Majorca is the largest island of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of 3,620 square kilometers and a population of over 800,000 inhabitants. Majorca has 53 municipalities with Palma being the largest and most important city. The island has a Mediterranean climate and terrain that varies from mountainous in the north to flatter in the central and southern regions. Tourism is now the primary economic driver on the island following centuries of agriculture and fishing. Majorca has many festivals celebrating its culture and heritage, the most famous being Sant Antoni in January and The Moor and Christian festival in Pollença.

1. Introduction
Majorca is an island of the Mediterranean sea. It is the biggest
in the Balearic Islands. Precisely, its name comes from this
fact, Majorca means the biggest.
It has got an area of 3620 square kilometres and in 2007 the
population was 814275 inhabitants. The population density is
214,87 inhabitant per square kilometre.

3. Municipalities
Majorca has got 53
municipalities. The most
important is Palma, capital of
Majorca, followed by
Manacor, Inca, Llucmajor
and Calvià. We can also
point out Pollença and Sóller
for its history. The biggest
are Llucmajor, Manacor,
Palma and Felanitx. The
smallest are Buger, Lloseta,
Estellencs and Consell

4. Orography
There are three
different areas: the
range of Tramuntana,
the range of Llevant
and the central
depression

5. Orography
The range of Tramuntana is
90 km long. There we can
find the tallest mountains in
Majorca: the Puig Major
(1445m), the Massanella
(1340m), the Ofre (1090m),
the “Es Teix”(1064m), and
the Galatzó (1026m). The
coasts of the range make
breathtaking cliffs which
in some places reach
400 metres.
Puig Major- the tallest mountain in Majorca

6. Climate
Majorca has got a mediterranean climate. This climate is mild. Its main
characteristics are the following: dry summers, showers are concentrated
in autumn and spring. The average temperature is 17ºC.

7. Vegetation
Majorca’s vegetation is
related to the following:
climate (species are
conditioned), the fact of
being four islands (the
process of evolution is
different and it gives
way to autoctonous
species) and human
being.
Main vegetation is pine
wood, holm, oak wood
and scrubs.

8. Economy
For many centuries the
economy of the island was
based on agriculture and cattle
raising.
Industry has developed mainly
in Palma, Manacor (furniture
and pearls) and the villages
which form the Raiguer region
(leather and glass industry).
From the sixties onwards
tourism has been the motor of
the island and is also
responsible for demography,
social, economic and
enviromental changes which
have taken place.

9. Majorca: area and
inhabitants
Mallorca is made up of 53 municipalities. The archipielago of
Cabrera belongs to the municipality of Palma.
Regions:
A region is made up of some municipalities which share some
physical, enviromental and economic features.

10. Region of “Es Pla”
The Region of “Es Pla”-
It is formed by
municipalities situated
in the centre of the
island and the bay of
Alcudia.
Palma is a region itself
together with the
Archipielago of Cabrera.

11. Region of Migjorn- Llevant
The region of
Migjorn- Llevant is
made up of
southern and
eastern coastal
municipalities.

12. Region of Tramuntana
The region of
Tramuntana is made
up of municipalities
situated in the range
of mountains in the
north of the island.

13. Region of “es Raiguer
The region of “es
Raiguer” is formed
by municipalities
located between the
Tramuntana range
of mountains and
the region of “es
Pla”.

14. The migratory movement
The first migration waves to arrive in the Balearics were in late
seventies. They came from the Spanish provinces. However, at present
migration comes from the European countries, Africa, Central and South
America.
Migration is very enriching for destination countries because it
contributes to a new and different social life and traditions. Also, it
makes for the economic development.
On the other hand, the destination country should provide with health
system, schooling and social security.

15. Festivals- Christmas
The first Christmas
celebration is midnight
mass on the 24th
December. The most
important moment is
the Sibil.la’s song, a
prophetic song from the
Middle Age. Christmas
Day and Sant Esteve’s
Day (Boxing Day) are
reservated for lunch
with the family.

16. Festivals- Sant Antoni
The festival starts on the
evening of the 16th January
when many bonfires are lighted.
People gather around the
bonfires scattered in the village
and grill “sobrassada”, other
typical sausages and pork
meat . This constitutes their
supper together with wine.
Devils dance around the
bonfires and typical songs
“glosses” are sung.
On the 17th parades take place.
The floats are mostly scenes
from rural areas, and devils.
Pets are taken to church to be
blessed.

17. Festivals- Sant Antoni
The festivity of Sant
Sant Antoni Abad takes
place on the 17th
January. It is mostly
celebrated in the
villages.
The most well-known
festivals are those in
Sa Pobla, Artà, Pollença
, Muro i Manacor.

18. Festivals- The Moor and the Christian
On the 2nd August, day of the “Mare de Déu dels Àngels”, the saint
patron of Pollença. We commemorate the victory of the Christian on the
Moor Dragut, who on the night of 30th May 1550 attacked the village of
Pollença. The legend tells that Joan Mas (Christian) invocated the “Mare
de Déu dels Àngels” and she helped them to beat a much better army
made up of 1500 men

19. Festivals- The Moor and the Christian
The celebration starts the night before, with a big party in the streets and
squares of Pollença and lasts until the morning of day two, when at five
in the morning, the music band starts to play music along the streets.
Each year the inhabitants of Pollença act out what happened during the
Christian-Moor battle. The main roles documented go back to 1860 and
are chosen by popular voting the first week of July.

20. The Moor and the Christian- Pollença

21. Festivals- La Beateta
The Beata festival takes place in Santa Margalida the first weekend of
September. It is the most typical parade in Majorca. Its origin still
remains unknown.
The Beata festival is also celebrated in Valldemossa on the 28th July. In
the parade there is always a Valldemossa born six year old girl and three
three year old angels followed by people singing “la Beateta” (a popular
song).

22. The Beateta- Valldemossa