Balearic Islands Sights

  1. Arc de Sant Roc

    The narrow streets to the east comprise the oldest part of Maó. The Arc de Sant Roc, a 16th-century archway at the top end of Carrer de Sant Roc, is the only remaining relic of the medieval walls that once surrounded the old city.

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  2. Cala de Deià

    On the coast, Cala de Deià has some popular swimming spots and a couple of bar-restaurants. The steep walking track from town takes about half an hour; you can drive down, but in the high season this might take almost as long. Some fine walks criss-cross the area, such as the gentle Deià Coastal Path to the pleasant hamlet of Lluc Alcari (three hours return).

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  3. Can Marquès

    The Can Marquès mansion is one of few such places in Palma open to visitors. Dating to the 14th century, it gives a fascinating insight into how the well-to-do of bygone centuries lived (and in some cases still do) in old Palma.

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  4. Can Marroig

    About seven kilometres north of Valldemossa is one of Habsburg Archduke Luis Salvador's former residences residences, Can Marroig. It is a delightful, rambling mansion, jammed with furniture and period items, including many of the archduke's books. The views are the stuff of dreams. Wander down to the Foradada, the strange hole-in-the-rock formation by the water. It's about a 3km walk. You can swim, but beware the men o' war jellyfish.

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  5. Castell de Bellver

    Further south of the city, the circular Castell de Bellver is an unusual 14th-century castle (with a unique round tower) set atop a pleasant park. Parts of the castle are shut on Sunday. It is the stage for a summer classical music festival in July.

    Constructed by King Jaume II of Mallorca between 1309 and 1311, the castle has been used more for defence and imprisonment purposes than as a royal residence.

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  7. Castell de Sant Nicolau

    West of Ciutadella town centre, the southern head of the port entrance is dominated by the stout little Castell de Sant Nicolau. The views west to Mallorca and south down the coast are lovely.

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  8. Catedral

    Palma's enormous catedral, La Seu, is often likened to a huge ship moored at the city's edge. Construction work on what had been the site of the main mosque started in 1230 but wasn't completed until 1600. This awesome structure is predominantly Gothic, apart from the main façade (replaced after an earthquake in 1851) and parts of the interior (renovated in Modernista style by Antoni Gaudí at the beginning of the 20th century).

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  9. Costa Nord

    Costa Nord was dreamed up by part-time Mallorca resident and Hollywood celebrity Michael Douglas. His (what should we call it?) show is made up of two parts. The first is a three-screen 'documentary' on the history of this part of the island. Next you are ushered into a mock-up of the master's quarters of the good ship Nixe , which belonged to Archduke Luis Salvador, son of the 19th-century Habsburg ruler of Tuscany, Leopoldo II.

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  10. Coves d'Artà

    On the coast 10km southeast of the quiet, ochre inland town of Artà are the Coves d'Artà - rivalling Porto Cristo's Coves del Drac. Tours of the caves leave every 30 minutes.

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  11. Coves d'en Xeroni

    Beside the main road just east of Sant Ferran are the Coves d'en Xeroni, an unexceptional series of underground caves with stalactites and all. Treat opening times with a large grain of salt.

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  13. Coves del Drac

    The Coves del Drac (Dragon's Caves) are on the southern outskirts of Porto Cristo. One-hour tours are held hourly, the 'highlight' being the classical music played by boat-bound musicians floating across a large subterranean lake.

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  14. Ecomuseu Cap de Cavalleria

    Just northwest of Fornells is the Ecomuseu Cap de Cavalleria, with displays and videos on the north coast, its fauna, the lighthouse, ancient inhabitants and Romans. The remains of the latter's settlement, Sanisena (today Sanitja), have been excavated nearby. At the museum you'll receive a detailed area map showing you how to wander to the ruins and round about.

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  15. Es Baluard

    The spectacular Es Baluard (Museu d'Art Modern i Contemporani) takes the grand Renaissance-era seaward fortifications as its setting. A 21st-century concrete complex has been built into the walls, and is a playful game of light, surfaces and perspective - the perfect framework for this major exhibition of contemporary artists from Spain and beyond. On show are items from many of the great names, from local boy Miquel Barceló through to Kandinsky.

