Some findings made by archaeologists in different areas of the island testify that the largest of the Balearics was already inhabited in prehistoric times . Subsequently Majorca was occupied by Greeks , Phoenicians and Carthaginians (the latter, in particular, hired the Majorcan during the Punic Wars).
After long and unsuccessful attempts, even the Romans managed to get their hands on the island, very coveted due to its strategic position on the Mediterranean. In 123 BC the consul Quinto Cecilio Metello Balearico founded two colonies : Palma and Pollentia (today Alcúdia).
The real economic fortunes of Mallorca began in the 1950s, when the island gradually opened up to mass tourism. The Mediterranean climate, natural beauty and summer nightlife are the main ingredients that have determined the success of Mallorca, which welcomes around 10 million tourists every year.
Rich in places of historical and artistic interest (the Cathedral of Santa Maria, the Almudaina Palace , the Bellver Castle , the ruins of Pollentia, etc.), the island is also internationally known for its enchanting beaches. Naming them all is really impossible (there are hundreds), but S'Arenal , Cala Formentor, Cala Fuguera, Cala Estància, Cala Mondragò, Playa Es Trenc and Can Pastilla certainly deserve a mention.
Not just sea, sun and sand. Mallorca is in fact the island suitable for sportsmen and, more generally, for those who love to practice outdoor and water activities: from trekking to birdwatching, from golf to diving, without forgetting cycling (the tennis player was born in Manacor Rafael Nadal , current number 2 in the ATP rankings).
Among the excursions not to be missed highlight those that lead you to discover the Lighthouse of Cap de Formentor, the rural villages of Valldemossa and the Petra and the Puig Major, with its 1,445 meters is the highest peak on the island. Before leaving Mallorca, treat yourself to a visit to the suggestive Caves of the Dragon (in Manacor) and those of Artà (in Capdepera).