Monday 29 September 2025
Another port, another shore excursion. This one is our introduction to the island of Mallorca off the coast of Spain and specifically to its capital city of Palma. Juan, our guide, told us it’s the greenest island in the Mediterranean despite having no lake or river. All water comes from rain, snow, or groundwater. It’s a city of half a million and growing especially since the pandemic. Founded in 123 BC by the Romans then occupied by the Moors. With the Christian Conquest of 1229 AD, the island became The Kingdom of Mallorca, a part of the Crown of Aragon. As we headed into town he pointed out a house bequeathed to the city by an artist for a museum that was never developed. Instead it was renovated as a house for the royals who prefer it to their palace in town. Our first stop is Castell de Bellver constructed of sandstone between 1300 and 1310. We got to visit just the exterior since it’s closed on Mondays. No longer needed as a defensive structure it’s available as an event center often hosting some very upscale events. It’s also a fabulous vantage point for looking down on the largest marina in the Mediterranean with more than 6000 vessels including yachts belonging to some very wealthy high profile individuals including Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Spielberg. What was primarily an agricultural economy through the middle of the 20th Century was transformed with the opening of a large commercial airport in 1959. It’s now primarily an upscale tourist economy. The influence of Juan March, known during his lifetime as the richest man in Spain is quite apparent in Palma. We walked by the 17th Century March Palace that now houses a world class art museum. One of the highlights of the tour was the visit to the Catedral de Mallorca which dates back to the 13th Century. It has undergone restoration at various points in its history including in the early 20th Century guided by the architect Antoni Gaudí. We especially loved the light show created by the sunlight coming through the Gaudí designed rose window. As we walked back to the ship we paused for a bit in Plaza del Cort where we did a bit of shopping, enjoyed a gelato, and waited for our group in the shade of a thousand year old olive tree. Then as we sailed away we watched as we passed a lighthouse perched atop a rocky island just off the coast of Palma as we reflected on the fun of getting a peek into the history of this lovely island.
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