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101-576: Calvià ( Balearic Catalan: [kəlviˈa] ) is a municipality on the island of Majorca , part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands . It is located in the southwestern part of the island of Majorca, between the Serra de Tramuntana and the Serra de Na Burguesa . The municipal seat is the town of Calvià Vila . Calvià has an approximate area of 145 km (56 sq mi). It

202-470: A thermocline ). According to the Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), the area receives 4,900,000 cubic metres (6,400,000 cu yd) of rain per year, plus 100,000 cubic metres (130,000 cu yd) runoff from irrigation and 200,000 cubic metres (260,000 cu yd) infiltration of treated waste-water. 6,700,000 cubic metres (8,800,000 cu yd) is pumped annually for

303-493: A complex tectonic structure, forming a relief fold with many faults. The karst nature of the Tramuntana has led to the formation of numerous caves and sinkholes. The rest of the municipality is relatively flat, with broad valleys filled by quaternary and tertiary materials and small hills, with Mesozoic materials surfacing occasionally. This area contains a number of cavities divided between the area of Es Coll des Pastors and around

404-627: A comprehensive collection of books about the Balearic Islands, consisting of 7 volumes. It took him 22 years to complete. Nowadays, several streets or buildings on the island are named after him (i.e., Arxiduc Lluís Salvador ). The Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin , together with French writer Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin (pseudonym: George Sand ), resided in Valldemossa in the winter of 1838–39. Apparently, Chopin's health had already deteriorated and his doctor recommended that he go to

505-427: A dairy, ten grocery shops, three cafés, two haberdashers, five carpenter's shops, two blacksmiths, a bicycle shop, and one bus line. Its scant industry consisted of five master masons, various ventures in shipping and transport, two cement and plaster factories, a trader in nuts and dried fruit, a machine for shucking almonds , a flour mill, a carob crusher, a wood dealer, and an oil press . The first urban nuclei in

606-512: A high number of expats choosing to settle down in the area, Mallorca has recently also become a business hub economy of its own, due to a high number of particularly foreign enterprises choosing to either relocate, or expand, to the island. Attempts to build illegally caused a scandal in 2006 in Port Andratx that the newspaper El País named "caso Andratx". A main reason for illegal building permits, corruption and black market construction

707-438: A hot, dry summer with little pressure gradient and occasional rainfall, as opposed to a cool, wet winter. The coldest month is January, with 15.1 / 3.5 °C and the hottest is August, with 31.0 / 18.2 °C. Rainfall averages 51 days a year and there are approximately 2,756 hours of sunshine. The average temperature in the summer is 27 °C, and 14 °C in winter. The driest month is July, at an average of 7.8 L / m, while

808-478: A landscape characterised by a series of mountain ranges. The highest peak, Puig Major , stands at approximately 1,445 meters (4,741 feet) above sea level. Other notable peaks include Puig de Massanella , Puig Tomir , Puig de l'Ofre , and Puig des Teix , all exceeding 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in elevation. These mountains are part of the Serra de Tramuntana range with numerous peaks over 1,000 meters, offering opportunities for hiking and exploration with views of

909-418: A lesser extent, figs . There is also still some farming of cereals and grains. Although the area has a harsh climate with few natural resources it is also densely populated by humans and there are relatively few populations of wild animals. The most notable zones for fauna are the rocky shore and the islands of Cala Figuera (Figuera Cove), such as El Toro, the islet of Refeubetx and the group of islets known as

1010-703: A relationship with Chopin , described her stay in Mallorca in A Winter in Majorca , published in 1855. Other famous writers used Mallorca as the setting for their works. While on the island, the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío started writing the novel El oro de Mallorca , and wrote several poems, such as La isla de oro . The poet Miquel Costa i Llobera wrote in 1875 his famous ode, the Pine of Formentor , as well as other poems concerning old Mallorcan traditions and fantasies. Many of

1111-582: A result, the dialect spoken today ( Mallorquí ) is an eastern Catalan dialect. Since 1248, Calvià has had its own parish church, Sante Ihoannes Caviano , dedicated to Saint John the Baptist . In 1285, during the reign of James II of Aragon , second son of James I, it gained the status of a villa . This meant it would have its own mayor, named by the king or governor. The mayor would execute orders from higher levels of government and would also maintain public order and administer justice. Nonetheless, he did not have

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1212-599: A second similar bomb was discovered and successfully defused. Calvià is located in the western part of the island of Majorca, next to the Sierra de Tramontana, the main mountain of the Balearic Islands, and extends to the Sierra de Na Burguesa , a mountain located in Calvia. Calvià has an area of about 145.02 km . Of a total of 14,372 hectares, 81% is protected rural land, 18% is developed urban land and 1% are soils with low protection. It

1313-771: A village 2,000 years BCE , although the area was first populated in the Neolithic Era . Later, sailors coming from the east stopped in the Balearics on their way to the Iberian Peninsula , where they sought metals. They came from Italy, from other Mediterranean islands, and from the Near East , and constructed small settlements along the coast. Historians call this period the "Cave Culture", because caves were frequently used as habitations and burial areas. Some vestiges of this area have been catalogued in an archaeological excavation called

