Tourist information -
Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands or Baleares (Spanish Islas Baleares), group of
islands, comprising an autonomous region and province of eastern
Spain, in the Mediterranean Sea. The group's eleven islets and the
four large islands of Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza, and Formentera constitute
the group; the capital is the city of Palma on Mallorca, the largest
of the islands. Fishing and farming are the main occupations. Citrus
fruit, grapes, olives, wheat, figs, vegetables, and almonds are
grown, and fruit, wine, olive oil, and hogs are exported. The chief
industries are the manufacture of shoes and majolica pottery. The
islands are well-known resort areas. First inhabited by the Iberians,
the islands were later occupied successively by the Phoenicians,
Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, and Byzantines. In the 8th century
the islands were conquered by the Moors and became a base for pirates
preying on the ships in the Mediterranean. James I, king of Aragón,
expelled the Moors in 1229. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939),
Mallorca and Ibiza sided with the Nationalists and Minorca the Loyalists.
Mallorca, island, eastern Spain, the largest of the Balearic Islands,
in the Mediterranean Sea. In the northwest are mountains, reaching
about 1070 to 1525 m (about 3500 to 5000 ft) in height. Farming,
mining, and fishing are the main occupations. Grapes, grain, flax,
and olives are grown, and hogs and sheep are raised. Marble, copper,
and lead are the chief minerals mined. Mallorca is a popular resort.
Palma or Palma de Mallorca, city in eastern Spain, capital of Baleares
autonomous region, on the island of Mallorca, on the Bay of Palma
(an arm of the Mediterranean Sea). The chief manufactures are shoes,
woolen goods, pottery, crystal, glass, matches, hardware, ship engines,
cement, paper, iron, and brewery products. Palma has a substantial
tourist industry. The city was captured from the Moors in 1229.
It has a Gothic cathedral, begun in 1230 and completed in the early
17th century, with a chancel canopy by architect Antoni Gaudí.
Other points of interest are a castle that was once a Moorish palace;
a former Spanish royal palace located above the Bay of Palma; and
the 13th-century San Francisco Church.
Minorca, island in eastern Spain, in the Mediterranean Sea, the
second largest of the Balearic Islands, near the island of Mallorca.
It is 48 km (30 mi) long and about 16 km (about 10 mi) wide. The
chief town is Mahón. Wine, oil, grain, flax, and sweet potatoes
are the main products. The island is the site of many megalithic
remains.
MasterCarsDirect offers car hire in the following
locations in the Balearic Islands
Arenal Castell, Biniforcal, Cala Blanca, Calan
Bosch, Cala Galdana, Calan Porter, Efamer Fornells, Lago, Mahon
Airport, Mahon, Menorca Star, Santo Tomas, Sur Menorca, Talayot
Victoria, Playa Vista Blanes, Vista Picas, Cala Llonga, Cala San
Vicente, Cala Lena Es Cana, Cala Tarida, Ibiza Airport (IBZ), Figueretas,
San Miguel, Playa Den Bossa, Santa Eulalia, Puerto San Antonio.
and other locations.
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