This beautiful enclave of the old Mare Nostrum is an archipelago made up of 5 islands and several islets. It is divided into two groups of islands, to the Northeast Las Gimnesias (Mallorca, Menorca and Cabrera) and to the Southwest Las Pitiusas (Ibiza and Formentera).
Its mild climate with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, its beautiful landscapes and beaches, its vast cultural offer, its opportunities for leisure or relaxation and the hospitality of its inhabitants have made it a cosmopolitan place visited from all parts of the planet. , sometimes to spend vacations, and sometimes to stay forever.
It’s not a surprise that the airport in the capital, Palma de Mallorca, is one of the busiest in Spain. The Balearic Islands surprise and fascinate us; Each island, with its indigenous personality, differs from the other, and all have in common that it is difficult to leave them without the desire to return again and again.
Festivals and Folklore
The great wealth in traditions and archaic root folklore, traces of the first inhabitants of the islands, and of the many visitors who lived in their lands during history, translates into an original and rich folklore, intense in colorful costumes and attractive and curious parties.
Mallorca’s folklore is characterized by its elegant and ceremonious dances and by its melodious songs; that of Menorca, and more specifically of Ciutadella, for its theatricality where the horse is the protagonist of the festival, and that of Ibiza for its primitive dances that are preserved in their maximum purity and originality.
History
The Balearic Islands surprise us with ancient origins, dating back to the Megalithic. Countless remains of great importance have been preserved from this time when studying European prehistory. On the island of Menorca alone, we find some 500 prehistoric monuments, which is why it has been called an open-air museum. These monuments surprise for their colossal dimensions, for their extraordinary state of conservation and for raising the question of how they could be erected with the technology that was available in such remote times. These traces are specified in the famous talayots, taulas and navetas, funeral constructions or probably related to rituals and ceremonies of religious and warrior origin.
Gastronomy
Balearic cuisine is varied, laborious, opulent, Mediterranean, original and exquisite. It is varied, since in such a small territory some 600 recipes have been collected and include the most numerous ingredients from the land and the sea. Laborious is for its slow, careful and sophisticated preparations. Opulent for its two dominant fats; that of olive oil and that of pork. It is Mediterranean for obvious reasons, but it is also original due to a series of autochthonous aspects that lead to what can properly be called Balearic cuisine. And it is definitely exquisite, something that can not only be appreciated with a visit to the islands, but with dishes that are so well known throughout the world, that their Balearic origin is already unknown.
Surely few will know that by taking tuna with mayonnaise they are taking tuna in the Mahón way; since this sauce was originally called mayonnaise sauce. The popular and commonly called pan tumaca, is actually pan payes, a recipe therefore originating from these islands. However, we will mention below other much more unknown recipes that show the sophistication and originality of this cuisine:
The cold meats from the Balearic Islands have a well-established reputation, especially in Spain, the Mallorcan sobrasada, soft to spread, deep red in color due to the paprika dressing it. In the Balearic Islands it is also used as cooking fat, in preparations such as Mahón-style roast lamb or in Soller’s-style fried eggs, which are served covered in a delicious and complicated sauce based on milk and vegetables.
In Mallorca we find a wide variety of light soups that include pasta, fish or meat, in this case especially pork, called porcella here. We consider the creams even more original, sometimes so thick that they look like a pudding. Those of cabbage, bread, tomato, paprika and garlic stand out. The sauces also show great creativity and with them the most unique dishes are made.
Naturally, we do not recommend leaving the island if you try the great wealth of its fish and shellfish, which are delicious in so many of the restaurants and at a good price. In seafood we recommend trying Cigala Mallorquina, which is an indigenous species of the island.
A trip to Spain is a chance to discover exceptional architectural heritage, to experience unique & dazzling nature, to become acquainted with the customs of the locals and to share with them the joy of life and all its beauty. Spain gives the opportunity to fulfil every traveller’s dream, no matter what they are searching for: A relaxing time on the beach, a historical journey into the past, an active and adventurous trip out in the nature, or a mixture of it all.
Additionally, one will encounter a lot of sunshine, divine food and an insight into the diverse Spanish culture with all it has to offer. The perfect conditions for a roundtrip you will never forget! by the hands of Iberinbound iberinbound@iberinbound.com incoming travel agency in Spain and Portugal, MICE, specialized in Group tours if they are Corporate, Educational, Students, Leisure , ad-hoc groups and Shorex.
Based in Barcelona, we are a medium-size incoming agency who cater for those who expect the very best of everything and appreciate the extra touches that make a great tour even greater. Our knowledge of the country and efficient negotiation with our suppliers ensures the best value for money for our clients.