1414-839: Is " La Balanguera ". Like the other Balearic Islands of Menorca , Ibiza , and Formentera , the island is a highly popular holiday destination, particularly for tourists from the Netherlands , Germany , and the United Kingdom . The international airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport , is one of the busiest in Spain; it was used by 28 million passengers in 2017, with use increasing every year between 2012 and 2017. The name derives from Classical Latin insula maior , "larger island". Later, in Medieval Latin , this became Maiorca , "the larger one", in comparison to Menorca , "the smaller one". This

1515-577: Is also a renowned meeting point for businessmen, celebrities, high society figures and members of the Spanish Royal Family during their summer stays in the Marivent Palace . Another of its main tourist areas is Peguera , where many residents spend their summer holidays, as well as a number of German tourists. Similarly, the urbanized residential areas of El Toro , which has a marina and a small beach, and Son Ferrer , are of note. The topography

1616-509: Is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Puigpunyent and Estellencs , Palma de Mallorca (Palma), the island's capital to the east, Andratx to the west and to the south by the Mediterranean Sea . According to the 2008 census, the municipality had a population of 50,777 inhabitants, of whom 18,046 were foreigners. Today, it is the second most populated area of the entire archipelago Balearic after Palma, and also an area that has

1717-542: Is bordered on the north by the municipality of Puigpunyent and Estellencs , Palma de Mallorca (Palma), the island's capital to the east, Andratx to the west and to the south by the Mediterranean Sea . The highest point of the municipality is the Puig de Galatzó at 1,026 m (3,366 ft) above sea level . The second is 926 metres above sea level, the Mola del Esclop , an area which consists of many valleys and ravines, between

1818-484: Is golden and very thin. The Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. The island (including the small offshore islands of Cabrera and Dragonera) is administratively divided into 53 municipalities. The areas and populations of the municipalities (according to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística , Spain) are: Mallorca is the most populous island in

1919-665: Is marked by the contrast between the mountains in the north and the rest of the municipality, where the features are flatter. The main mountain range is called the Serra de Na Burguesa , situated between Son Falconer and Son Vida in Palma. It is the southernmost range of the Serra de Tramuntana . It was formerly known as Portopí or d'en Bou. It has an average height of 500 meters and is covered by large formations of Mediterranean pine forest and scrubland. The hills are composed of Triassic and Jurassic materials, mainly limestone and dolomite , with marl and gypsum present as well. The hills have

2020-519: Is much appreciated for its singular flavor, and figures prominently in the local cuisine. The forest plants of the region can be divided into four groups: Most of the people are either Spaniards from the mainland—mainly from Andalusia —or their descendants, who reached the island in the early 1960s, or they are foreign immigrants. According to the 2008 census, the municipality has a population of 50,777 inhabitants, of whom 25,548 were males and 25,229 were women ( 50.31% versus 49.69%). The municipality has

2121-480: Is rugged and has many cliffs. The central zone, extending from Palma, is a generally flat, fertile plain known as Es Pla . The island has a variety of caves both above and below the sea – two of the caves, the above sea level Coves dels Hams and the Coves del Drach , also contain underground lakes and are open to tours. Both are located near the eastern coastal town of Porto Cristo . Small uninhabited islands lie off

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2222-409: Is that communities have few ways to finance themselves other than through permits. The former mayor was incarcerated in 2009 after being prosecuted for taking bribes to permit illegal house building. Data from Institute of Statistics of Balearic Islands The Balearic Islands, of which Mallorca forms part, are one of the autonomous communities of Spain . As a whole , they are currently governed by

2323-617: Is the following: The Phoenicians , a seafaring people from the Levant , arrived around the eighth century BC and established numerous colonies. The island eventually came under the control of Carthage in North Africa, which had become the principal Phoenician city. After the Second Punic War , Carthage lost all of its overseas possessions and the Romans took over. The island was occupied by

2424-460: Is the largest of the Balearic Islands , which are part of Spain , and the seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . The capital of the island, Palma , is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Balearic Islands have been an autonomous region of Spain since 1983. There are two small islands off the coast of Mallorca: Cabrera (southeast of Palma) and Dragonera (west of Palma). The anthem of Mallorca

2525-680: Is used by agencies such as the Institut Calvianer d'Esports del Ajuntament de Calvià and the Asociación Calvianera. The municipality does not have a flag but has a distinctive coat of arms, defined as an azure blue shield with a paschal lamb holding a flag with a St George's Cross , capped by a crown. The coat of arms was approved on 25 June 1976 emblazoned with De azur y el cordero de plata que empuña en su mano derecha una bandera de aquel metal, cargada con cruz de gules. Al timbre corona real, cerrada. . Calvià first appears in history as

