Sea View Penthouse Apartment for Rent in Port Alcudia Mallorca

About the Island of Mallorca

Majorca (Spanish and Catalan: Mallorca) is the largest island of Spain. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea and part of the Balearic Islands. The name derives from Latin insula maior, "larger island".

The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.

Like the other Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Formentera, and Minorca, the island is a popular tourist destination. In Germany, the United Kingdom and to a lesser extent, Ireland, where package tourism to the island started in May 1952, Majorca has remained a popular destination.

The climate is Mediterranean, Summers are hot in the plains and winters mild to cool, getting colder in the Tramuntana Mountain range.

The official languages of Majorca are Catalan and Spanish. The local dialect of Catalan is Mallorquí, even though the dialects are different in each island and in most villages. Typically, young Majorcans are bilingual in Catalan and Spanish, with some knowledge of English or German as a foreign language, especially due to the large number of tourists and foreign residents on the island.

In 2005, there were over 2,400 restaurants on the island of Majorca according to the Majorcan Tourist Board. They ranged from small bars to full scale restaurants. Despite Majorca’s location in the Mediterranean, seafood is often imported. Olives and almonds are typical of the Majorcan diet. The island now has over 4 million almond and olive trees. Among the food items that can be truly stated as being Majorcan are sobrassada, arros brut -saffron rice cooked with chicken, pork and vegetables- and, the sweet pastry, ensaïmada.

Top 10 places in to visit in Mallorca

If You only have a short time to visit the island, or would like to get a really complete picture of Mallorca, here are the essentials.

1. Spend a day in Palma exploring the old city, then join the evening passeig along the waterfront for a drink in one of the island's trendiest bars.
2. Take the joyride to Soller on a vintage electric train through the mountains.
3. Enjoy a boat trip around the coast, passing hidden coves which you cannot reach in a car.
4. Walk in the Serra de Tramuntana, breathing in the heady mix of fresh air, sea breeze and scented wild herbs.
5. Sit at a quayside restaurant eating fresh fish - choose from any one of the island's ports.
6. Visit the monastery at Valldemossa, where Chopin and George Sand spent the winter of 1838-39.
7. Drive (or walk) to a hilltop sanctuary to experience 'the other Mallorca' - if you really want to get away from it all, spend the night.
8. Get a tan on a crowded beach - you haven't 'done' Mallorca until you have.
9. Find out where there is a local festival going on - and drop everything to get there.
10. Go shopping.

Mallorca for Drives

This drive gives an excellent introduction to the mountain and coastal scenery of western Mallorca.

• Start in Andratx, taking the C710 to Estellencs about halfway up the main street.

Immediately the road begins to climb. You pass a mirador sign, go through a tunnel and the sea comes into view. Follow this beautiful twisting coast road between the sea and the pine-scented hills to the village of Estellencs, one of the prettiest in Mallorca, with narrow, steep cobbled streets and women doing their washing at the village well. After another 5km, stop at the Mirador de Ses Animes and clamber up to the 16th-century watchtower for views right along the northwest coast. Soon after this you reach Banyalbufar, with its spectacular terracing.

• When the C710 turns off left towards Valldemossa, keep straight on the PM110, signposted to Palma. After 1km you see a sign to La Granja on your right.

You could easily spend 2-3 hours at this display of Mallorcan traditions.

• Leaving La Granja, take the narrow road to Puigpunyent from the car park.

Follow this road for 10km, a dramatic journey through olive groves in the shadow of Puig de Galatzo. The road continues through Puigpunyent and on to Galilea, a mountain village with a couple of tapas bars and views out to sea. From here the road twists and turns down to the village of Es Capdella.

• Turn right in the village and follow signs back to Andratx.

This leisurely half-day drive takes in several family attractions close to the northeast coast. It can easily be done as a day trip from Palma, adding 1 1/2 hours to the time.

• Begin by the OlivArt factory shop, as you enter Manacor on the C715 from Palma. Follow signs to Porto Cristo, leaving Manacor along a boulevard with palm trees down the middle.

