History of Palma de Mallorca
The birth of the territory that makes up Palma de Mallorca dates back to a Talayotic settlement that was later invaded and conquered by Roman troops in 123 BC. The Romans invaded the island aboard ships wrapped in leather. They founded four cities, including Palma.
Initially, the urban perimeter was delimited by its marine limits, maintaining the Roman grid and with a fortified wall that kept the barbarians at bay until, finally, the Muslims conquered the city.
The Middle Ages, reconquest and growth
After the fall of the city in 903 under the command of Isam Al-Jaulani, the city flourished rapidly thanks to its portentous constructions, which included public baths and palaces receiving the name of Madina Mayurga.
Palma's Muslim splendour continued for the next 200 years, until the Christian troops of King James I of Aragon reconquered it on December 31, 1229 and expanded its urban limits.
Its enviable geographical location allowed it to generate a flourishing trade with the Maghrebis and Italians of the so-called Grand Turk, turning Palma de Mallorca into a wealthy and coveted place. This wealth generated the multiplication of buildings, palaces and temples of enormous patrimonial value that helped to consolidate the fame of the city.
Its enviable geographical location allowed it to generate a flourishing trade with the Maghrebis and Italians of the so-called Grand Turk, turning Palma de Mallorca into a wealthy and coveted place. This wealth generated the multiplication of buildings, palaces and temples of enormous patrimonial value that helped to consolidate the fame of the city.
The era of bandits
Its enormous wealth and dominion made it a target for North African and Turkish pirates and corsairs who carried out constant attacks, forcing the city to be fortified and considerably reducing the flow of merchandise through its trade routes. This caused an era of decadence that lasted well into the 17th century.This situation became anarchic until bandit bands arose, the most important being the Canavall and the Canamut, who fought among themselves for control of the island, generating the era of bandits throughout that century.
Finally, by the 17th century, anarchy and chaos were controlled with the arrival of Castilian troops. In 1715, the city's Roman name was abandoned and it was renamed Palma de Mallorca.
When Charles III freed trade with the American colonies, Palma recovered some of its former brilliance and splendour.
The golden age of tourism
After the French troops took over Algeria at the beginning of the 19th century, the danger of pirates and corsairs was ended by expanding commercial and maritime lines and turning the island into an attractive and thriving place.Thanks to this new renaissance, in 1838 the first of many steamboat routes from Barcelona was inaugurated. This made Palma one of the first tourist sites to become popular in Europe. That fame was consolidated in 1845 with the publication of the first guide to Palma, thus beginning the golden age of tourism.
The boom in wealth increased the population exponentially. At the beginning of the 20th century, the old defensive walls collapsed and a profound plan for the urban and health reorganization of the city was undertaken. It positioned itself as a dream destination for tourists, artists, academics and geographers.
The 20th century and consolidation
Despite consolidating itself as one of the most important tourist destinations in Europe thanks to a network of spectacular hotels, the island did not escape the deep political instability that engulfed Spain and Europe. It was an important part of the Spanish Civil War that began in 1936, supporting the Franco side.
Although the island was not the scene of the bloody and terrible fighting in Barcelona or Madrid, Palma de Mallorca suffered several bombardments at the beginning of the conflict.
After the war ended, the island quickly resumed its economic momentum, which reached its peak during the 1960s. Tourism became a true socioeconomic engine and the island received, for the first time, more than one million tourists in a year. This forever changed the urban physiognomy of Palma de Mallorca.
After the war ended, the island quickly resumed its economic momentum, which reached its peak during the 1960s. Tourism became a true socioeconomic engine and the island received, for the first time, more than one million tourists in a year. This forever changed the urban physiognomy of Palma de Mallorca.
A bright future and great challenges
With the arrival of the new millennium, Palma de Mallorca carried out a series of ambitious large-scale projects at the urban level, creating new residential complexes and tourist areas and completely restoring the historic quarter.In addition to these major works, museums, galleries, parks and new communication routes were founded, including the Metro, one of the most modern in Europe.
The 21st century has made Palma de Mallorca one of the most important tourist destinations in the world, reaching over 10 million tourists in some years.
