Puerta Palma Badajoz, Mallorca, Spain by Charly Morlock

Island Paradise

Situated in the Balearic Sea, 200 kilometres East of Valencia, Mallorca has a culture not normally seen by the droves of visitors form Britain.

It is accessibility from mainland Spain and Europe, almost equidistant from Valencia and Barcelona, is one of the main reasons why it has become so popular for the likes of tennis stars Raphael Nadal and Boris Becker, super model Claudia Schiffer, as well as kings and queens (the King of Spain often takes breaks here), politician and famous musicians.

It’s not surprising that with 200 beaches the island’s coasts are the primary attraction for holidaymakers, but it’s the more secluded spots of the island’s interior, where former farm houses have been converted, and villas built for the seclusion that many of the rich and famous crave away from the lime light.

A bay in Mallorca, Spain by Jon Rawlinson

Popular Pursuits

One of the most popular pursuits on the island is sailing, and if you head down to any marina, you’ll see enthusiasts setting off on the beautiful turquoise water. Or if sailing is not your sport one of the 20 golf courses might be closer to your tastes, or the amazing hikes and cycle track into the stunning wilderness.

There is an undeserved reputation that the island has developed, with resorts lining the coasts, but that shouldn’t distract from the Mallorca hotels that epitomise luxury, and massive yachts that are worth millions of dollars berthed at the private marinas.

Culture

Mallorca’s capital, Palma, has an incredible mix of the medieval and the modern, it is in fact named after the Roman city of Palmaria. Being so close to North Africa, Spain was spent many centuries ruled by the Moors, the general term used to describe the many tribes.

Their presence was certainly felt more in the south of Spain in the cities of Cadiz and Seville; but Mallorca was also under the rule of the Moors until the 13th century when it was taken back by the Spanish and became a vital port in the Mediterranean.

There is a strong multicultural presence in Palma (just like Cadiz and Seville) where you can see a distinctive mix of Gothic, Roman, and Arab architecture.

It is not surprising that once you look past the crowds of sunburnt Brits, the throngs, of taxis and endless beach umbrellas that Mallorca is truly a calm and beautiful paradise, and will surely continue to draw the rich and famous for decades to come.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.jumeirah.com/en/Hotels-and-Resorts/Destinations/Mallorca/Jumeirah-Port-Soller-Hotel–Spa/

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Martin Belam

The city of Larnaca is built on the site of an ancient Kition – the old city, whose ruins can be found about a kilometer of Larnaca’s city centre. Its existence is documented also in Larnaca’s archaeological museum featuring a collection of ceramics from ancient Kition, as well as in Neolithic settlement Khirokitia situated near Larnaca.

Khirokitia is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the eastern Mediterranean and is protected by an international organization UNESCO. Area around Larnaca Salt Lake is a home to thousands of flamingos in winter, but dries up in summer and only a layer of salt remains here. Beaches are darker, with fine sand, somewhere with pebbles or small stones. The sea around Larnaca boasts clean turquoise water.

Larnaca was founded between the 11th and 14th century BC. During its existence, has undergone a terrible destruction of the Persians in the Greco-Persian War.

From the top sights in Larnaca I should mention renovated tomb of Neolithic settlements Khirokitia, Roman glassware, Agios Lazaros Church, located in the southern part of the city which was built in the 10th century by Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Wise. Today the church hosts Byzantine museum.

About 20km west of the city you can visit Greek Orthodox Stavrovouni monastery which is located at the top of Stavrovouni mountain at an altitude of 680 meters above sea level and offers spectacular views of the coastal landscape and the Troodos mountains.

And if you will go more to the south you can see a very prominent Muslim shrine called Hala Sultan Tekke or the Mosque of Umm Haram. Anyway, once you visit Larnaca with its surroundings you will certainly not be disapointed!

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Sandy beaches on the southern coast of Cyprus are very popular among tourists already for years. There are lots of young people coming here every summer. Cyprus’ beaches are traditionally evaluated very positively. The coast slowly descends into the warm turquoise water. The crystal clear sea is suitable for the lovers of water sports – here you can try paragliding or riding on water skis, or diving.

Until the late 18th century, the only inhabitants on the island were monks from the local monastery. The monastery was built specifically as a home for sacred icon, which according to legend, should appear to hunters during hunting. Just after almost two centuries, about twenty civilians moved to the area and founded the city, in the middle of which you can find a monastery.

Nature around Ayia Napa is beautiful, there are also many cultural and historical monuments and archaeological sites and beautiful churches.

How to get here
During the summer season you can take a ferry from the Greek island of Rhodes or the city of Piraeus and Turkish Tasuku. It can be reached by air, Ayia Napa is located about 50 kilometers from the airport in Larnaca.

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