2626-557: The Banco de Crédito Balear , came to control nearly all of the development of Santa Ponsa. By 1986, the municipality had 10,000 of the dwellings locally known as chalés (" chalets "). On 30 July 2009, around two in the afternoon, the Palmanova neighborhood suffered a bombing attack by ETA . Two members of the Civil Guard were killed by a bomb placed under a patrol car outside their barracks;

2727-521: The Conquest of Mallorca by King James I of Aragon , colonists brought the Catalan language and culture, which survive to the present time. In the division of the conquered territory, Calvià formed part of the medietas magnatum that the king granted to nobles Guillermo II de Montcada , Hugo de Ampurias , Nuño Sánchez and Berenguer de Palou , all of whom had participated in the conquest. Calvià in particular

2828-665: The European Union , especially from Africa and South America. In September 2019, A 3,200-year-old well-preserved Bronze Age sword was discovered by archaeologists under the leadership of Jaume Deya and Pablo Galera on the Mallorca Island in the Puigpunyent from the stone megaliths site called Talaiot . Specialists assumed that the weapon was made when the Talaiotic culture was in critical decline. The sword will be on display at

2929-656: The Malgrats . This area has international recognition by the European Commission as a Special Protection Area for birds. In 2008, a diver in this reserve sighted and photographed a monk seal ( Monachus monachus ); it is believed that no more than 500 monk seals survive in the entire world. The Balearic government has studied the possibility of reintroducing monk seals to the islands. Local native plant species include holm oak ( Quercus ilex ) and various pine species. There are over 1,000 animal species; notable among them are

3030-659: The Mediterranean . While not towering in comparison to some mountain ranges globally, the Mallorcan mountains provide visitors with diverse outdoor experiences and panoramic views of the island's rugged terrain and coastline. Mallorca is the largest island of Spain by area and second most populated (after Tenerife in the Canary Islands ). Mallorca has two mountainous regions, the Serra de Tramuntana and Serres de Llevant. Both are about 70 km (43 mi) in length and occupy

3131-498: The Muslims improved agriculture with irrigation and developed local industries. The caliphate was dismembered in 1015. Mallorca came under rule by the Taifa of Dénia , and from 1087 to 1114, was an independent Taifa . During that period, the island was visited by Ibn Hazm . However, an expedition of Pisans and Catalans in 1114–15 , led by Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona , overran

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3232-578: The People's Party of the Balearic Islands (PP), with Marga Prohens as their President. The specific government institution for the island is the Insular Council of Mallorca  [ ca ] commonly known as Council of Mallorca , created in 1978. It is responsible for culture, roads, railways (see Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca ) and municipal administration. As of September 2023, Llorenç Galmés  [ es ] ( PP ) serves as president of

3333-558: The Puig de sa Morisca Archaeological Park , which conserves remains of what was a talaiot 9 metres (30 ft) in diameter. It is located on a small mountainous elevation in Calvià's Santa Ponsa district. The Roman era lasted from 123 BCE until the 4th century CE, but left no significant vestiges. Among the few archaeological remnants of this era are the remains of a Roman villa in Santa Ponça known as Sa Mesquida , which has an oven that

3434-580: The Second Spanish Republic , but were squashed during the Spanish Civil War . The first seed of the modern tourism-based economy came when steamboat service from Barcelona to Palma began in 1838. This made travel to Mallorca easier for travelers from the Iberian peninsula and beyond. Some came to visit the municipality's coves and beaches. At this time Mallorca drew visitors who were motivated by

3535-448: The Spanish Civil War , this idea was discarded. In 2009, it was considered one of the most important tourist areas of Majorca. It is bounded on the west by the busy town of Magaluf which contains the largest hotel and greatest infrastructural services of the municipality to accommodate the many tourists. Another of the localities, Santa Ponsa , has historical significance as the place that James I of Aragon landed. The town of Portals Nous

3636-677: The Tethys Sea during the Mesozoic era. These marine deposits have given rise to calcareous rocks which are often fossiliferous . The folding of the Betic Cordillera and Mallorcan ranges resulted from subduction of the African Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate with eventual collision. Tectonic movements led to different elevation and lowering zones in the late Tertiary period, which is why

3737-579: The plague that decimated the population elsewhere, although other nearby municipalities such as Andratx suffered the scourge of the epidemic. Still, the population suffered other epidemics associated with the era and their way of life, particularly malaria which only a few escaped, such as the priest or the few artisans who did not work in Ses Rotes . The daily wage of a farm laborer was between four and six sous (a dozen eggs cost one-and-a-half sous ). In that era there were also Arab slaves , although not in

3838-514: The 17th and 18th centuries and many streets are very narrow and compact, a legacy from the medieval era. The central square, called Plaça Major, has numerous outdoor cafés and is dominated by a large 13th-century church Esglèsia de Nostra Senyora dels Àngels (Our Lady of the Angels) which was built by the Knights Templar . One of the town's most distinctive features is the 365-step stairway north of

