Palma de Mallorca
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Palma | ||
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Postal code 070XX | ||
Dialing code | 971 | |
Website | www.palma.es |
Palma (Catalan:
History
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Palma was founded as a
Roman period
After the conquest of Mallorca, the city was loosely incorporated into the province of
Byzantine period
Though the period between the fall of the
Muslim period
Between 902 and 1229, the city was under
Under the Emirate of Córdoba
The arrival of the Moors in the Balearic Islands occurred at the beginning of the 8th century. During this period, the population developed an economy based on self-sufficiency and piracy and even showed evidence of a relative hierarchy. The dominant groups took advantage of the Byzantine withdrawal due to Islamic expansion across the Mediterranean, to reinforce their domination upon the rest of the population, thus ensuring their power and the gradual abandonment of Imperial political structures.
In 707, a Muslim fleet, under the command of Abd Allah ibn Musa, son of the governor of Ifriqiya, Musa ibn Nusayr, stopped off at the island. It appears that Abd Allah convinced the powers of the city to accept a peace treaty. This treaty was granted in exchange for a tax, respect for the social, economic, and political structures of the communities that subscribed to it, as well as the continuity of their religious beliefs.
After 707, the city was inhabited by Christians who were nominally in allegiance to the sovereignty of the Umayyad Caliphate, yet who, de facto, enjoyed absolute autonomy. The city, being in Mallorca, constituted an enclave between western Christian and Islamic territories, and this attracted and encouraged increased levels of piracy in the surrounding waters. For wide sectors of the city's population, the sacking of ships (whether Muslim or Christian) which passed through Balearic waters was a source of riches over the next fifteen decades. Eventually, continued piracy in the region led to a retaliation by Al-Andalus which launched a naval fleet against the city and the whole of the Islands. The Islands were defended by the emperor Charlemagne in 799 from a Muslim pirate incursion.
In 848 (maybe 849), four years after the first
While the Emirate of Córdoba reinforced its influence upon the Mediterranean, Al-Andalus increased its interest in the city. The consequence of this was the substitution of the submission treaty for the effective incorporation of the islands to the Islamic state. A squad under the command of Isam al-Jawlani took advantage of the instability caused by several Viking incursions and disembarked in Mallorca, and after destroying any resistance, incorporated Mallorca, with Palma as its capital, to the Córdoban state.
The incorporation of the city into the Emirate set the basis for a new society. Commerce and manufacturing developed in a previously unknown manner. This caused considerable demographic growth, thereby establishing Medina Mayurqa as one of the major ports for trading goods in and out of the Emirate of Córdoba.
Dénia—Balearic taifa (1015–1087)
The
Palma was part of the
During the following years, Palma became the main port from where attacks on Christian vessels and coasts could be launched. Palma was the base from where a campaign against
The Denian dominion lasted until 1087, a period during which the city and the rest of the islands were relatively peaceful. Their supremacy at sea was still not rivaled by the
Balearic Taifa (1087–1115) and Western Mediterranean
The Banu Hud conquest of Dénia and its incorporation to the Eastern District of the taifa of Zaragoza meant the destruction of the legacy of Muyahid. The islands were freed from mainland dominion and briefly enjoyed independence, during which Medina Mayurqa was the capital.
The economy during this period depended on both agriculture and piracy. In the latter 11th century, Christian commercial powers took the initiative at sea against the
The clearest proof of the new ruling relation of forces, from 1090, is the
After this, the Islands became part of the Almoravid dynasty. The inglobement[check spelling] of all the taifa to a larger state helped to re-establish a balance along the frontier that separated western Christian states from the Muslim world.
Period of the Banu Ganiya (1157–1203)
The situation changed in the mid-12th century when the Almoravids were displaced from al-Andalus and western
The Banu Ganiya, taking advantage of the great loss suffered by
Christian reconquest and late Middle Ages
On 31 December 1229, after three months of siege, the city was reconquered by James I of Aragon and was renamed Ciutat de Mallorca (Mallorca City). In addition to being kept as the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca, it was given a municipality that comprised the whole island. The governing arm was the University of the City and Kingdom of Majorca.
After the death of James I of Aragon, Palma became the joint capital of the
In 1391, anti-Jewish riots broke out. The Jewish community of Inca was completely wiped out, as were those of Sóller, Sineu, and Alcudia. Despite the governor's prohibition on leaving the island, many Jews fled to North Africa. The remaining Jews were forced to convert under the threat of death.[9]
Abraham Cresques was a 14th-century Jewish cartographer of the Majorcan cartographic school from Palma; Cresques is credited with the authorship of the famous Catalan Atlas.
