Flights from Podgorica to Palma de Mallorca: A Royal Retreat Hidden in the Mediterranean

A ROYAL RETREAT HIDDEN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

TRAVEL TO PALMA DE MALLORCA

The Balearic Islands have always drawn people in… Once it was the Romans, the Pisans, the Saracens…, and today it is millions of tourists who come to enjoy the gorgeous Balearic islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza

TRAVEL TO PALMA DE MALLORCA

Palma de Mallorca is a hugely popular summer destination, welcoming several million visitors from all over the world every year. The draw is its stunning beaches with fine white sand, countless restaurants, plus clubs and discos that promise a wild night out… Mallorca boasts 550 kilometers of coastline with more than 80 well-kept beaches. But you can also visit Mallorca outside the summer season, as the island has plenty of charms that have nothing to do with beaches and swimming. Of course, in spring or fall prices are lower and the climate is very pleasant, perfect for walking and exploring the island…

The turbulent history of the Balearics was shaped by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Pisans and later the Moors. It is no coincidence that so many fought over this archipelago. Take a look at a map and you will see that the islands sit in an ideal spot in the western Mediterranean, on the route to Africa… The Maritime Republic of Pisa held them and guarded them jealously until its glory and power were eclipsed by mightier Florence, and the Pisans had to cede the Balearics to the Arabs, who stayed until the 13th century. From 1229, Mallorca became a kingdom of Catalan nobles and James I of Aragon. The people of Mallorca honored him with numerous monuments, probably grateful that he was the one who began building “modern” Palma de Mallorca… Perhaps the best testament to the island’s beauty is that the Spanish royal family built a villa here and happily spends time here to escape Madrid’s unbearable summer heat…

But the Spanish would not be Spanish if they were not so passionate and proud of their roots, as the “quarrels” over Catalan and Basque autonomy show… So these islanders, otherwise mild-mannered and hospitable, keep changing the name of their city. Palma de Mallorca has lost its “de Mallorca” tail several times, leaving just the bare name La Palma. Now, some argue this is a bad idea, since there is also La Palma in the Canary Islands, and that is when Spanish temperament and stubbornness kick in. After all, surely no other Palma is going to outshine their beauty, and surely no careless tourist could doubt which Palma is the real one! So the city is currently called just Palma, but you will never see that in travel brochures, and by the time you arrive it may be called Palma de Mallorca once again!

The Old Town, built in the Arab era, has a distinctly Eastern layout with narrow streets that will at first remind you of a labyrinth. But wherever you “get lost,” you won’t regret it, and when you get tired, pick one of some 2,000 little restaurants and relax with a glass of wine and maybe some delicious seafood. You won’t be sorry! As you wander, you are sure to stumble upon Plaza Mayor, the main square and the hub of city life. Heading toward Plaza España, your route will take you along the Paseo del Born, a pedestrian boulevard that is lively at any hour of the day or night. If you happen to be on this avenue around noon, you might be lucky enough to hear the city band brightening visitors’ day…

Make Bellver Castle a must on your itinerary; it was built by James II in the Gothic style in the 14th century. The castle and the cathedral are the two sights you simply cannot miss!

If you decide to explore Mallorca beyond its capital, the Caves of Drach are a top recommendation, the largest underground cave system in Europe. This natural wonder is actually made up of four connected caves, and inside them lies Lake Martel, the largest underground lake in the world, more than a kilometer long! Don’t miss idyllic Valldemossa either, a lovely village famous for its Carthusian monastery, where the world-famous lovers Frédéric Chopin and Baroness Dudevant, better known by her pen name George Sand, once stayed. The couple spent three months here in 1838, and every August Mallorca hosts a festival in honor of the famous composer. Round off your trip with a visit to the Roman town of Alcúdia, which still proudly boasts the ruins of an amphitheater that has survived for almost twenty centuries!

FLIGHTS PODGORICA – PALMA DE MALLORCA

Podgorica – Palma de Mallorca flights are cheapest in October, November and March. Podgorica – Palma de Mallorca tickets start at 200 euros. You can book Podgorica – Palma de Mallorca flights with Lufthansa, Swiss Air, Austrian Airlines…, with the best connections via Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Zurich and Vienna. Palma de Mallorca Airport (code PMI) is the third-largest in Spain. It is located 8 km from the city, and you can get into town by local bus or taxi.

Enjoy the magic of the Balearics!