Palma de Mallorca

                                         

Mallorca is one of the greatest islands to live in the nature with the transparent seven-color sea, and the forests on hills. From so many people you can hear that the island is as good as Caribbean Islands.

    

Besides nature the capital of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca has special importance in terms of its history. Different civilizations such as the Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Muslims, and Christians have marked the city’s progress.

The places to visit, if you can take yourself from the charming sea:

·           City Hall (Pl. Cort, 1)

·           Cathedral (C. Palau Reial, 29)

·           La Lonja (the fishermen’s market) (Pl. Llotja)

·           The Almudaina Palace (C. Palau Reial, 20)

·           Bellver Castle (C. Camilo José Cela, 17)

·           Arab Baths (C. Can Serra, 7)

        

    

                                            

Besides the Museums and Exhibition halls, at the center of the city, shopping districts or the small traditional shops might attract your attention too. In Placa España where buses from the airport stop, you can find tourism information.

Although you may follow and enjoy different routes, here is an alternative route to follow:

Plaza de la Reina can be a good starting point. Following that s’Hort del Rei gardens then the old city walls is a nice route to follow. From the Gothic cathedral, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Parc de la Mar, the Ses Voltes cultural space, and the bay. Then Palacio de la Almudaina, and the Palacio Episcopal are in the list.

                                             

If you follow Palau Reial Street you'll end up at the Plaza de Cort, where you will find the emblematic city hall. 

From there you can head towards the Born, going through some of the city’s unique shopping streets. Very close to this street you can find the exhibitions and the tourist information office at the charming Casal Solleric, then the fishermen’s market and Church of Santa Cruz. The more you travel through the antic streets the more you discover.

A good representation of Palma’s nightlife is the beautiful Paseo Marítimo. After the famous surrealist painter, John Miro who lived and died in Palma,  Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró serves to the art lovers in Palma. Bus number 3 takes you to the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró and also to a lovely beach Cala Mayor. Bus number 15 takes you to the other part of the city which includes all the tourist beaches called Las Arenas.

The island is called a "German island". When you arrive on the Island, you see the reality behind this joke. The amount of German community is remarkably high.

Finally don't miss the landing view of the island.

                                        

Enjoy!

Menorca

The third and the smallest Balearic island is Minorca (in Spanish/Catalan: Menorca). If what you need is nature and silence, away from the crowd then Menorca is the right place to be in.  Although Mallorca and Ibiza are extremely touristic, Menorca stayed as a local island. There are some tourist groups though, it cannot be compared with the other two islands in that sense. Just the charming coastline (216km) is enough to amaze you. The color of the sea could relax all of your muscles :) You will not forget the bluish/greenish transparent sea, amazing coves, sandy beaches and the strong wind ofcourse. The island is famous with its strong winds, it is sometimes called the wind island. The speed of the wind may reach up to 100km/h.

The airport is in Mahon at the capital city. There are bus network connections and shuttles to the rest of the island. The distance between Mahon and Ciutadella is around 50km.

What to visit:

There are several cities that could be visited in Menorca such as, Mahon, Ferreries, Mercadals, Fornells, but do not miss Ciutadella.

Ciutadella: Ciutadella was the capital city at the Muslim era till the 18th century. It is also known as vella i bella “old and beautiful”. The city still presents that aristocratic characteristics with the plazas, palaces and other historic structures. The city has it is unique identity and it is totally different than Mahon, the current capital city. Just walking in the streets of Ciutadella could be a trip in the old historic days... Don’t miss to visit La Plaza de Born, the cathedral, the museum, beautiful historic palaces, and houses.

Having 216 km costlines (more than Ibiza and mallorca) Menorca has wonderful amazing natural beauties and coves. Here are some of unmissable sandy beaches that I can suggest: Cala Galdana, Cala Turqueta ,Cala Mitjana, Cala en Porter. The Bay of Fornells is famous with its shallow water and it is ideal for sail and windsurf learners.

My favorite suggestion is Cala Galdana known as "Queen of the coves”. The charming effects of Cala Galdana could stop you to discover the rest of the island. The sandy beach, the sea, the cliffs, the colors... Enjoy the nature!

You will not forget Menorca!