The river that cut through the city gave rise to two distinct areas within the city; the "Upper town" and "Lower town", depending upon which side of the river one was situated.
The city's advantageous geographical location allowed it extensive commerce with
, which heralded a golden age for the city.At the beginning of the 16th century, the Rebellion of the Brotherhoods (a peasant uprising against
17th to 19th centuries
The 17th century was characterised by the division of the city into two sides or gangs, named Canamunts and Canavalls (from Majorcan Catalan "the ones from the upper/lower side"), with severe social and economic repercussions. During this period, the port became a haven for pirates. During the last quarter of the century, the
The fall of Barcelona in 1714 meant the end of the War of the Spanish Succession and the defeat and destruction of the Crown of Aragon, and this was reflected in the Nueva Planta decrees, issued by Philip V of Spain in 1715. These occupation decrees changed the government of the island and separated it from the municipality's government of Palma, which became the official city name. By the end of the 19th century, the name Palma de Mallorca was generalised in written Spanish, although it is still colloquially named Ciutat ("city") in Catalan. In the 18th century Charles III of Spain removed interdiction of commerce with Spanish colonies in America and the port and commercial activity of the city grew once again.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Palma became a refuge for many who had exiled themselves from the
Modern period
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Since the advent of mass tourism in the 1950s, the city has been transformed into a tourist destination and has attracted many workers from mainland Spain. This has contributed to a huge change in the city's traditions, its language, and its economic power.
The boom in tourism has caused Palma to grow significantly. In 1960, Mallorca received 500,000 visitors, in 1997 it received more than 6,739,700. In 2001 more than 19,200,000 people passed through Son Sant Joan airport near Palma, with an additional 1.5 million coming by sea.
In the 21st century, urban redevelopment, by the so-called Pla Mirall (English "Mirror Plan"), had attracted groups of immigrant workers from outside the European Union, especially from Africa and South America.
More than half the population, approximately 80%, work in tourism which is therefore the main economic portal of Palma. Tourism has affected the rapid economic growth of Palma, placing the island of Mallorca among the wealthier regions in Spain.
The second economic portal of Palma is agriculture. The main exports of Palma's agriculture are almonds, oranges, lemons, and olives. The island is also gifted with a wide variety of natural resources, such as mines of copper, lead, and marble.[13]
The city also has several surrounding neighborhood communities including Establiments, Nord, Son Espanyol, Ces Cases Noves, and Sa Creu Vermella.[14]
In October 2021, Palma was shortlisted for the European Commission's 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism award along with Bordeaux, Copenhagen, Dublin, Florence, Ljubljana and Valencia.[15]
Geography
Palma is a major city and seaport located in the southwest of Mallorca, a western Mediterranean island belonging to the
The city center of Palma is located north of the homonymous bay (Badia de Palma in the local Catalan language). The area that extends eastwards is mostly a flat fertile plain known as Es Pla. To the north and west, the city borders the Serra de Tramuntana, the island's major mountain range, and a Unesco World Heritage site.