3939-476: The Balearic Islands and the second most populous island in Spain, after Tenerife , in the Canary Islands , being also the fourth most populous island in the Mediterranean after Sicily , Sardinia and Cyprus . It had a Census population of 920,605 inhabitants at the start of 2021, and an official estimate of 940,332 at the start of 2023. Since the 1950s, Mallorca has become a major tourist destination, and

4040-551: The Balearic Islands to recuperate, where he still spent a rather miserable winter. Nonetheless, his time in Mallorca was a productive period for Chopin. He managed to finish the Preludes , Op. 28, that he started writing in 1835. He was also able to undertake work on his Ballade No. 2 , Op. 38; two Polonaises, Op. 40; and the Scherzo No. 3 , Op. 39. French writer Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin (pseudonym: George Sand ), at that time in

4141-586: The Balearic Islands, and in response, the people built coastal watchtowers and fortified churches. In 1570, King Philip II of Spain and his advisors were considering complete evacuation of the Balearic islands. In the early 18th century, the War of the Spanish Succession resulted in the replacement of that dynastic union with a unified Spanish monarchy under the rule of the new Bourbon Dynasty . The last episode of

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4242-729: The Byzantine domination and established their own hegemony. Until 903, the island was part of the Umayyad Caliphate . In 903, the Almoravid general Isam al-Jawlani conquered the island on behalf of Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Umawi , Emir of Córdoba . The city of Palma passed from the Almoravids to the Almohads , eventually becoming part of one of the taifas . Calviá was part of the administrative division Juz' d' Ahwaz al-Madina . In 1229, after

4343-558: The Conqueror, launched an invasion which landed at Santa Ponça , Mallorca, on 8–9 September 1229 with Catalan forces consisting of 15,000 men and 1,500 horses. His forces entered the city of Medina Mayurqa on 31 December 1229. In 1230, he annexed the island to his Crown of Aragon under the name Regnum Maioricae . From 1479, the Crown of Aragon was in dynastic union with that of Castile . The Barbary corsairs of North Africa often attacked

4444-525: The Insular Council. Elections are held every four years concurrently with local elections . From 1983 to 2007, councilors were indirectly elected from the results of the election to Parliament of the Balearic Islands for the constituency of Mallorca . Since 2007, however, separate direct elections are held to elect the Council. Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria ( Catalan : Arxiduc Lluís Salvador )

4545-457: The Malgrats and El Toro, having been designated as marine reserves and a special protection area for birds. The municipality contains eighteen settlements. The most important are the resorts. Palma Nova was one of the first tourist resorts to be built on the island within the grounds of an old farm called Ses Planes and began as a project intended to build a residential type Garden City, but due to

4646-513: The Puig Gros de Bendinat, Son Boronat, Benatiga Nou and Valldurgent. The Puig Gros de Bendinat depression contains abundant late Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments. Its coastline is composed of calcareous materials. Calvià has a mild Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 19 °C and an average annual rainfall of 410 mm (16 in). It is influenced by two types of atmospheric circulation manifested in two distinct seasons:

4747-654: The Roman legions for their skill with the sling ( Balearic slingers ). In 427, Gunderic and the Vandals captured the island. Geiseric , son of Gunderic, governed Mallorca and used it as his base to loot and plunder settlements around the Mediterranean until Roman rule was restored in 465. In 534, Mallorca was recaptured from the Vandals by the Eastern Roman Empire , led by Apollinarius . Under Roman rule, Christianity thrived and numerous churches were built. From 707,

4848-489: The Romans in 123 BC under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus . It flourished under Roman rule, during which time the towns of Pollentia ( Alcúdia ), and Palmaria ( Palma ) were founded. In addition, the northern town of Bocchoris , dating back to pre-Roman times, was a federated city to Rome . The local economy was largely driven by olive cultivation, viticulture , and salt mining . Mallorcan soldiers were valued within

4949-570: The War of Spanish Succession was the conquest of the island of Mallorca. It took place on 2 July 1715 when the island capitulated to the arrival of a Bourbon fleet. In 1716, the Nueva Planta decrees made Mallorca part of the Spanish province of Baleares, roughly the same to present-day Illes Balears province and autonomous community. A Nationalist stronghold at the start of the Spanish Civil War , Mallorca

5050-430: The area of Cas Català Ses Illetas . It is 54 km (34 mi) long and very rocky, but still has 34 beaches and coves. There is 35.5 kilometres of rocky shores, 4.5 kilometres of sandy beaches, 10 islets and 7,000 hectares of coast, with a maximum depth of 5 m (16 ft). Islets include El Sec , Sa Porrassa , D'en Sales , Ses Illetes , D'estenedor and Sa Caleta . The most important though, ecologically, are

5151-458: The area witnessed intense conflicts. It was founded in the 13th century some 6 km (4 mi) from the coast, in an effort to avoid pirate attacks. Various encounters with corsairs occurred, including the notable confrontation with Ottoman corsair Dragut in 1550, where the Pollença locals displayed remarkable bravery. The event is commemorated annually on August 2nd. Most houses were built in