After 13km you see the Coves dels Hams - choose between stopping here or continuing to Porto Cristo for the Coves del Drac.

• The road continues to Porto Cristo, where you turn left at the seafront up a steep hill, following signs to Son Servera and Cala Millor.

The road leads through orchards divided by drystone walls, reaching Auto-Safari where you can drive around the zoo.

• Continue north, bypassing Cala Millor and turning left into Son Servera. Turn right towards Capdepera.

Long before you get there you see the castle crowning the village on a hill. Stop here for lunch and a climb to the
castle, then if you feel like an afternoon on the beach take the side road to Cala Mesquida.

• Otherwise take the C715 to Arta.

Again you see the town long before you get there. After exploring Arta, take to the coast.

• Follow the C712 coast road around the bay of Alcudia.

You pass the S'Albufera nature reserve before finally reaching Alcudia.

• Return to Palma in under an hour by taking the C713 and joining the motorway at Inca.

This lovely drive criss-crosses the central plain, following old Roman roads through almond and apricot groves on its way to several small market towns.

• Start in Petra, following signs to Santa Margalida from the parish church. Bypass Santa Margalida by bearing left towards Muro.

In Muro, Carrer Major takes you to the museum well worth a visit.

• Continue along Carrer Major, over a crossroads and past the church of Sant Joan Baptista towards Sa Pobla.

Next you cross a fertile land of windmills, red earth and potato fields. Up ahead you see the mountains.

• From Sa Pobla,follow signs to Llubi; when you reach Llubi go uphill into the village and down again to reach a main road. Cross the road and take the narrow track towards Sineu.

Drystone walls to either side line the route to Sineu. On entering the town note the modern sculpture in the street as you pass beneath it.

• Follow signs to Sant Joan. As you enter Sant Joan, turn right to Montuiri - worth a brief stop.

Leaving Montuiri cross the Palma-Manacor highway by the Orquidea pearl shop and head for Porreres. A short detour takes you up to the Santuari de Montesio.

• Leave Porreres in the direction of Vilafranca de Bonany. Turn left in Vilafranca and pass Els Calderers on your right.

You could visit the stately home of Els Calderers taking a short cut to Sant Joan.

• Take the next right turn to Sant Joan, from where you can return to Petra.

There are excellent views of the Ermita de Bonany and of Petra church as you approach.

Mallorca for Cyclists

Europeans are discovering a new facet of the Balearic Islands. The Islands are the shinning example of sun and sand, and millions of people enjoy this every summer. But the Balearic Islands are also a paradise at other seasons of the year, and for many reasons.

The benign winters, the intense light and colour that pervades the spring and the pleasant temperatures all year round make the Islands ideal for active visitors. Thousands of cyclists arrive every year to travel its highways and byways and find corners they had never imagined. But it is not just the enthusiasts who enjoy the Island.

The leading professional cyclists in the world come here every February to compete in the Challenge, the first event of the year counts towards the World Cup. Throughout the winter, the best European teams train in Mallorca because they find it is the ideal conditions for training.

Visitors who want to enjoy the beauty of Mallorca can also rent a bicycle and follow the country roads filled with great beauty, which will lead them to the small villages in the interior, and enable them to get to know Mallorca culture , enjoy the typical cooking in the Sellers and the peaceful way of life of the inhabitants. 
   
Advice before setting off on all the recommended excursions.

1. Keep to the hard shoulder of the roads wherever possible. If you go out in a group, go in single file. Don't make any risky manoeuvres and comply with all trafic requlations for your own safely.
2. Do not leave litter behind and do not light fires in the woods. Respect the natural surrounding because the ecological balance is very fragile.
3. Do not enter private property without the express permission of its owners.
4. In the summer, it is advisable not to cycle during the time when the sun is at its hottest.  Take water and a hat on excursions.
5. Before leaving on an excursion, make sure your cycle is in good condition. Make sure you have lights if you are thinking of going out at night or returning late.
6. Before setting off, make sure you let someone know where you will be going and when you think you are likely to get back to your setting point.