Again there was a last minute change as future Port of Call – Palma de Mallorca was placed ahead of the Andalusian City of Malaga. Reason? The same storm system that had taken Gibraltar out of the line up, prevented us from going to Malaga. So, the Regal sailed north to the island of Mallorca and then returned south a day later to visit Pablo Picasso’s birthplace on the Costa del Sol.
Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, gave birth to Spain’s best tennis player ever Rafael Nadal and today hosts celebrities like Catharina Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, Brad Pitt who owns seasonally and many European celebrities. The island has a population of over 480,000 spread over about 1,400 square miles (about the size of Long Island), offering diverse landscapes from mountains to beaches. Even our Cuban friends Juan and Acéla from Matanzas, whom we visited in 2017, have moved since to the island of Mallorca.
Palma de Mallorca
The 3 J’s: John, José and Johan
This vibrant capital of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is a Mediterranean gem known for its stunning 14th-century cathedral, bustling historic Old Town, and sunny beaches. Unfortunately on the day we arrived, there was no sunshine in the forecast. Offering a mix of Roman, Moorish, and Christian history. Until 1229 it was ruled by Muslim/Moors from North Africa. Key attractions include the Bellver Castle, Almudaina Palace, and the lively Santa Catalina neighborhood. We had arranged to go into town with our newfound friends John, a Miami architect and José, a retired doctor.
- La Seu (Cathedral): Visible from far across the water, Palma’s massive Gothic Cathedral de Santa Maria is the main seat (La Seu) for the bishop of the Balearic diocese. It was built between 1229 and 1601 and famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi did an impressive update in the early 1900s.
Of course we had planned to go and see the cathedral’s interior together with our new friend John, an architect in Miami. Unfortunately the cathedral was closed, it was a Sunday, and we had to satisfy our lust for beauty by walking around this masterpiece through beautifully kept gardens.
General admission for the Cathedral costs is approx. €10-€12,(abt.$15) with options for audio guides or rooftop terrace access. Tickets are available online for faster entry, particularly during peak season. The Cathedral is generally open Monday-Friday 10:00-17:15 and Saturday 10:00-14:15, with free access to Sunday mass. Well the mass was long over when we arrived at the gates and the “guardsman” was very firm in denying us access to the cathedral’s inside.
After extensive walks through the gardens around the massive church, we went into the adjacent Royal Palace of Almudaina, one of Spain’s Royal Family’s residences, which stands opposite from the Cathedral. Originally an Arab fortress, major alterations were made at the beginning of the 14th century.
After this visit we retreated to the more familiar sights of a maze of narrow, historic streets, hidden courtyards and the cozy cafés of the city of Palma. Before returning to the ship we closed our day on land in Santa Catalina: A trendy neighbourhood known for its market, diverse restaurants, and nightlife.
We didn’t buy a tour package from the ship, which could have taken us to any of the other attractions Mallorca has to offer such is the old town Alcudia including the Plaza Mayor about 30 minutes to the north of Palma. The town was an original Moorish farmstead on top of the hill, a very poor settlement until the 1980s when it was discovered by European tourism. The old town has now been preserved and pedestrianized and has become one of the most visited villages in Mallorca. Many major sporting events (Iron Man), a monthlong (Sept) annual Jazz Festival, Harvest Festival, Nautical Fair and more, make it a must see spectacle if you’re into that kind of entertainment.
Castillo de Bellver is a castle that functioned as a prison in the past
Another island attraction, that we omitted on this trip was Bellver Castle: A unique 14th-century circular castle offering panoramic views over the mountains towards the Mediterranean Sea. It’s located about 3 miles to the west of the city center of Palma.
In short, Mallorca is a destination for an extended vacation. It’s big, it’s mountainous, it even has big inland lakes with beautiful beaches. It has a population of nearly a million people spread over some 55 municipalities, with capital city Palma taking about half of the population.
As a cruise ship Port of Call, Palma de Mallorca, the city, is more than enough for a day and if you do buy a trip, buy the one on the old train. That’s worth seeing the terrain and the beauty of the island.
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