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5252-484: The capital of the autonomous region of the Balearic Islands . Palma has a famous tourist attraction, the cathedral, Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca, standing in the heart of the City looking out over the sea. Mallorca has a Mediterranean climate ( Köppen : Csa ), with mild and relatively wet winters and hot, bright, dry summers. Precipitation in the Serra de Tramuntana is markedly higher. Summers are hot in

5353-502: The connection to the mainland has been severed at the current sea level. The limestones, which predominate throughout Mallorca, are readily water-soluble, and have given rise to extensive areas of karst . In addition to limestone, dolomitic rocks are mainly present in the mountainous regions of Mallorca; the Serra de Tramuntana and the Serres de Llevant. The Serres de Llevant also contain marl ,

5454-414: The desire for adventure, an interest in exploring a different world and society than the one they knew, but also those who came to the island for therapeutic reasons. Among this last group was the composer Frédéric Chopin . Works published by travelers, learned people, artists and geographers increasingly promoted Mallorca as a preferred destination. In 1962, Calvià had four butcher shops, three bakeries,

5555-422: The dwarf goat-antelope Myotragus balearicus , the giant dormouse Hypnomys morpheus , and the shrew Nesiotites hidalgo , all three of which had been continuously present on Mallorca for over 5 million years. The island's prehistoric settlements are called talaiots or talayots . The people of the islands raised Bronze Age megaliths as part of their Talaiotic culture . A non-exhaustive list of settlements

5656-460: The extermination or expulsion of the greater part of the prior local populace, there were not enough laborers to cultivate the land. In 1230 a set of privileges called the Franquezas de Mallorca were granted in order to attract new settlers to cultivate the countryside. Most of these new settlers of Mallorca came from Catalonia, more specifically the northeast and, within the east, from Ampurdán . As

5757-500: The family was large, and they gave permission to eat meat during Lent , and many people who didn't have the money to buy meat ate herbs, and they told me that some people had gone more than a fortnight eating only boiled herbs, and the poor people and workers were so thin that they couldn't work for lack of food. The economic system rooted in latifundia underlay the Caciquism that made moot the theoretically democratic Spanish constitutions

5858-412: The hills of Puig Batiat and Penya Blanca . The peninsula on which the municipality is located is marked by the presence of wetlands to the east and west, at Magaluf, Palmanova and Santa Ponça, that lead to a narrowing similar to an isthmus to the north. The urban area has expanded around its coastline, converting into several villages on the main beaches. The coast extends from Cape Andritxol, until

5959-523: The island completely by 12 September. Those events became known as the Battle of Majorca . Since the 1950s, the advent of mass tourism has transformed the island into a destination for foreign visitors and attracted many service workers from mainland Spain. The boom in tourism caused Palma to grow significantly. In the 21st century, urban redevelopment, under the so‑called Pla Mirall (English "Mirror Plan"), attracted groups of immigrant workers from outside

6060-424: The island was increasingly attacked by Muslim raiders from North Africa. Recurrent invasions led the islanders to ask Charlemagne for help. In 902, Issam al-Khawlani ( Arabic : عصام الخولاني ) conquered the Balearic Islands , and they became part of the Emirate of Córdoba . The town of Palma was reshaped and expanded, and became known as Medina Mayurqa. Later on, with the Caliphate of Córdoba at its height,

6161-423: The island, laying siege to Palma for eight months. After the city fell, the invaders retreated due to problems in their own lands. They were replaced by the Almoravides from North Africa, who ruled until 1176. The Almoravides were replaced by the Almohad dynasty until 1229. Abu Yahya was the last Moorish leader of Mallorca. In the ensuing confusion and unrest, King James I of Aragon , also known as James

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6262-399: The land. This was, in turn, divided into four parts, three of which were granted to the rector of the parish and the fourth to the parish priest or vicar . James II of Majorca reigned over the islands for more than two decades and made great efforts to guarantee the viability of his kingdom. He undertook a broad policy of agrarian colonization, with the creation of rural nuclei; increased

6363-441: The largest number of tourists in the islands. Its population is scattered around the different urban centers created as a result of tourism development and twentieth century urbanization. The historical epic that marked the most important local culture and traditions regarding the rest of Mallorca is the landing in Santa Ponça on 10 September 1229 of King James I of Aragon , and the subsequent conquering of Muslims who had invaded in

6464-552: The long coast, people turned their backs to the sea, deriving their living from the dry and none-too-fertile land. Agriculture was based on latifundia —large estates—from the 14th century into the 20th. Most of the land was owned by a small number of nobles. In 1863, continuing a longstanding pattern 66.3% of the land was owned by four proprietors. At a slightly earlier date, Pedro Caro, 3rd Marquis of la Romana owned 2,516 hectares (6,220 acres), including all of Bendinat , Peguera , as well as an additional 990 hectares (2,400 acres) in

