Page 42 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

40  INTRODUCING THE BALEARIC ISLANDS THE HIST OR Y OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS  41

was declared the official Ibiza declared themselves Initially, the most important factor driving
language, and many inhab- for the Republicans. In the local economy was tourism. Where the
itants of the Balearics decided retaliation, Italian hippies led, others followed. In 1966 Mallorca
to emigrate. During the 19th planes bombed received one million tourists. By 2012, this
century the islands acquired Ibiza. Menorca was number had grown to more than nine
scheduled links with Barcelona the last stronghold million and the islands, so poor until
and Valencia and the situation of the Republicans. fairly recently, now boast perhaps the
began to improve. In 1838, Following a peace highest income per capita in the whole
Chopin visited Mallorca and in deal, negotiated with of Spain. This economic achievement
1867 Archduke Ludwig Salvator the help of the British, has come at a price. Large numbers of
Junipero Serra setting up a mission in California (see p72) settled here. At the 450 refugees left foreigners, mainly German and British,
same time, the development Menorca aboard HMS have settled here, pushing up the cost
Under British and French Rule of agriculture, particularly almond-growing Devonshire, and the of real estate, while the construction of
During the 17th century, Menorca became in Mallorca, and footwear production in island was left a number of poor-quality resorts has
the subject of Anglo-French rivalry. In Menorca, led to a rise in the standard of under the control left a blot on the islands’ otherwise idyllic
1708 the British occupied Maó’s harbour, living. Catalan culture was also becoming of Franco. landscape. Factors such as these gave rise
and subsequently the whole of Menorca. popular and Modernista buildings, inclu- Formentera, to a growing environ mental movement
In 1756, the island was captured by the ding designs by Antoni Gaudí, began to Monument at Monte Toro for those killed which had and the introduction of an “eco-tax” (see
French, although they soon returned it appear in Palma and other town centres. in Morocco in 1925 backed the p23), designed to sustain the islands’
to the British, in 1763. The government Republicans, tourism. The tax was scrapped in 2003,
of the island changed hands several more Franco’s Dictatorship became the site of a concentration camp but there are moves to re-impose it.
times until, finally, in 1802, Menorca was During the Spanish Civil War (1936–9), which established by the Fascists, where some The islanders appreciate their good
handed over to Spain. The town of Sant originated in Morocco, the Balearic Islands 1,400 people were imprisoned. Throughout fortune, but they want the islands to
Lluís, founded by the French, stands as were divided. Mallorca became an important the entire 40 years of Franco’s dictatorship, be a high-end destination, with strong
a reminder of French rule. base for the Fascists, while Menorca and the Catalan language and culture were environmental controls.
The British colonial legacy on Menorca suppressed, as elsewhere on the mainland.
includes the building of the garrison town
of Georgetown (now known as Es Castell) Modern Times
and major improvements to the roads. After Franco’s death in 1975, a process
The choice of Maó as Menorca’s capital of decentralization began. In 1983, the
is thanks to the British governor, Richard inhabitants of the islands succeeded in
Kane. Reminders of Georgian architecture, creating the Comunidad Autónoma de
including the sash windows in Hannover las Islas Baleares, and the islands became
Street in Maó, can still be seen today. an autonomous region. This led to the
introduction of Catalan in schools and
The 19th Century offices and greater control of the local
The 19th century proved very difficult for economy. Most of the money earned
the islands. The inhabitants were plagued by the islands now remains here and
by periods of famine and epidemics, Spanish The Modernista exterior of La Caixa Grand Hotel in Palma, Mallorca is reinvested locally. Beach near the marina of Port de Sóller, Mallorca

1756 Menorca Archduke Ludwig 1926 Argentinian poet 2007 Attempts to limit helter-skelter 2015 Podemos,
1713 Junipero Serra born in the conquered by Salvator Adan Diehl opens the
1652 Islands devastated small town of Petra, in Mallorca the French Hotel Formentor tourist development gather strength an anti-corruption
by horrific plague 1975 Death of General party, makes gains
Francisco Franco in regional elections
1600 1660 1720 17801780 1840 1900 1960 2020
1708 Menorca conquered
Baroque stone 1802 Menorca 1802 Menorca 1867 Mallorca visited by 1936–1939 Spanish Civil War 1983 Creation of Tourists in a hotel bar
tablet from 1672 by the British passes into the passes into the Habsburg Archduke the Autonomous
hands of the Spanishhands of the Spanish Ludwig Salvator, Community
1763 British regain Menorca subsequent promoter 1950 The first charter plane, from of the Balearic
of the island Germany, lands in Mallorca Islands

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