Posts Tagged ‘Majorca family holidays’

3 Must See Sights in Palma

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

The beautiful Spanish Balearic Island of Majorca has long been a favourite with families on their annual holidays. Not only does the island have a wonderfully temperate, year-round climate, it also has a fantastic infrastructure in place for tourism. Majorca family holidays can be all things to all people: relaxing and rejuvenating or exciting and action-packed. But most of all, a holiday to Majorca will be family-friendly and fun.

Palma, the Balearic’s capital, is Majorca’s busiest port and close to half the island’s population calls it home. It is popular as a holiday destination with the Spanish as well as tourists on their Majorca family holidays. Here in the bustling port city one can experience diverse facets of authentic Spanish life, and there is something to keep everyone happy no matter what they are looking for from their visit; even Spain’s royal family return time and again for their holidays.

Castillo de Bellver

One of the most picturesque local attractions is the beautifully preserved Castillo de Bellver. The castle sits elegantly on a hill where it has presided over Palma for almost 700 years. Surrounded by a moat, and on two levels, the castle has the honour of being the only completely circular castle in Spain. Originally built as a royal summer residence, it was reincarnated as a prison for several centuries and there are still remnants of the prisoner’s ancient graffiti which adorns the walls. With children in tow in Majorca, family holidays are the ideal time to expose them to some culture, and the history and intriguing architecture of this fascinating castle will appeal to even the youngsters.

Gothic Cathedral

Even from the sea, the most prominent and striking building in Palma is the exquisite Gothic Cathedral. One cannot help but be impressed, not only by the size of the building, but by the intricate craftsmanship which makes up what surely must be the most elegant silhouette on Majorca. Family holidays to the city would not be complete without a visit to the cathedral and a stroll around its stunning interior. The kids will love exploring the pillars, arches and secret alcoves, and the parents will love the twisted tales of a construction which spanned a period of four centuries.

Banys Arabs (Arab Baths)

Even if you just visit Palma on a day trip on your Majorca family holidays, you should definitely include the Arab Baths on your agenda. One of the city’s more secret attractions, the baths date bath to the 10th century and are all that is left of the ancient Arab city, Medina Mayurqa. The half dome of the ‘tepedarium’ has 25 shafts down which sunlight pours, illuminating the baths. The dome is supported by a dozen columns and upon close inspection it becomes clear that each is unique. It is thought that, in an early example of recycling, the columns were originally part of various Roman buildings. The tranquil surrounds are a wonderful place to escape the busy city, and the children will love the enclosed courtyard which is filled with cactus, palms and orange trees.

Author Bio: Davide Smith is the Destination Expert for Bargain Holidays Online, a unique holiday website which specialises in cheap, last-minute deals for Majorca family holidays as well as giving you access to over 20 million other bargain holiday deals. Book your bargain holidays with BargainHolidaysOnline.com today and save.

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Sunshine in Soller

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

There’s every chance that on your Majorca family holidays, you will have your hands full with excitable children chomping at the bit to have as many adventures as possible. They’ll be raring to go, whether it’s straight down to the beach or into the wild. So, to help you to cope with their energy, why not take them to what Santiago Rusinol named ‘The Port of Calm’ – the beautiful coastal town of Porto Soller.

Taking Them to Dizzy New Heights

Known as the gateway to the Tramuntana Mountains, Soller is surrounded by landscapes that are perfect for wearing out the kids and making sure they get a good night’s sleep. This rugged mountain range provides some spectacular scenery for the adults, as well as some incredible excursions for the younger family members, making it the perfect place to head to on Majorca family holidays. Whether you want to traverse some of the Tramuntana paths on foot, or hire a bike and try it on two wheels, there are plenty of mountain trails that are not too challenging or remote. However far you decide to go up the mountain, you’ll be rewarded with phenomenal views of the coastline, and wide open spaces where the kids can let loose and stretch their legs. So get them out into the sunshine, and a trip into the Tramuntana Mountains will guarantee you a nice quiet evening as they’ll have worn themselves out with all that exploring.

Take to the Water

With the town of Puerto Soller sitting on some of Majorca’s most amazing coastline, it is unsurprising that there is a wealth of water activity just waiting for you. If the sun is shining, start out from the beautiful beach of Playa d’en Repic, and you will be able to hire kayaks to take you out exploring the sea for the day. Double or single kayaks can be hired, allowing the kids a little more independence should they desire it, whilst allowing the parents to take a boat trip together. Most kayaking trips aim for the island of s’Illeta – a small island found about 4 kilometres from Playa d’en Repic. En route to s’Illeta you will pass some fascinating rock formations and caves, giving you the chance to get a geography lesson into your Majorca family holidays. You might even catch a glimpse of a dolphin or two along the way. On reaching the island, the adults will be awestruck by the enormous colony of cormorants that has made its home there, whilst children can be kept easily entertained by paddling into the Vell Mari – an unusually large cave over 500 yards deep. But if you’re going to be out on the water all day, be sure to take plenty of sun cream with you.

Take a Ride on the Railway

After all that activity, both you and the children might just want to slow down the pace of your Majorca family holidays a little. If this is the case, sit back and relax as you take a ride on the infamous Soller railway train. The traditional wooden train dates back to 1912 and connects the sleepy town of Soller with the larger resort of Palma Mallorca. The journey will take you through rolling hills and beautiful countryside, and on a sunny, clear day you will be able to see for miles, before arriving in Palma Mallorca where you can spend the afternoon shopping and seeing the sights.

Taking Majorca family holidays can result in a great deal of excitement and use a great deal of energy. Sunny Soller is the ideal location to expend this energy in a peaceful and quiet resort. Away from the hustle and bustle of busier resorts, Porto Soller is surrounded by beautiful countryside and beach where you can explore, but also relax.

Author Bio: Davide Smith is the Destination Expert for Bargain Holidays Online, a unique holiday website which specialises in cheap, last-minute deals for Majorca family holidays as well as giving you access to over 20 million other bargain holiday deals. Book your bargain holidays with BargainHolidaysOnline.com today and save.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Majorca family holidays

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