With 400,000 inhabitants, the capital of Majorca is also the seat of the Autonomous Government of the Balearic Islands.
For city strollers, cyclists and hikers, now is the perfect time to visit the island of Mallorca. And for culture lovers, the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival is a good excuse, drawing the international film industry to the island’s capital of Palma in autumn.
Days begin a little later in Mallorca with only a few shops open before 10 am. For the perfect start, have breakfast at the Hotel Cort in Palma. From there you can reach the best addresses for shopping, sightseeing and watersport courses, all by foot. You can park your car underground in the Park de la Mar.
The capital of Mallorca offers you a great mix of hip boutiques, ancient architecture and temporary art galleries and museums with ever-changing exhibitions. For fashionistas, window shopping starts at the Paseo Borne and the newly opened mono-label boutique of Luis Cerano is definitely also worth a visit.
From there, the Calle San Nicolas is not far away, as well as the life-style boutique Bluebird, close to San Nicolas, also worthwhile. Just around the corner, you can find the Fibonacci Living Café and the mono-label stores of American Apparel and L’Occitane.
Art connoisseurs will appreciate the alternating exhibitions of the galleries Pelaires, run by Majorcans, located in the Carrer Can Verí and the Carrer Pelaires.
The best restaurant for lunch is located inside the design hotel, Convent de la Missió, a stylish palacio from the seventeenth century with urban flair – and a star rating kitchen. Adrian Quetglas cooks at a similar level and is a good alternative. Another tip is the Canela, located in the Sant Jaume, offering Dim Sum and Cristal Burgers.
Up for a visit to the sea? If you take a stroll along the Paseo Borne at this time of the year, you could enjoy cappuccino at Anima beach, or listen to Brazilian beats with a stunning view of the yachts on the horizon along the Paseo Maritimo. Afterwards, take a walk to the Hotel Portixol and beyond in the direction of Playa de Palma. Cyclist rent a (e-)bike for a couple of hours to explore the beautiful coast.
Sightseeing could be your plan B. The cathedral La Seu, a gothic building with a contemporary tract created by the artist Miquel Barceló is an obvious visitor magnet. Since last summer one can visit the bell tower, which dates back to the 15th Century, and the rooftop. But make sure you’re fit, as there are more than two hundred stairs leading up a spiral staircase to the top and the famous bell, made in 1589 and weighing 4.600 kilograms.
The museums, Es Baluard and Palau March, are also worth visiting and not just because of the spectacular view over the city from the terrace. The Arabic baths in the Carrer Can Serra make for another reflect the cultural influences on the city during this epoch and make for another interesting visit. The Catalan art nouveau palace, Can Rei and the Casas Casasayas, which date back to the same epoch, are popular photo spots. So too, the several hundred year old olive tree in front of the city hall at the Placa de Cort .
After a pit-stop at home for a shower and refreshment, you could relax with a nice dinner at the Baiben in Puerto Portales, run bei Frenando Arroles, and afterwards swing by at the Ritzi bar for a good cocktail.
In the instance you booked a hotel in downtown Palma you could now stroll along the Paseo Maritimo towards the Bahia Maritimo. With its well-preserved art nouveau interior, this restaurant is the latest It-location with the BBC shooting some scenes of their popular TV series, ‘The Nightmanager’ with Hugh Laurie. Jens Liebhauser, the new manager, kept its historical flourishes while modernizing the rooms and adding a club and bar inside in dedicated separees – Our tip for your next Sunday brunch or a wild Friday night. Around the corner you can also find Titos, a club which over the last few years has added new, colorful shows to its program.
From the 26th of October until the 4th of November 2017, the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival will take place at the most beautiful locations in the city. Here you will have the chance to meet guests like Canadian cult-director and two times Oscar winner, Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby).
From the drive-in cinema in Port Adriano, a debate run by Rialto Living at the Carrer de Sant Feliu, to a gala at the Teatro Principa, Carrer de la Reira in Palma, the 6th edition of this festival offers the opportunity for film creatives and visitors to enjoy young, innovative cinema at the highest level. Visit www.facebook.com/EvolutionFilmFestival for more information.
Hotel Preview: Close to Palmas city walls Baluard del Princep, the new 5 star hotel ‘Es Princep’ will be opened.
We will post up to date information on all the major events on the island on Facebook.
