Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are a group of five islands: Ibiza,
Majorca, Minorca, Formentera and Cabrera. The archipelago
is located opposed to the Valencian coast and their wonderful
privileged climate and beaches turn it one of the main
tourist destinies of Spain. Majorca is the greatest island
of the archipelago and the one with more things to see.
There are many excursions, that can begin from Palma,
the island capital. Among them are the visit to the Soller
Port -that can be done in a special train-, and the excursion
to the Peninsula of Formentor, in the Northeast end of
the island and well-known by its pine groves, isolated
coves, hidden bays and mountain towns.
Aside from the tourist complexes around Palma, most of
the rest are concentrated in the Eastern coast. The inland
is mountainous and the highways not very often follow
the coastal line. Palma is a great Mediterranean port
and has a long history of marine commerce. The old part
of the city is in the Palma Bay, while the most modern
part extends towards the east and the west. In Palma,
it is worth the trouble to visit the Belver Castle, the
La Seo Cathedral, the Archbishop Palace, the San Francisco
Church and Monastery and the Church of Montesión.
Minorca is the second greater island of the archipelago
and is 40 km to the Northeast of Majorca. The capital
of the island is Mahón, in the Eastern coast and
their better monuments are the Consistorial House, the
Church of Santa Maria and the Church of San Francisco.
There is a good freeway that takes from Mahón to
Citadel, in the other end of the island. Citadel was the
former capital of the island and here it is possible to
visit the medieval Cathedral and several Palaces and Churches.
The highway crosses the island and it’s not shown
to the coast but from these two cities it’s possible
to easily get access to the beach. Unlike Majorca, Minorca
has preserved its cattle and leather product work traditions,
which makes it economically less dependant of the income
generated by the tourism.
Ibiza is the third island of the archipelago and one of
the most popular tourist destinies of Spain, specially
for the young people by its wild night life. The island
still conserves part of its traditional atmosphere. In
addition to the enormous sand beaches that are to the
south of the capital, the landscape of Ibiza is dominated
by pine groves and orchards. The capital is dominated
by the Dalt Vila. Other two cities that worth the visit
are San Antonio Abad and Santa Eulalia del Rio.
Formentera is only 4 km of Ibiza. The main town of the
island is San Francisco Javier. It has pine groves and
precious beaches and its life is much more relaxed that
in the rest of the archipelago.
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