Architecture
The Dominican Order originated in the south of France at the beginning of the 13th century where the fraternity was known as the Jacobins (Blackfriars in England). Later, during the […]
Books & Authors
When my friend Lluís went to secondary school quite a few years back, he went to the Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Montesión, then a boys only school. Nowadays, the […]
Architecture
Next Tuesday, March 1st, the Día de les Illes Balears will be celebrated. As the calendar would have it, the date makes for a splendid puente weekend with plenty a […]
Mallorca
Palma’s airport Son Sant Joan, also known by its airport code as PMI, recorded a total of 21,117,270 air traffic passengers during 2010. That’s 0.4 % less than the year […]
History
The making of a university in Mallorca has been in the works for the best of 735 years. Ramon Llull, Mallorca’s wunderkind, philosopher, poet, theologian and mystic, founded the Col·legi […]
History
One of the most eminent families of nobility in Mallorca’s history has to be the Despuig family, counting amongst them the Condes de Montenegro and Condes de Montoro. The most […]
Architecture
Albert Camus, French novelist and dramatist, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. Camus was born in Algeria from a French father and a mother of Spanish descent. The mother […]
Architecture
Did you know that there are two Banys Arabs (Arab Baths) in Palma? One installation is a modern recreation from the 1960s and can be found at the Pueblo Español, […]
Bars & Restaurants
It’s hard to say what single item would come to one’s mind when one would try to associate things typical of Spain. Flamenco would perhaps rank in the forefront, or […]
Customs & Traditions
In 1807, the French emperor Napoleon moved his troops through Spain to invade Portugal. After feeding more than 100,000 troops into Spain under the pretext of supporting the invasion, Napoleon […]
Fiestas & Festivals
The Església de Sant Joan de Malta in Palma’s Old Town had been closed for restoration for almost two years. The church dates from 1835 and was erected over an […]
Mallorca
Democracy in Spain is a very recent occurrence. After the death of the ruler for near-on 40 years, Francisco Franco, a Spanish constitution was declared and implemented in 1978. With […]
Animals
You may have attended the animal blessings in Palma last Thursday or in your pueblo last Sunday or Monday, or you may have not attended any Beneïdes whatsoever. Well, it’s […]
Customs & Traditions
Don’t go shopping in Palma de Mallorca today. Everywhere but bars will be shut for festivities all day today, as the Festa de Sant Sebastià is being celebrated. The saint […]
Architecture
The controversial monument in Palma’s Plaça de Sa Feixina in memory of the sinking of the battleship Baleares has undergone a complete renovation. The heavy cruiser Baleares (photo centre) was […]
Mallorca
One would not normally expect Mallorca to be a destination for winter sports. Once, many years ago, I came across a Palacio de Hielo in Palmanova, or was it Magaluf? […]