With its narrow streets and old European charm, it is no surprise that Palma de Mallorca is a popular destination for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Despite being a vibrant city rich in culture, history and gastronomy, I found the pace surprisingly slow and leisurely. Perhaps my preconceptions of Mallorca being a ‘party island’ clouded my judgement, but I was pleasantly surprised by this pocket-sized city.
Though my visit was fleeting, it was enough to bask in the city’s culture and leave me with a short (and by no means exhaustive) list of things I would recommend doing.
We stayed in Meliá Palma Bay, a modern and airy hotel boasting a rooftop terrace and bar with sea views, an outdoor pool, an on-site spa and a number of other amenities detailed in our accommodation review. For us, the location was convenient for our short stay- just a 15 minute drive from the airport and about a 30 minute walk to Palma’s old town, where we spent most of our time.
The charming streets of the Old Town led us to Sa Bodegueta which served up THE best paella I’ve ever tasted (and I’ve tried a lot). I’ve since recommended it to a number of people and here are a few of my favourite reactions:
Just around the corner from Sa Bodegueta you have Palma’s infamous landmark, the 14th Century Sa Seu Cathedral, also known as Catedral-Basílica de Santa María. This imposing and beautiful Gothic building is one of Palma’s main attractions, offering guided rooftop tours with views overlooking the bay.
Beyond the Cathedral, the streets of the Old Town wind towards Medieval courtyards, pretty squares and more gothic architecture. Hidden within these streets are a plethora of (free) galleries, museums and art studios bursting with the creative work of some of Spain’s best contemporary artists. We found ‘Carrer de sant feliu’ an interesting street for leisurely art browsing, and had also planned a visit to the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum, Es Baluard. Unfortunately we were short on time, but this museum is on my list for my next visit, given its reserve of 700+ art pieces linked to artists from the Balearic islands!
To me, Palma was a beautiful city break, with the advantage of the seafront (rather than a beach holiday with the amenities of a city) if that makes ANY sense at all? For all of you beach babes in the search of hidden coves and turquoise waters however, I would suggest a trip to the South Eastern coast of the island.
