Spain - Balearic Islands - Menorca

Cala Galdana in Menorca.

Sent by Valérie from Belgium who visited Menorca.

Minorca or Menorca (Catalan: Menorca [məˈnɔrkə]; Spanish: Menorca [meˈnorka]; from Latin: Insula Minor, later Minorica "minor island") is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca.

Minorca has a population of approximately 94,383 (2010). It is located 39°47' to 40°00'N, 3°52' to 4°24'E. Its highest point, called El Toro or Monte Toro, is 358 metres (1,175 ft) above sea level. (read further)

Spain - Balearic Islands - Mallorca (9)

Mallorca

Sent by Antonia, a postcrosser from Menorca in Balearic Islands, Spain.

Spain - Balearic Islands - Mallorca (8)

Multiviews of Mallorca.

The last of the eight postcards sent by Gerard. Thanks to him for explaining the beautiful places in Mallorca.

Spain - Balearic Islands - Mallorca (7)

One of the most beautiful sights of the Majorca. It is called Cap de Formentor.

The seventh of the eight postcards sent by Gerard.

This is from Wikipedia : Cap de Formentor forms the eastern end of Majorca's Formentor peninsula. The Majorcans also call the cape the Meeting point of the winds.

Cap de Formentor is a spectacular bluff, located on the northernmost point of the Balaeric Island Majorca. Its highest point, Fumart, is 384m above sea level. It has many associated bays, including Cala Fiquera, Cala Murta and Cala Pi de la Posada.

The 13.5 km street which runs from Port de Pollença to Cap de Formentor was built by the Italian engineer Antonio Paretti. His masterpiece on Majorca, however, was the snake to Sa Calobra. Instead of being overwhelmed by what stood in his way on the cliffs, Parretti observed the Tramuntana winds and understood: where the slope was too steep, he made a curve. When he had to remove part of the cliffs, he placed the waste in other places where it was needed. The result was the two streets, which are nestled together in the mountains like abandoned silk ribbons.

Spain - Balearic Islands - Mallorca (6)

The sixth of the eight postcards sent by Gerard. This one shows a view of Banyalbufar, a town in the north coast of Majorca. According to Gerard, celebrities from all around the world have very big cottages here.

This is from Wikipedia : Banyalbufar (in Spanish, Bañalbufar) is a municipality on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca. The town of the same name is the administrative seat of the municipality. It borders the municipalities of Estellencs, Puigpunyent, Esporles, and Valldemossa.

Spain - Balearic Islands - Mallorca (5)

View of Biniaraix in Majorca.

The fifth of the eight postcards sent by Gerard.

This is from Wikipedia : Biniaraix is an area of the city SóllerIn the Balearic Islands, Spain. Located at an elevation beneath the remarkable and Vesanto Mountain Valley Sóller. This little town has about 120 inhabitants. Featuring all year round green spots and extensive orange groves, famous throughout the island. The town is divided regionally, belonging to Soller Fornalutx respectively.

Spain - Balearic Islands - Mallorca (4)

A sight of Almudaina Palace (front) and La Seu Cathedral (behind) in Palma de Mallorca.

The fourth of the eight postcards sent by Gerard from Majorca.

This is from Wikipedia : La Seu is a gothic Roman Catholic cathedral located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, built on the site of an existing Arab mosque. It is 121 metres long, 55 metres wide and 44 meters of nave height. Designed in Spanish "levantino" Gothic style with influences of the North European gothic, it was founded by King James I of Aragon in 1229 but finished only in 1601. It sits overlooking the Parc de la Mar and the Mediterranean Sea, protected by the old town walls. There are currently peregrines nesting high up on the east side of the cathedral which fly around the building preying on swifts and rock pigeons.

Fifty years after a restoration of the Cathedral had started, Antoni Gaudí was invited in 1901 to take over the project. While some of his ideas were adopted - moving the choir stalls from the middle nave to be closer to the altar, as well as a large canopy - Gaudí abandoned his work in 1914 after an argument with the contractor. The planned changes were essentially cosmetic rather than structural. The project was cancelled soon after. Floor plan of La Seu

Spain - Balearic Islands - Mallorca (3)

Ctra. Palma-Manacor, Km.24 - Mallorca.

A very popular sight known as "El Toro Osborne" in Majorca.

The third of the eight postcards sent by Gerard from Majorca.

This is from Wikipedia : The Osborne bull (in Spanish: Toro de Osborne) is a 14 meters high black silhouetted image of a bull in semi-profile, and is regarded as the unofficial national symbol of Spain. The bull was created in 1956 by Manolo Prieto. Nowadays the conservation of the bulls is handled by the family of Felix Tejada.

Spain - Balearic Islands - Mallorca (2)

Cala Sanau or Felanitx, in Majorca, Balearic Islands.

The second of the eight postcards sent by Gerard who lives in Majorca.

This is from Wikipedia : Felanitx is a municipality in the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands, and is located in the southeast of Majorca. It covers an area of 169.57 km² and as of 2005 had 16,566 inhabitants.

Felanitx is an old town 48 kilometres from the capital Palma, dating back to the 13th century during the Catalan conquest of the island.

Felanitx is the birthplace of Miquel Barcelo a Spanish contemporary painter. The town lies near the medieval Sant Salvador Monastery with its Gothic architecture.

Since 1603, when the St Agustín convent was founded, Felanitx has been famous for Els Cavallets dance, in which seven boys of between 10 and 13 years of age, wearing white trousers, red tops and green hats, dance around La Dama, another child in a dress who waves a handkerchief to the music. All dancers were male until fairly recently, when young girls were permitted to join.

Felanitx is also famous for its wine and particularly its brandy, with over 60 distilleries in the local area recorded in 1749., and earthenware watercoolers and other pottery have been produced there since at least the 3rd century BC.

Spain - Balearic Islands - Mallorca (1)

A beautiful seasight of the Playa de Palma in Majorca, Spain.

The first of the eight postcards sent by Gerard who lives there.

This is from Wikipedia : Majorca (Catalan and Spanish "Mallorca") is the largest island of Spain. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea and part of the Balearic Islands archipelago, one of the autonomous communities of Spain. The name derives from Latin insula maior, "larger island"; later Maiorica.

The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca (in the municipality of Palma). The anthem of Majorca is La Balanguera.

Like the other Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Formentera, and Minorca, the island is a popular tourist destination. In Germany, the United Kingdom and to a lesser extent, Ireland, where package tourism to the island started in May 1952, Majorca has remained a popular destination.