Best Car Rental Palma

History Palma

Palma is not a city that is short of history. The city was first found by Romans back in 123 BC. Originally, Palma was used as a port to Africa because of its location on the south of the island. However, this history has since been long forgotten because there is no structural evidence of it in Palma today. The city came under Byzantine control and there is evidence of this in Palma today. Some of the mosaics in the cathedral, which at the time would have been a paleo-Christian temple, house some stunning mosaics. Many people are surprised that the city was under Islamic control, and they are even more surprised when you tell them that it was for over 300 years (902-1229), and was only taken away from the Almohads after a three month-long siege by James I of Aragon.

The city remained prosperous due to its great location (on the port) until the Rebellion of the Brotherhoods, which ruined the trading posts and many of its defensive structures. This lasted until the 18th century Charles III of Spain started trade again and the country?s economy once again started to grow. The city has been a tourist hotspot since back in the 50s. Now over 22 million people visit the country by air annually with a further 2 million by boat.

Weather

Since Palma is situated in Spain therefore the weather is generally warm and humid, therefore it is recommended that you visit Palma during the summer months, which are May till end of August.

Best Palma

Palma is the capital of Majorca with a population of roughly 525,000 in the urban area. Surprisingly enough that is more than half the whole country?s population. As a popular tourist destination the airport actually handles somewhere in the region of 23.5 million people per annum. There are plenty of reasons why Palma is a popular destination. For a start, the average high year-round temperature is 21.6C with peaks of 29.5C in August. The city is full of locals that understand the English language, and because tourism is the country?s main source of income, the people are very welcoming. The city of Palma contains something for everyone. The Old City remains untouched by tourists, which means it is ideal for those looking to see Palma as it once was many years ago.

In this part of the city, the streets lined with little private museums and galleries. At the other end of the spectrum, the nightlife in Palma is second to none. In fact, its reputation as a party island is one of the reasons so many people visit there. The Playa de Palma district and Magalluf districts especially are two of the best party regions. In the city, you will find some of the best shopping facilities in Spain. As the centre for retail in the country there are plenty of traditional and modern shops standing side by side one another. If you want to shop, then you have to explore Passeig des Born, a street that demonstrates the above perfectly.

Exploring Palma

Palma is a city that could keep you entertained for months. The great thing about the city is that it is rather small yet everything that you need is there so you do not need to travel too far. The Old City this thriving area has almost been untouched by humans for centuries. There is a walking tour through the cathedral and city that is well worth your time. On this tour, you get to see the stunning patios of the old city, which have remained virtually untouched for centuries. Museum of Bartolome March once home to the wealthiest banker on the island this place has now been turned into a museum. Make sure you look out for the Neapolitan nativity scene from the 1700s.

Castell de Bellver: this round castle has been in development since the 12th century. It was the first round castle ever to exist. Once used as a castle and a prison it is now used to display the history of the city. Pacha Mallorca: if you feel like it is time to party you have to go to Pacha. It is one of the biggest nightclubs in Palma. Pacha has a stunning restaurant on site where you can eat before hitting the club which closes at 6 am. The four activities above really just scratch the surface of what you can do in Palma so make sure you plan your days well in advance to take in everything you want to see.

Eating drinking Palma

As Palma has a great mix of modern and traditional places to eat you really can find everything that you want culinary wise in this city. Of course, the majority of people that visit the city try out the local dishes. There are an abundance of popular Spanish dishes, and Tapas is especially well-liked in Majorca. There are plenty of Tapas ?bars? that stay open until the early hours of the morning. Almost every local restaurant also serves paella. However, these two have become quite common wherever you go nowadays.

Therefore, if you want to try something really local, then check for Sobrassada. Sobrassada is a sausage that has been hung out for a period of time between one and eight months. Instead of a normal sausage though Sobrassada is usually consumed more like a pate. There are also plenty of fast-food places in Majorca with Indian takeaways, kebab shops and fish and chips all making an appearance. Furthermore, the American chains are all there as well. Like many of the Balearic Islands the main drink in Palma is wine. There are plenty of local and National wines to sample as well. If wine is not your forte, then there are also two nationwide sprits called Palo and Herbes. Palo is drunk before meals as an aperitif while Herbes is traditionally consumed after. Garagerex is a stunning lounge restaurant with some fantastic dishes and an even better wine menu. This place combines traditional with Mediterranean cooking, which means there is something for everybody.

Nightlife Palma

If you are looking for the best nightlife in the city, look no further than the Paseo Maritimo. This is where you can find the centre of all the action in the city at night. This area of the city has various nightclubs from the HipHop Club to the Lorien Bar which has over 100 different types of beers. The variety on the strip is amazing, which is why people choose to go there to find food and then move onto the nightlife all on the same road. Another place you can try is La Lonja (the centre of the city.) Here, you will find various clubs and bars all within reach of one another. Palma also has a fantastic gay and lesbian nightlife scene. The zone of Plaza Gomila has some great homosexual bars for everybody to enjoy. On top of all of the clubs and bars, the pub and dining scene is rather lively in Palma. As the majority of people speak perfect English, there are a few English pubs around so if you are missing home, then pop in one of these bars. In general the city is very safe and secure. However, like everywhere watch out for pick pockets as there has been a case of thefts in are in the past.

Shopping Palma

Palma is the ideal city for those looking to shop. Like any city, you want a balance of the modern designer stores and the traditional shops, and this is exactly what you find in Palma. While in the city, you need to make sure you take in both Avinguda Jaume III and the Passeig des Born, which are the two main shopping centres in the city. Furthermore, just two kilometres from the centre of the city you will find the Centro Comercial Porto Pi, which is a modern hypermarket of sorts. Avinguda Jaume III is one of the most amazing shopping streets in the city. It has been designed for famous outlets and other modern stores, and the best thing about it is that the road is less than half a century old. If you are in the city on a Monday, Friday or a Saturday, then you should take the time to explore the outdoor craft market. You should note that in Palma, the shops are generally open from 10 am to 1:30 pm and from 5 pm until 8pm on weekdays and Saturday mornings so make sure you do your shopping in this time.

Disabled visitors Palma

Just like every modern city, Palma accommodates extremely well for those who are disabled. The city is full of places with the finest selection of state of the art amenities. The fact is that due to the thriving tourist community, Palma has had to expand to accommodate all year round. From your very first moment in Palma at Palma airport you will see that the facilities are in place if you have special needs. Ramps, toilets and telephones have all been adapted as needed for disabled visitors. Furthermore, there are all the required mobility aids like wheelchairs use after you land and even extra assistance if required. Last but not least there are all the expected reserved car parking spaces. There are various hotels that have been designed to accommodate disabled visitors in Palma: Hotel Isla Mallorca Spa is a fantastic modern hotel with full access for disabled people.

Furthermore, you will find everything that you need on the site, including a restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a cafe. This is just one of several hotels that meets and surpasses the levels set out by the industry-standard guide. You should also not be worried about eating or going out generally as not only is everywhere well accommodating but the people are great and are more than helpful. Even the beaches are well set out for disabled people.