6565-431: The maritime zones, where they were seen as liable to escape or to collaborate with pirates. In the 18th century a severe drought and bad cereal harvest led to a long period of famine . On 28 November 1715, Philip V of Spain abolished the fueros and privileges of the Balearics, as the Nueva Planta decrees extended the administrative organization of the Kingdom of Castile , prohibited the Catalan language, and required

6666-447: The more rapid erosion of which has resulted in the lower elevations of the island's southeastern mountains. Marl is limestone with a high proportion of clay minerals . The eroded material was washed into the sea or deposited in the interior of the island of the Pla de Mallorca, bright marls in the north-east of the island and ferrous clays in the middle of Mallorca, which gives the soil its characteristic reddish colour. Mallorca features

6767-419: The municipality began development in 1920, built on failed agricultural land sold well below its potential value. By 1960, changes in ownership had been so fundamental as to facilitate immediate development. Three quarters of the coast was rapidly developed, including all of the most desirable areas. Through their real estate affiliates, some of the last large landowners, such as Miguel Nigorra Oliver, president of

6868-431: The municipality of Andratx . The Marquis of Bellpuig owned 4,376 hectares (10,810 acres) in Santa Ponça, the largest latifundium in Mallorca at the beginning of the 19th century. On the other hand, there was a small group of peasants known as els roters , to whom the nobility had ceded land near the sea. These roters cultivated cereals, and lived in miserable conditions. In the 16th century, Calvià itself largely escaped

6969-425: The name of the Roman settlement of " Pollentia ", the excavated remains of which lie several kilometers away, at the modern municipality of Alcúdia. Throughout its history, Pollença was a site of significant military confrontations, due to its prominent geographical position. From resisting the Christian conquest and the expedition of King James I of Aragon , to becoming the last stand of King James III of Majorca ,

7070-444: The nearby Majorca Museum. The capital of Mallorca, Palma, was founded as a Roman camp called Palmaria upon the remains of a Talaiotic settlement. The turbulent history of the city had it subject to several Vandal sackings during the fall of the Western Roman Empire . It was later reconquered by the Byzantines , established by the Moors (who called it Medina Mayurqa), and finally occupied by James I of Aragon . In 1983, Palma became

7171-425: The northwestern and eastern parts of the island respectively. The highest peak in Mallorca is Puig Major , at 1,445 m (4,741 ft), in the Serra de Tramuntana. As this is a military zone, the neighbouring peak at Puig de Massanella is the highest accessible peak at 1,364 m (4,475 ft). The northeast coast comprises two bays: the Badia de Pollença and the larger Badia d'Alcúdia. The northern coast

7272-618: The outskirts of the village of Vial and runs to the Cala (cove) de Santa Ponsa; it receives the water of hundreds of smaller ravines, among which are the Barranco des Cobaix and the Barranco des Pas de la Mula. Among the longest is the Torrente de Galatzó, running 23 kilometres (14 mi) and draining a basin of 72 square kilometres (28 sq mi). It begins on the west slope of the Puig de Galatzó and reaches

7373-595: The plains, and winters are mild, getting colder and wetter in the Tramuntana range, where brief episodes of snow during the winter are not unusual, especially in the Puig Major . The two wettest months in Mallorca are October and November. Storms and heavy rain are not uncommon during the autumn. Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands are geologically an extension of the fold mountains of the Betic Cordillera of Andalusia . They consist primarily of sediments deposited in

7474-480: The power to administer the villa , which fell within the purview of the jurados de prohombre , (a medieval office that was essentially a district overseer). In the Middle Ages, various watchtowers were built to defend against Mediterranean piracy. To sustain the parish and its clerics, the king and the tenured landowners of the jurisdiction ceded one fourth of the diezmos paid to them by those who cultivated

7575-648: The rights accrued to the Bishopric, which held them until 1834 when the Spanish Church lost many of its feudal properties. The conquerors came, in various proportions from a variety of places. Thus, and according to the Llibre del Repartiment ("Book of Distribution"), the conquered lands were distributed among people from Catalonia (39.71%), Occitania (24.26%), Italy (16.19%), Aragon (7.35%), Navarra (5.88%), France (4.42%), Castile (1.47%) and Flanders (0.73%). Owing to

7676-600: The royal revenue; favored the creation of consulates in North Africa and in the kingdom of Granada ; created a new monetary system for the kingdom; promoted the creation of textile industries; increased royal power relative to that of the nobility and Church; and promoted the construction of palaces and castles such as the Royal Palace of La Almudaina , the La Seu Cathedral in Palma, and the Bellver Castle . The opening of

7777-457: The sea at the Bay of Santa Ponsa ( Santa Ponça ). More than 49% of Calvià's 14,552 hectares (35,960 acres) consists of woods and garrigues (low, soft-leaved scrubland ), with pines as the dominant trees, although there has been some deforestation in recent decades. Cultivable land amounts to about 32% of the municipality; the main crops are almonds , carob ( Ceratonia siliqua ), olives and, to

