leisure zone in
fjord five kilometres long. It is perched up Baixamar, a historic centre with buildings
on a clifftop, white, with beautiful, well- like the church of Santa María or the convent
proportioned buildings, the port lying at its of Carme, bookshops, restaurants. And a
feet. It has a Nordic air about it in its privileged view of the port. No wonder then
cleanliness, its rationality, contrasting with that it is a meeting point for sailors. The
Open-air museum the Mediterranean nature of the marine safety and breadth of its port have made it a
backdrop, the whiteness, the squares and privileged mooring-place since antiquity.
sloping streets. The memory of British rule During the summer season, numerous vessels
in the 18th century is another singular still enjoy its conditions.
element, evident above all in the
architecture, in decorative elements, the
traditional gin that is made in accordance
with an 18th-century formula, and some
words in local expressions.
19
20. At the other tip of the island, Ciutadella is the
westernmost town, the historical capital until
the 18th century. It is famous for the fiestas of
Sant Joan, a festival in which nobody feels
strange and which lends great character to the
town, when its streets become an apotheosis of
music, people, unbridled cordiality and
horses, the latter playing precisely the starring
role, both in the traditional fiestas of all the
villages and in everyday life, making up an
intrinsic part of Menorcan life and culture.
Strolling around Ciutadella means reliving
many sensations from the past. The streets of
the historic centre are narrow and run
between the great palaces of the island’s
nobility.
The stately character is present in the
honorary staircases, the large windows, the
coats of arms. They are combined with the
popular element of the arcades, housing
many shops selling typical products, clothes
or footwear.
The port of Ciutadella is extremely typical.
Opening up amidst stone walls and private
homes, it ends at the foot of the town hall and
the ancient wall. The rear of it is also a leisure
and nightlife centre. Seen from afar, Ciutadella
looks like a storybook town.
It rises up with its bell towers, its ancient town
planning, in the midst of a stony plain. With
the sea as a backcloth.
“Jaleo”, a typical part of the fiestas
20
21. tradition Menorca is an ideal island for all kinds of
water sports (sailing, surfing, diving,
kayaks…), hiking, cycling or equestrian
routes. With no hindrances in terms of
orography, containing dazzling nooks at every
turn. Travelling through Menorca, soaking up
its colours, the wind, the humidity, the smell
of salt, is something of an interior experience.
The island has an old peripheral path, the
"Camí de Cavalls", enabling one to encircle
practically all the coastline, enjoying it in the
most authentic way.
The gastronomy is yet another of its strong
points. The fame of its lobster casserole has
spread all over the world. The same as the
cheese with Mahón – Menorca Designation
of Origin.
The sensitivity of its flavours seems to
correspond with that of its landscapes.
Menorca is like a representation of our inner
life. Which is why everyone who visits it
recognises something of their own in it. They
create a lifelong link with it.
Port of Ciutadella
21
23. heritage
Balàfia Parade ground, Dalt Vila
Ibiza has myth. It is one of the most famous
islands in the Mediterranean. When you see it,
you understand why immediately. There can
Ibiza,
magic and myth
be few places in the world where one can find
so many opposing things in such a small
space. Ibiza has sacred landscapes, with so
much power and beauty that they have been
used thousands of times in books, records,
postcards, paintings... Like the majestic islet of
Es Vedrà emerging from the waters. Coquettish
white villages: Sant Joan de Labritja, Santa
Gertrudis de Fruitera, Sant Agustí des Vedrà,
Santa Agnès de Corona... An old town that has
preserved its walls, its alleyways, its
viewpoints. Not in vain was Dalt Vila (the
historic quarter of the capital) declared a
World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999.
23
24. Hippy market Pla de Corona
The Ibizan countryside has the coquetry of a There is no spectacle equal to summer nights
“naïf” painting. Red, spongy earth, isolated in the port of Ibiza, where a varied,
houses and pure shapes. And in the indefinable assortment of people play the
background those elevations that are so leading role in a kind of endless parade.
characteristic of the island. Mountains with The variety of attires and human types, the
rounded, feminine shapes. Woods, valleys, music, the street markets, look like something
springs. from an Oriental scene. Very nearby, the
macro-discotheques are the temple of that
Ibiza, the island
As though it were a derivation of that Ibizan night experience.
of creativity dazzling nature, Ibiza is also the island of
creativity, of artists. This is where ad-lib At the other extreme is the traditional,
fashion was born in the ‘seventies, and ever ancestral Ibiza. This can be experienced in
since it has been a paradigm in tendencies the big, rambling houses of Dalt Vila, in the
and fashion. Architects, writers, painters, fishermen’s cottages of the Marina quarter.
photographers... They have all been dazzled But above all, in the countryside.
by its magic. Naturally to speak of Ibiza is to Since the villages are very dispersed, the
speak of leisure, and sophistication, too. centre was traditionally always the bar-shop.
