The Ballearics
Celebrities have long been captivated by the landscape, climate and culture of the Balearic Islands, including artists, composers, writers, actors and even a world famous British prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill. Viewed from the water, it’s easy to see why they continue to win hearts and minds. The four principal islands: Mallorca (sometimes spelt Majorca), Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca boast gorgeous coastlines with idyllic beaches and striking landscapes. Their position, off the east coast of Spain and midway between France and Africa, has seen them hotly contested in territorial disputes of the past. Today the tourist is king and the islands, each with its own distinct character, are popular holiday spots. At the hub of this activity is the largest island, Mallorca, home to the islands’ capital and cultural focus: Palma, with its cosmopolitan ambience. Mallorca’s scenic coastline, with its secret coves and pretty harbours, is really best appreciated offshore from a smooth sailing yacht; with the freedom to drop anchor where you choose and to dip into the vibrant nightlife, splendid sightseeing and colourful shopping. Our captains know the very best places, some inaccessible other than by boat, so if you want to see Mallorca, come aboard.
Climate
The climate of the islands is excellent with more than 300 days sunshine annually with hot summer months and lovely basking warmth in both spring and autumn. The caress of a warm breeze is one of life’s more sensuous pleasures as you doze on deck after a tasty and freshly-prepared fish and salad lunch accompanied by glasses of chilled wine.
Geography
The Balearic Islands lie in a totally privileged location, strategically placed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Mallorca, with its snow-topped Tramuntana Mountains, has a beautiful coastline, rugged in the northwest with white soft sand beaches and olive trees, lapped by clear blue waters affording excellent water sports opportunities. Its fascinating rockscapes, beaches, sheltered coves and pretty towns offer much to be enjoyed, with underwater caves to visit, should you wish, and wonderful wildlife habitats. Sa Dragonera, a rocky island just west of Mallorca, is famed for its dramatic cliffs. So much of Mallorca’s intriguing geography is missed by the tourist confined to land.
History
It isn’t only the modern day Spanish Royals that have favoured, for their holidays, Mallorca. The city of Palma was once a devotional retreat for Fernando and Isabella in the 15th century. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the islands have attracted the attention of many invaders and been occupied by Phoenicians, Romans, Iberians, Greeks, Carthaginians and Byzantines. The Moors invaded in 902 and stayed until kicked out by Jaume I of the House of Aragon between 1229 and 1235. In that time they had established an independent kingdom, notorious for its powerful pirates. When Isabella of Castile wed Ferdinand of Aragon in 1469, the islands became part of a united Spain. During the Spanish Civil War, Mallorca supported the fascists and the Italian fleet had its base there. It was during Franco’s rule that tourism to the islands really began to take hold. Since1983 the Balearics have been an autonomous community, and both Castilian Spanish and Catalan are spoken. Mallorca became a pleasure playground for package tour tourists but is now increasingly known for the attention it receives from the chic and glamorous.