7878-582: The seabirds Cory's shearwater ( Calonectris diomedea ), various cormorants ( Phalacrocorax ), the common swift ( Apus apus ), and the Manx shearwater ( Puffinus puffinus ) as well as numerous reptiles, such as the endemic Lilford's wall lizard ( Podarcis lilfordi ) found on several of the islets of the archipelago. The islets are also home to one of Spain's few colonies of Hermann's tortoise ( Testudo hermanni ; other colonies are in Murcia and Almería ). Although

7979-529: The second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. In Restoration Spain the power of the dominant classes remained intact. Both major political parties of the time, the Conservative Party led by Canovas del Castillo and the Liberal Party led by Sagasta relied on a system where day laborers and smallholders beholden to the caciques and voted accordingly, producing an orderly alternation of

8080-1385: The second highest population in the Balearic Islands, second only to the capital, Palma de Mallorca . In 2017 the population was 49,063, including 14,822 foreigners (non-Spanish) registered with the town hall. The total population reached above 50,000 in 2008 but in 2015 began decreasing; in 2016 it had 49,580 people, including 15,623 registered foreigners. Analysis of the population pyramid shows that: Majorca [REDACTED]   Carthage 4th century BC– 201 BC [REDACTED]   Roman Republic 123 BC–27 BC [REDACTED]   Roman Empire 27 BC–455 Vandal Kingdom 455–534 Byzantine Empire 534–628 Umayyad state of Córdoba 903–1015 Taifa of Dénia 1015–1076 Taifa of Majorca 1076–1115 Almoravid Dynasty 1115–1158 Taifa of Majorca 1158–1203 [REDACTED] Almohad Dynasty 1203–1229 [REDACTED]   Crown of Aragon 1229–1276 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Mallorca 1276–1343 [REDACTED]   Crown of Aragon 1343–1715 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Spain 1715–1808 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Spain 1813–1931 [REDACTED]   Second Spanish Republic 1931–1936 [REDACTED]   Spanish State 1936–1975/1982 [REDACTED]   Spain 1982–present [REDACTED] [REDACTED]   Balearic Islands 1983–present Mallorca , or Majorca ,

8181-528: The southern and western coasts; the Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Mallorca (in the municipality of Palma), while Dragonara is administratively included in the municipality of Andratx. Other notable areas include the Alfabia Mountains , Es Cornadors and Cap de Formentor . The Cap de Formentor is one of the places where the tourists can enjoy the pleasure of its beach which

8282-498: The square; this leads up to a chapel on top of the hill known as Calvary. On Good Friday this is the setting for the most dramatic parade of the year. First, on the road winding up the back of the hill, there is a reenactment of the Stations of the Cross . This is followed by a mock crucifixion on top of the hill after which the figure of Christ is ceremonially removed from the Cross. There is

8383-429: The tourism business has become the main source of revenue for the island. The island's popularity as a tourist destination has steadily grown since the 1950s, with many artists and academics choosing to visit and live on the island. The number of visitors to Mallorca continued to increase with holiday makers in the 1970s approaching 3 million a year. In 2010 over 6 million visitors came to Mallorca. In 2013, Mallorca

8484-497: The trials of the Knights Templar and the later suppression of the order allowed the Crown to take over their revenues in the islands. The health system consisted mainly of physicians of Jewish origins, so-called Xuetas , descendants of Mallorcan Jews who had converted to Christianity , but continued to form a largely endogamous community. The nearest hospital to Calvià was in Sant Elm , founded in 1303 by Jaime II. Fundamentally it

8585-580: The two parties in power, the turno pacífico . In the late 19th century, hunger and poverty sparked emigration to the Americas , especially to Cuba and Argentina , as well as to France and Algeria . Calvià at that time lacked industrial establishments, except for the manufacturing of cement and plaster . The latifundia system was largely an impoverished agrarian autarky . In 1923 the Federació Obrera Calvianera ("Federation of Calvian Workers")

8686-443: The use of Castilian Spanish in the islands. In 1748 the wretchedness of the municipality had become so severe that chronicler Pere Xamena Fiol described it as follows: Wheat became so expensive that one paid 25 Sous per barchilla (unit to measure cereals, approximately 13.75 litres or 14.53 US quarts), and fortunate was he who could find some. Hunger reached the point where each house got no more than two doblers of bread, even if

8787-476: The vegetation on the cliffs is sparse, it merits special interest as a habitat for endemic plant species such as the perennial herb Hippocrepis balearica , and Dianthus alpinus , whose Spanish-language names variously designate it as the "cliff carnation ", "forest carnation" or "Mediterranean carnation". The cliff also provides a habitat for birds, especially raptors such as Eleonora's falcon ( Falco eleonorae ) and osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ) as well as

8888-516: The water supply, but the current Balearic Hydrological Plan intends to reduce this to 4,100,000 cubic metres (5,400,000 cu yd). Because of the torrential rains in October and November, Mallorca has many ravines , narrow channels that bring the rainwater to the sea. Among these are the Torrente (ravine) des Gorg, which rises in Es Capdellà and enters the sea at Peguera. The Torrente Vial, rises on