Climate
Palma has a
Climate data for Palma de Mallorca, Port (1981-2010), extremes (1978-2021) (Satellite view) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 24.2 (75.6) |
24.4 (75.9) |
26.6 (79.9) |
28.0 (82.4) |
32.0 (89.6) |
36.5 (97.7) |
38.0 (100.4) |
37.8 (100.0) |
35.5 (95.9) |
31.2 (88.2) |
27.6 (81.7) |
23.4 (74.1) |
38.0 (100.4) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 15.4 (59.7) |
15.5 (59.9) |
17.2 (63.0) |
19.2 (66.6) |
22.5 (72.5) |
26.5 (79.7) |
29.4 (84.9) |
29.8 (85.6) |
27.1 (80.8) |
23.7 (74.7) |
19.3 (66.7) |
16.5 (61.7) |
21.8 (71.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 11.9 (53.4) |
11.9 (53.4) |
13.4 (56.1) |
15.5 (59.9) |
18.8 (65.8) |
22.7 (72.9) |
25.7 (78.3) |
26.2 (79.2) |
23.5 (74.3) |
20.2 (68.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
13.1 (55.6) |
18.2 (64.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.3 (46.9) |
8.4 (47.1) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.7 (53.1) |
15.1 (59.2) |
18.9 (66.0) |
21.9 (71.4) |
22.5 (72.5) |
19.9 (67.8) |
16.6 (61.9) |
12.3 (54.1) |
9.7 (49.5) |
14.6 (58.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
1.6 (34.9) |
4.4 (39.9) |
8.0 (46.4) |
11.0 (51.8) |
16.4 (61.5) |
15.8 (60.4) |
10.0 (50.0) |
8.4 (47.1) |
3.8 (38.8) |
2.5 (36.5) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 43 (1.7) |
37 (1.5) |
28 (1.1) |
39 (1.5) |
36 (1.4) |
11 (0.4) |
6 (0.2) |
22 (0.9) |
52 (2.0) |
69 (2.7) |
59 (2.3) |
48 (1.9) |
449 (17.7) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 53 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 167 | 170 | 205 | 237 | 284 | 315 | 346 | 316 | 227 | 205 | 161 | 151 | 2,779 |
Percent possible sunshine | 54 | 55 | 55 | 61 | 66 | 70 | 75 | 73 | 63 | 60 | 54 | 54 | 62 |
Source: |
Climate data for Palma | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average sea temperature °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) |
13.9 (57.0) |
14.1 (57.4) |
15.9 (60.7) |
18.9 (66.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
24.9 (76.7) |
26.0 (78.8) |
25.0 (77.1) |
22.7 (72.9) |
19.7 (67.4) |
16.3 (61.4) |
19.5 (67.2) |
Mean daily daylight hours | 10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 14.0 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 12.2 |
Average Ultraviolet index | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5.3 |
Source: seatemperature.org [19] | |||||||||||||
Source: Weather Atlas [20] |
Population
As of the 2022[update] census, the population of the city of Palma proper was 415,940,[21] and the population of the entire urban area was 550,000,[1] making it the twelfth largest urban area of Spain. By the start of 2019, the population of the city had risen to 416,065.[22] Almost half of the total population of Mallorca lives in Palma.
As of 2017[update] over 60,000 non-Spanish foreigners registered with the town hall lived in Palma; the registered foreign population from 2016 to 2017 declined by 832, the numerically highest decline in the Balearics.[23]
Main sights
Plaça d'Espanya
The Plaça d'Espanya is the transport hub of Palma. The
Cathedral area
Palma is famous for La Seu, its vast cathedral built on a previous mosque which was built atop an original Christian church. Although construction of the present Cathedral began in 1229, it did not finish until 1601. Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí was drafted to restore the building in 1901. The Parc de la Mar (Park of the Sea) lies just south, overlooked by the great building which sits above it on the city's stone foundations. Between the two are the town walls.
The Rocks
The rocks located a short walk from the cathedral are a place of calm and tranquility.
Old city
The Old City (in the southeast area of Palma behind the cathedral) is a maze of streets clearly hinting at an Arab past. [citation needed] Except for a few streets and squares which allow traffic and are populated with tourists most of the time, the walkways of this city quarter are fairly narrow, quiet streets, surrounded by a diverse range of interesting buildings, the architecture of which is comparable to cities such as Florence. The majority are private houses, some of which are open to the public as discreet museums or galleries. The Old City is also home to the Ajuntament (or Town Hall), the Convent of the cathedral, and the Banys Àrabs.
Banys Àrabs
This section needs additional citations for verification. (April 2015) |
The Banys Àrabs, or Arab Baths, one of the few remnants of Palma's
Notable people
Notable people who were born in the city include the following individuals:
- Rafael Nadal (born 1986), Tennis player and 22- time grand slam champion
- Álex Abrines (born 1993), basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Rudy Fernández (born 1985), basketball player for Real Madrid
- Lorenzo Fluxá (born 2004), racing driver
- Ramon Llull (c. 1232 – c. 1315/16), philosopher and writer
- MotoGPchampion
- MotoGPchampion
- Guillermo Pont (born 1921), footballer
- Luis Salom (1991–2016), motorcyclist
- Agustí Villaronga (1953–2023), filmmaker
- Rossy de Palma (born 1964), actress
- Margalida Caimari Vila (1839–1921), poet
- Izan Guevara (born 2004), motorcyclist
Sports
Basketball is also a popular sport. Palma's top team is CB Bahía San Agustín, which plays its home games at the 5,076 capacity Palau Municipal d'Esports Son Moix.
