Page 43 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

THE HIST OR Y OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS  41

Ibiza declared themselves Initially, the most important factor driving
for the Republicans. In the local economy was tourism. Where the
retaliation, Italian hippies led, others followed. In 1966 Mallorca
planes bombed received one million tourists. By 2012, this
Ibiza. Menorca was number had grown to more than nine
the last stronghold million and the islands, so poor until
of the Republicans. fairly recently, now boast perhaps the
Following a peace highest income per capita in the whole
deal, negotiated with of Spain. This economic achievement
the help of the British, has come at a price. Large numbers of
450 refugees left foreigners, mainly German and British,
Menorca aboard HMS have settled here, pushing up the cost
Devonshire, and the of real estate, while the construction of
island was left a number of poor-quality resorts has
under the control left a blot on the islands’ otherwise idyllic
of Franco. landscape. Factors such as these gave rise
Formentera, to a growing environ mental movement
which had and the introduction of an “eco-tax” (see
Monument at Monte Toro for those killed
in Morocco in 1925 backed the p23), designed to sustain the islands’
Republicans, tourism. The tax was scrapped in 2003,
became the site of a concentration camp but there are moves to re-impose it.
established by the Fascists, where some The islanders appreciate their good
1,400 people were imprisoned. Throughout fortune, but they want the islands to
the entire 40 years of Franco’s dictatorship, be a high-end destination, with strong
the Catalan language and culture were environmental controls.
suppressed, as elsewhere on the mainland.
Modern Times
After Franco’s death in 1975, a process
of decentralization began. In 1983, the
inhabitants of the islands succeeded in
creating the Comunidad Autónoma de
las Islas Baleares, and the islands became
an autonomous region. This led to the
introduction of Catalan in schools and
offices and greater control of the local
economy. Most of the money earned
by the islands now remains here and
is reinvested locally. Beach near the marina of Port de Sóller, Mallorca

Archduke Ludwig 1926 Argentinian poet 2007 Attempts to limit helter-skelter 2015 Podemos,
Salvator Adan Diehl opens the tourist development gather strength an anti-corruption
Hotel Formentor party, makes gains
1975 Death of General
Francisco Franco in regional elections
1780 1840 1900 1960 2020

1802 Menorca 1867 Mallorca visited by 1936–1939 Spanish Civil War 1983 Creation of Tourists in a hotel bar
passes into the Habsburg Archduke the Autonomous
hands of the Spanish Ludwig Salvator, Community
subsequent promoter 1950 The first charter plane, from of the Balearic
of the island Germany, lands in Mallorca Islands

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