8989-525: The wettest is December with an average of 81.1 L / m. The area is sheltered from the Nordic Tramuntana wind by mountains that are over a thousand feet high. The thermal variation of the water has a range of around 15 °C. During the winter, it drops down to about 13 °C. In the late spring, warming occurs, raising the temperature one degree each week. During the summer, a 25 cm deep water layer reaches temperatures above 25 °C.(something of

9090-473: The word Caluus , meaning "burn" or "be hot", testament to the arid land that contains no vegetation. The official name is Calvià (with a grave accent), but in Castilian , Calviá (with an acute accent) is used. Officially, the adjective to refer to inhabitants of Calvià is calvianenc or calvianenca . However, more widespread use in both Catalan and in its Castilian translation is calvianer / calvianera . This

9191-480: The works of Baltasar Porcel take place in Mallorca. Agatha Christie visited the island in the early 20th century and stayed in Palma and Port de Pollença. She would later write the book Problem at Pollensa Bay and Other Stories , a collection of short stories, of which the first one takes place in Port de Pollença , starring Parker Pyne . Pollen%C3%A7a The origin of the name "Pollença" can be traced back to

9292-417: The world's only remaining insular cinereous vultures (black vulture, Aegypius monachus ). Also worthy of mention, if only for gastronomical reasons, are two species of snail , Cornu aspersum and Helix pomatia . Among the fungi , the autumn rains bring out the reproductive structures of the mushrooms . Of particular note is Lactarius sangifluus , known locally as esclata-sang . This Lactarius

9393-412: The year 903. Since 1248, Calvià has had its own parochial church, Sante Ihoannes Caviano. Despite the popularity and use of the official shield locally, the municipality has no flag. The origin of the place name is subject to conjecture but is believed to be from the patronymic Latin calvianum , derived from the personal name of Calvius . According to the philologist Antoni Maria Alcover , it comes from

9494-538: Was a pioneer of tourism in the Balearic Islands. He first arrived on the island in 1867, travelling under his title "Count of Neuendorf". He later settled in Mallorca, buying up wild areas of land in order to preserve and enjoy them. Nowadays, a number of hiking routes are named after him. Ludwig Salvator loved the island of Mallorca. He became fluent in Catalan, carried out research into the island's flora and fauna, history, and culture to produce his main work, Die Balearen ,

9595-442: Was dedicated to merchants and sailors of the ships that were heading from Palma to Barcelona . They also used it as a refuge in bad weather. From the 13th century to the mid-20th century, the region was almost entirely agricultural. The first area to be cultivated was along the banks of the Bay of Santa Ponça; at the time, the area was referred to as the terme de Santa Ponça ; the expression terme de Calvià came far later. Despite

9696-582: Was founded as a member of the socialist Unión General de Trabajadores , followed by the Unió Agrària de Calvià (Calvian Agrarian Union) and La Fraternal . On 30 September 1923, Spain's socialist party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party , inaugurated a Casa del pueblo (a cultural and service center), which represented an investment of half a million Spanish pesetas . The labor movement and socialism played an important part in politics during

9797-574: Was granted to Berenguer de Palou , Bishop of Barcelona, becoming part of the Barony of the Bishops of Barcelona. There were many tensions among the conquering nobles who were granted various feudal rights; these were resolved through a pariatge or condominium under which feudal rights were shared. Therefore, the surroundings of the municipality are also known as the comarca of the Pariatge . Ultimately, though,

9898-638: Was subjected to an amphibious landing, on 16 August 1936, aimed at driving the Nationalists from Mallorca and reclaiming the island for the Republic . Although the Republicans heavily outnumbered their opponents and managed to push 12 km (7.5 mi) inland, superior Nationalist air power, provided mainly by Fascist Italy as part of the Italian occupation of Majorca , forced the Republicans to retreat and to leave

9999-571: Was then hypercorrected to Mallorca by central Catalan scribes, which later came to be accepted as the standard spelling. The Balearic Islands were first colonised by humans during the 3rd millennium BC , around 2500–2300 BC from the Iberian Peninsula or southern France, by people associated with the Bell Beaker culture . The arrival of humans resulted in the rapid extinction of the three species of terrestrial mammals native to Mallorca,

10100-539: Was used to make ceramics , the horse-shoe shaped Naveta Alemany and the Turó de Ses Abelles . In 425, the area was invaded by the Vandals , who ended up settling. Lack of remains or written record means little is known about this area other than the decline that began with the destruction of Pollença . The Byzantine general Flavius Belisarius ordered the conquest of the archipelago in 534, bringing an end to this era. The first Muslim arrivals were in 707. They quickly ended

10201-421: Was visited by nearly 9.5 million tourists, and the Balearic Islands as a whole reached 13 million tourists. In 2017, ten million tourists visited the island. The rapid growth of the tourism industry has led to some locals protesting the effects of mass tourism on the island. Mallorca has been jokingly referred to as the 17th Federal State of Germany, due to the high number of German tourists. Due to

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