Alicante Old Quarter
Now it is time to get acquainted with the older part of Alicante, the part of the city that really inspires visitors because of its traditions and heritage, far removed from the modern, dynamic area looking out to the sea.
Category: Spain cities
Street-by-Street: Palma de Mallorca
In 1983, Palma became the capital of the newly created Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands and transformed itself from a provincial town into a metropolis. Today, it has over 300,000 inhabitants and captivates all visitors as it once captivated Jaume I, who, after conquering it in 1229 described it as the “loveliest town that I have ever seen”. It is pleasant to stroll along the clean, attractive streets past renovated historic buildings. The town and harbour are full of life while bars and restaurants, busy with locals and tourists, remain open late into the night.
Inca
Inca, the last stop on the train journey from Palma, is the third largest town on the island. A modern industrial place, visitors come here nevertheless, attracted by the cheap leather goods in Avinguda General Luque and Gran Via de Colon. Thursday, market day, is Inca’s busiest time. The stalls lining the streets and squares stretch over several districts of town. Here you can buy almost anything – souvenirs, household goods, flowers and food. Inca is also known for its traditional Mallorcan cuisine, including caracoles (snails) and for its wine cellars converted into restaurants (cellers).
Pollenca
Founded by the Romans in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana, Pollen has retained much of its old-world charm with narrow, twisting streets, some good restaurants and a lively Sunday market. The remains left by the town’s founders include Pont Romu, a bridge spanning the banks of the Torrente de Sant Jordi river, at the north end of town. After 1229, the Knights Templar began the building of the parish church of Nostra Senyora dels Angels.
Felanitx
From a distance, the busy little town of Felanitx looks as though it is surrounded by a wall with many turrets. As you approach, it becomes apparent that these are windmills built on the outskirts of town. Felanitx is the birthplace of the outstanding medieval architect Guillem Sagrera (1380–1456) and the highly original 20th-century painter Miquel Barcelo.
Santanyi
Santanyi old town is full of stone houses built from the local honey-coloured sandstone. The same sandstone was used in the building of the cathedral in Palma and Castell Bellver.
Calvia
This quiet little town in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains is the administrative centre of Calvia Province, which includes the resorts from Ses Illetes to Santa Ponca. Standing on a hill in the centre of Calvia is the church of Sant Joan Baptista; its forecourt provides a fine view over the surrounding farms and olive groves. The original church was built here in 1245; the present structure dates from the late 19th century.
Valldemossa
The historical records of Valldemossa go back to the 14th century, when the asthmatic King Sancho built this palace in the mountains to make the most of the clean air. In 1399, the palace was handed over to the Carthusian monks, who remodelled it as a monastery. The Real Cartuja de Jesu de Nazaret (Royal Carthusian Monastery of Jesus of Nazareth) was abandoned in 1835 when the monks were dispossessed.
Barcelona
Barcelona is located in the comarca of Barcelonès, along the Mediterranean coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs. It is 160 km (100 mi) south of the Pyrenees mountain range. The population of the city proper is 1,593,075 (est. 2005), while the population of the metropolitan area is 4,686,701 (est. 2005). Population of the province of Barcelona is 5,226,354 (est. 2005), although this only covers 7,733 km² around the city.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain, as well as in the province and the autonomous community of the same name. It is located on the Manzanares river in the center of the country.