24
25. sunset
Sunset in Ses Salines
An unclassifiable place where peasants, Alongside it stands monumental Ibiza.
artists and foreign residents meet up. All The island was a rich Punic enclave, a
united by a love of this island, of the commercial emporium. The Phoenician and
extraordinary harmony its scenery emanates. Punic legacy has been declared World
That harsh, telluric sentiment is also Heritage, with examples such as the village of
translated into the island’s gastronomy, in Sa Caleta and the necropolis of Puig des
dishes like "sofrit pagès" or "burrida de Molins. They contain some precious pieces,
ratjada" (made using skate). full of mystery, of Greek and Oriental
Places you have
influences. The legacy of a civilisation of
to see to believe That traditional Ibiza is very present in the craftsmen, traders and sailors which took
crafts and the folklore. Anyone who has seen Ibizan products all over the Mediterranean.
an Ibizan dance will never forget it. It gives Coastal Ibiza has places one has to see to
off an air of authenticity and of centuries-old believe. Like the Ses Salines area. Where with
antiquity. The same as the protocols of every sunset, the mirror-like surfaces of the
human relations, extremely warm and ponds fill up with gentle colours, blues,
generous. Not in vain has this region always oranges, yellows, greens, whites.
welcomed all kinds of travellers. A spectacle indeed.
25
26. Bicycle de Comte
Platgestouring Water sports
Some Ibizan beaches also form part of the centre founded in 1992 and located just seven The myth of Ibiza is based on beauty, sun,
myth. Who has not heard of Cala Comte, Es kilometres from the island’s capital, halfway authenticity, sun, history.
Cavallet or Benirràs? With very light sand, between the towns of Jesús and Santa Eulària.
with islets on the horizon that look like Golf de Ibiza is the only golf club on the
something from a film set. The sea bed is so Balearics with a 27-hole course.
rich in posidonia meadows it has also been
declared World Heritage. There are good facilities for yachting tourism,
which is why the island is the venue for a
Paradoxically, the myth and that weight of legendary regatta: La Ruta de la Sal. Ibiza is a
history have not prevented Ibiza from being a paradise for all lovers of diving and other
very modern place at the same time. Vila, the water sports, such as sea kayaks.
capital, is a town with a full range of services,
well-communicated, offering numerous Routes have been prepared for hiking and
cultural activities. It has an active bicycle touring. The mountain bike or road
commercial sector, centres for business bike Tours of Ibiza are consolidated sporting
meetings and congresses. events on the islands, with repercussions
Ibiza has a golf course, a social and sports outside of it.
26
29. turquoises
Camino de Sa Pujada
Formentera,
What are the rules of paradise? We all know
them. Above all, an enclosed place:
preferably an island. A landscape that fills up
the senses, that invites one to happiness. An
the colours of paradise
uncongested, welcoming human distribution.
And a geography that looks like it is
something from the map in a novel, with its
magical points, its mysteries. And this is
exactly what we find in Formentera.
Many people travel halfway around the world
in search of those hidden paradises, when
they have Formentera so close at hand.
Nowhere else can you find those radiant
waters, of such a bright green or blue that
they seem lit up inside. Tongues of soft, warm
sand, like that of Illetes, where your
footprints in the sand look like those of a
29
30. “Peix Sec”, dried fish Sea bed
Robinson Crusoe. Or the sandstone of the sky is so big, the dusks so slow, there is no
cliffs of Racó de sa Pujada, twisted into hurry, you touch the materials – the sand, the
authentic sculptures of nature. stone, the water – and you feel like becoming
an artist. You savour every moment. You feel
Formentera is a treasure map island. It has like you have found your place in the world.
several seas and several skies if we count the
horizon of the east, of the west, and those of its Formentera is an exceptional place in which
two inland pools. There, the island appears to to enjoy the sea. From the beach of Migjorn to
An exceptional place reflect itself. Like a land of legend. The the sensational strips of sand of Illetes. Sailing,
in which to enjoy the sea promontories of La Mola and Cap de Barbaria bathing, diving, all pleasures within reach of
appear in the distance. anyone. As though it were united to that
They are worlds within another world. sensorial concept, the island’s gastronomy
adds another point of interest.
If travelling is a state of the spirit, Formentera Dining on “peix sec” salad at the sea shore, in
offers a real journey. As soon as you cross the any of the island’s restaurants, seeing the
straits by boat, you enter another dimension. lights of Ibiza in the distance. Feeling
When we land in the port of La Savina, it is as everything is close at hand, that there is no
though something had changed inside us. The need to rush. The taste of the fish or seafood
30
31. paradise
Barbaria lighthouse
cuisine, the wine, form part of that internal It is an island for exploring little by little. By
image of the island. bike, on the different inland routes. Or
walking along the cobbled path that climbs up
Like a good paradise, Formentera has its the cliffs of La Mola. To buy the hippy-style
mysteries. Monuments such as the megalithic craft products in Sant Francesc, visit the craft
sepulchre of Ca na Costa, the lighthouse of La market in La Mola, listen to a concert on a full-
Mola, the caves in the cliffs, the near-lunar moon night.
extension of Barbaria, the salt flats, the
A place where time memories of the hippy era. They are all When the traveller is long gone, he or she will
hardly seems to pass historical suggestions that enable you to remember above all the colours of paradise.
dream of a place where time hardly seems to The turquoise of the water, the ochre of the
pass, where everything is circular. stone, the blue of the sky, the beam of light
from the lighthouse sweeping across the
darkness. And miss Formentera as one feels
the nostalgia of something one has
experienced very profoundly.
31
32. Mallorca
HOSPITAL CAVES
HEALTH CENTRE GOLF COURSE
OBSERVATORY AIRPORT
NATURAL AREA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
CASTLE BOAT TRIP
INFORMATION NAUTICAL ACTIVITIES
MUSEUM EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES
CHAPEL AND SANCTUARY HIKING
LIGHTHOUSE CYCLING
DEFENCE TOWER TRAIN
