Page 64 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

62  THE BALEARIC ISLANDS AREA B Y AREA M ALL ORC A  63

Beaches Around Palma

Some of the best beaches on Mallorca are located within a short distance of the
capital, Palma, and these are readily reached by bus. East of the city are the longer,
sandier beaches that culminate in the golden strand at S’Arenal, famous for the beautiful
bodies that sun themselves here. To the west are the smaller beaches – sometimes sand,
sometimes pebble and sometimes a mixture. These beaches are very pretty, especially
those in rocky, forested coves, with Ses Illetes being arguably the pick of the bunch.

Rough waters of the Badia de Palma 6 S’Arenal
@ a 0 - = 7
2 Badia de Palma 3 Cala Major carefully guarded holiday S’Arenal, at the eastern end of Platja de
residence of the Spanish royal Palma, is the most popular resort along
n Carretera Andrax 33, Illetes.
The Bay of Palma is bounded by family. Cala Major’s main street this part of the coast. Its main attraction,
Cap de Cala Figuera to the west This resort area west of Palma is is lined with Modernista villas, apart from the beach, is Aqualand El Arenal
and Cap Enderrocat to the east. known for its Fundació Pilar i which remain from the days fun park, with its pools and rides.
During the tourist boom, in the Joan Miró. Miró lived and when this was a smart resort,
1960s–1970s, the bay became worked on the island for 40 visited by the rich and powerful. 0 km 3
surrounded by miles of high-rise years. After his death in 1983, The Nixe Palace Hotel is a 1 Palmanova 3
hotels and hemmed in by the artist’s wife converted the throwback to those days. @ 0 - = 7 0 miles
hundreds of restaurants, bars, house and former studio into A good base for family holidays.
nightclubs and shops. Today, an art centre. This edifice, nick- E Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró Nearby buildings are hidden Pont d’Inca
the eastern part of this beautiful named the “Alabaster Fortress”, C/ Joan de Saridakis 29. Tel 971 701 among dense greenery, and
bay is popular with German is the work of Rafael Moneo, 420. Open 10am–7pm Tue–Sat the Serra de Tramuntana
visitors, while the British tend a leading Spanish architect. (to 6pm in winter); 10am–3pm hills can be Son Ferriol
to congregate to the west. The new building houses a Sun. & (free from 3pm on Sat). seen in the
Platja de Palma, stretching permanent exhibition of Miró’s distance.
from S’Arenal to C’an Pastilla, paintings, drawings and Environs
is one of the best beaches on sculptures, as well as a Some 8 km (5 miles)
the islands if you can ignore the library, auditorium and west of Palma stands
sprawl fringing the shore. The shop where you can buy the 13th-century Costa d’en
western side is more varied, items decorated with the Castell de Bendinat. Blanes
featuring pine-clad hills, artist’s colourful designs. Remodelled in the 18th Sant Francesc
sloping down to the water’s The Foundation owns century, the castle is sur-
edge. The beaches are smaller some 140 paintings, rounded by pine woods 3 Cala Major
here, situated in picturesque 300 graphics, 35 and its imposing walls and @ 0 - 7
coves. Along the coast are the sculptures and over towers are decorated with This small bay is lined with 4 Palma
popular resorts of Bendinat, 1,500 drawings by Miró. a Baroque frieze. Today, the houses and hotels. The @ a 0 - = 7
Portals Nous, Palma Nova Standing nearby is the castle houses a confer- golden beach is hardly Inhabitants of the capital head to
and Magaluf. Marivent Palace, a A sculpture by Miró ence centre and is not secluded, but it is one of C’an Pere Antoni beach or to other
open to the public. the nicest in this area. beaches along the Badia de Palma.
Five kilometres (3 miles)
Joan Miró (1893–1983) 5 Platja de Palma
northwest of Palma are the
@ a 0 - = 7
One of the best-known artists Coves de Genova. Discovered At the height of the holiday season, this 5-km-
of the 20th century, Miró was a in 1906, the caves have some (3-mile-) long beach becomes exceptionally
Catalan through and through. fine formations of stalactites crowded. Behind the row of cafés and bars next
Initially influenced by Fauvism, and stalagmites. to the beach are hotels, apartments and clubs.
and later by Dadaism and Palmanova is famous for its
Surrealism, he developed his picturesque, though crowded,
own style, marked by lyricism beaches and lively nightlife.
and lively colouring. After Nearby Magaluf is a busy resort
arriving in Mallorca he with a variety of high-rise hotels
became interested in and numerous restaurants and
graphics, cer amics and English-style pubs where you 2 Ses Illetes Key
sculpture, scoring significant @ 0 - Motorway/highway
successes in every art form. can order a full English breakfast This small beach,
His works can be seen in his or fish and chips. barely 120 m (390 ft) Major road
studio on the outskirts of long, is off the beaten Scenic route
Palma, where he lived and } Coves de Genova track. Despite that, and Other road
worked from 1956. He died Joan Miró, one of modern art’s most Carrer de Barranc 45. Tel 971 402 387. the lack of facilities, it
in Palma in 1983. influential figures Open 11am–1:30pm & 4–6pm remains popular.
Tue–Sun (timings vary in winter). &
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp148–50 and pp155–9 For keys to symbols see back flap

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