We're back in the Balearic islands after being on Menorca last episode. This week on the When in Spain podcast, we visit the largest of the Mediterranean island group, Mallorca.
Listen to this episode free on the player below or on your favourite podcast app.
Joining me to scratch beneath the surface of Mallorca's party-goer, mass tourism image is guide and long-time Mallorca resident, Gina Vasquez. We chat the Roman city of Palma, meeting Miró, Bronze Age ruins, celeb spotting, film locations, wine, almonds, delicious ensaïmadas, underwater lakes y mucho más!
Gina runs her own tour company Visit My Mallorca - https://www.visitmymallorca.com/ and talks us through the ancient history of Mallorca and recommends things to see in the island's capital, Palma, including the city's impressive gothic cathedral, La Seu, which has one of the world’s largest stained glass windows.
We also get out across the island and look at Gina's favourite towns, villages, beaches and natural beauty spots to include on a visit.
We talk about the artist and sculptor Joan Miró who lived and worked on Mallorca - Gina's husband knew Joan Miró personally and she recommends a visit to the the Fundació Joan Miró where you can see Miró's workshop and numerous pieces of his work. https://www.fmirobcn.org/en/foundation/
Gina also tells us about a fascinating slice of Mallorcan history. The small town of Petra is the birthplace of St. Junípero Serra (1713-1784), a Franciscan friar who founded the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California from San Diego to San Francisco.
Places and other things we mentioned in the episode:
La Seu Cathedral, Palma
Santa Catalina neighbourhood, Palma
Plaza d'Espanya, Palma
Olivar Market, Palma
La Llotja de Palma
Castell de Bellver
Royal Palace of La Almudaina
Across the Island
Sineu (with its 15th Century market)
Sóller
Portopetro
Portocolom
Cala Figuera
Biniaraix
Banyalbufar
Sa Calobra
Formentor
Mirador Es Colomer
Parc natural de Mondragó
Serra de Tramuntana (Sierra de Tramontana)
Estellencs
Deià (Robert Graves called it his home)
Drach Caves (Porto Cristo)
Sant Elm (San Telmo)
Pollença (Family beaches)
Bakery in Palma to buy Ensaimada - Fornet de la Soca https://fornetdelasoca.com/
TV Series - The Mallorca Files https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9204128/
RESOURCES
Miró
government tourism site
transportation island-wide
Palma city bus.
One of Gina's favorite restaurants in Palma,
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