Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, known for both its stunning scenery and popular tourist resorts. The island has a varied landscape with fertile plains, rugged mountains and beautiful sandy beaches. Over the years Mallorca has attracted many famous visitors, including writer Rupert Graves and composer Frederic Chopin. In more recent years, Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, nightclub entrepreneur Peter Stringfellow, and the model Claudia Schiffer have all bought homes here.
The island's capital is the beautiful city of Palma de Mallorca. Dominated by the imposing Gothic cathedral of La Seu, which dates from the 15th century, this historic city is renowned for its charming old quarter of narrow streets and pretty squares. Palma also has a thriving waterfront where expensive yachts can be seen alongside local fishing boats. To the west is the Castle of Bellver, from which there are stunning views over the city.
Several of Mallorca's best-known package holiday destinations are situated around Palma Bay. The nightclub mecca of Magaluf and neighbouring Palma Nova, both of which are popular with British holidaymakers, are situated on the western side of the bay, while Arenal on Palma Bay's eastern section tends to attract more German visitors. All these resorts have fine sandy beaches and a host of leisure amenities.
There are two major resorts, Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa, along the island's northern coastline. Alcudia boasts the longest beach on Mallorca, a 6-mile long stretch of sand that reaches as far as neighbouring Can Picafort. Puerto Pollensa is a picturesque town set within a large bay between two mountains. Another long sandy beach means this pleasant resort is ideal for families. Close by is the old town of Pollensa, whose old convent hosts a popular music festival in August.
The Tramuntana Mountains dominate the northwest coastline of Mallorca, and there are a couple of fashionable resorts, Deia and Puerto de Soller, on this beautiful part of the island. Robert Graves made Deia his home in 1929, and the great novelist is buried in the church graveyard. Other pretty villages in the area include Valdemossa and Biniarix. One of the best ways to see the Tramuntana mountain range is to take a train from Palma to the old town of Soller (situated a couple of miles inland from Puerto de Soller). The journey on this narrow gauge railway, which opened in 1912, takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The neighbouring resorts of Cala Bona, Cala Millor and Sa Coma all lie on the east coast. Cala Millor is the largest of the three, and is a popular choice for German visitors, while the quiet and informal resort of Cala Bona tends to cater more for British holidaymakers. To the south of these resorts are the spectacular Cuevas de Drach (Dragon Caves). One of Mallorca's best-loved tourist attractions, this enormous cave complex boasts Europe's largest underground lake and some beautiful clusters of stalagmites and stalactites. Further south, around the scenic resort of Cala D'Or, the coastline is dotted with many pretty little coves.