Because of its maritime location, all sea sports have a big presence in Palma. Perhaps the most important sporting event in the city is the Ciutat de Palma Prizes.[citation needed]
Road cycling is popular in Mallorca. An international race for professional cyclists, the Vuelta a Mallorca, is held in February, the first day of which consists of a circuit race around the streets of Palma. The city is also home to the Palma Arena, a multi-platinum venue featuring a velodrome. The arena also hosted the Battle of Surfaces tennis event.
In June 2016, the city of Palma participated in the First World Company Sports Games which included five days of culture, sport, and inclusivity within the community of Mallorca as a whole. It was operated through the World Federation Company Sport and was promoted for both local people and tourists to come together in the city. It became a large business venture by offering packages including accommodations close to the events and additional tourism information for future events.[citation needed]
In 2023 Palma hosted the 2023 UEFA Futsal Champions League Finals.
Transport
- Palma de Mallorca Metro
- Mallorca rail network
- Palma de Mallorca Airport
- The city bus system, which includes a loop line through the historic centre, is run by the EMT (See external link below).
- There is also a bus system run by the TIB. This includes routes to and from the municipalities Calvià and Palma.
- In the City of Palma there is a fleet of 1246 taxis. All are equipped with air conditioning and most of them have a radiotelephone station, with four existing companies: Taxis Palma Radio, Radio-Taxi Ciutat, Taxi Teléfono and Taxis adapted for users with reduced mobility. Until the change of colour regulated through the Municipal Decree No. 19985 of 15 October 1999, the taxis of Palma for 50 years had been of the characteristic black and ivory colours. Currently, they are white.
Twin towns – sister cities
Palma de Mallorca is twinned with Portofino, Italy, Alghero, Italy and Naples, Italy.[27]
See also
- Cort Library
- Duchess of Palma de Mallorca
- Edwin Lewis Snyder, "Spain's Magic Island", The Architect and Engineer, 110:10, 37–45, August 1932
- List of municipalities in Balearic Islands
References
- ^ a b "Demographia: World Urban Areas — April 2017" (PDF) (13th Annual ed.). Archived from the original on 17 May 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
- ^ "Gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices by metropolitan regions". ec.europa.eu.
- ^ Since December 2016 the city is officially "Palma", "Llei 15/2016, de 2 de desembre, de modificació de la Llei 23/2006, de 20 de desembre, de capitalitat de Palma de Mallorca" [Law 15/2016, of 2 December, of modification of Law 23/2006 of 20 December, capital of Palma de Mallorca] (in Catalan). Govern de les Illes Balears. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ "Palma de Mallorca?" (in Catalan). Bibiloni.net. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
- ^ "Municipal Archive of Palma". Municipality of Palma (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
Restos de la muralla romana se muestran descubiertos en la fachada lateral de Can Bordils
- ^ "The New Yorker reviving Jewish life on a holiday island". BBC. 18 August 2019.
- ISBN 9781134924745.
The Xueta had their own church—St Eulalia's—in their barrio, with a Xueta priest, and their own cofraternity (the Cross of Calvary) to march in the Holy Week procession.
- ^ "Majorca". Jewish Virtual Library.
- ^ Yuste, Belén; Rivas-Caballero, Sonnia L. "Santa Catalina Tomás". Real Academia de la Historia. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Santa Catalina Tomás". Canónica de Santa Mª Magdalena. Canonesas de Santa Mª Magdalena. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ISBN 9780674037830.
- ^ "Majorca Economy - Information on Business and Investment in Majorca". www.majorca.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ "2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism - Competition winners 2022". European Commission. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Valores climatológicos normales. Palma. Puerto". January 2022.
- ^ AEMET. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ Ltd, Copyright Global Sea Temperatures - A-Connect. "Palma Water Temperature - Spain - Sea Temperatures". World Sea Temperatures.
- ^ "Palma de Mallorca Sea Temperature". seatemperature.org. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ "Palma, Spain - Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ "INEbase Padrón - Población por municipios". INE Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2019.
- ^ "British and German foreign communities decreasing". Majorca Daily Bulletin. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ISBN 9781841573274.
- )
- ^ "Mallorca Culture: Muslim Water system". www.majorcadailybulletin.com. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ Vacca, Maria Luisa. "Comune di Napoli - Gemellaggi" [Naples - Twin Towns]. Comune di Napoli (in Italian). Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.