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  16. Església de Santa Maria la Major

    The Església de Santa Maria la Major was completed in 1287, but rebuilt during the 18th century. It houses a massive organ built in Barcelona and shipped across in 1810. At the northern end of this plaza is the ajuntament (town hall).

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  17. Església Parroquial de San Bartolomé

    Sóller's main square, Plaça de la Constitució, is home to the large 16th-century Església Parroquial de San Bartolomé, with a beautiful Gothic interior and a Modernista façade.

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  19. Fornells

    This whitewashed village is on a large shallow bay popular with windsurfers. Fornells has been made famous by its waterfront seafood restaurants, most of which serve up the local (and rather pricey) specialty langosta , a lobster stew. The most famous of these restaurants, Es Pla on Pasaje des Pla is said to be a favourite of the Spanish royal family.

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  20. Fort Marlborough

    From the time Great Britain took control of Menorca, Maó's value as a port was clear. And so they built Fort Marlborough above the charming emerald-green inlet, Cala de Sant Esteve (2.5km beyond Es Castell, which to the Brits was Georgetown), southeast of Maó. Most of the fortress was excavated into the rock below surface level. It is well worth wandering around the fort, and the cheesy video provides a modicum of information.

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  21. Illa s'Espalmador

    A 4km walking trail leads from the La Savina-Es Pujols road to the end of the narrow promontory stretching north towards Ibiza. From here you can wade across a narrow strait to Illa s'Espalmador, a tiny uninhabited islet with beautiful, quiet beaches and mud baths. The promontory itself is largely undeveloped. Be careful when wading out - you can easily be caught by incoming tides. Or better, take the Barca Bahia boat from La Savina ferry port.

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  22. Miramar

    Five kilometres north of Valldemossa on the road to Deià is Miramar, one of Habsburg Archduke Luis Salvador's former residences. The Archduke built this home on the site of a 13th-century monastery, of which only a small part of the cloister remains. Walk out the back and enjoy the clifftop views.

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  23. Monestir De Lluc

    In the 7th century, a shepherd claimed to have seen an image of the Virgin Mary in the sky. Later, a similar image appeared on a rock. 'It's a miracle', everyone cried and a chapel was built near the site to commemorate it. A monastery was later established here after Jaume I conquered Mallorca. Since then thousands of pilgrims have come to pay homage to the 14th-century statue of the Virgin of Lluc, known as La Moreneta due to her dark skin.

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  25. Museu D'Art Espanyol Contemporani

    Once one of several residences of the phenomenally wealthy March family, this private palace boasts an outdoor terrace display of modern sculpture and, inside, a selection of some 70 works by a who's who of mostly Spanish 20th-century and contemporary artists, from Eduardo Arroyo to Fernando Zóbel. Also on show is an 18th-century Neapolitan belén (nativity scene) of overwhelming richness and detail.

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  26. Museu De Menorca

    This former 15th-century Franciscan monastery has had a chequered history. From the time the Franciscans were obliged to abandon it in 1835 after Mendizábal's expropriations, the buildings embarked on a colourful career path - ranging from nautical school and public library to high school and children's home - until it became a museum.

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  27. Museu Etnològic

    The Museu Etnològic is one of the capital's older buildings. It's a modest ethnological museum devoted to the traditional aspects of predominantly rural island life.

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  28. Museu Hernández Sanz Hernández Mora

    Just off Plaça d'Espanya is the Mercat Claustre del Carme, where former church cloisters have been imaginatively converted into a market and shopping centre. Upstairs enjoy temporary art exhibitions and the modest Museu Hernández Sanz Hernández Mora devoted to Menorcan themes and dominated by artworks, maps and decorative items going as far back as the 18th century.

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  29. Palau de l'Almudaina

    The Palau de l'Almudaina is a Muslim castle converted into a residence for the Mallorcan monarchs at the end of the 13th century. It is still occasionally used for official functions when King Juan Carlos is in town, but at other times you can join the hordes and wander through an endless series of cavernous and austere stone-walled rooms and inspect a collection of portraits of Spanish monarchs, Flemish tapestries and period furniture.

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