View source for Palma de Mallorca

{{Short description|City in the Balearic Islands, Spain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Palma
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = <!-- if different from name -->
| settlement_type    = [[Capital city]] and [[Municipalities of Spain|municipality]]
| image_skyline      = {{Multiple image
  | perrow = 1/2/2
  | border = infobox
  | total_width = 280 
  | caption_align = center
| image1   = Palma von Castell de Bellver.jpg{{!}}Palma from Bellver Castle
| caption1 = View from Bellver Castle
| image2   = Kathedrale von Palma.jpg{{!}}Cathedral
| caption2 = [[Palma Cathedral|Cathedral]]
| image3   = 035 2015 06 02 Castell de Bellver.jpg{{!}}Bellver Castle
| caption3 = [[Bellver Castle]]
| image4   = Palma de Mallorca - panoramio (1).jpg{{!}}Railway of Sóller
| caption4 = [[Ferrocarril de Sóller|Railway of Sóller]]
| image5   = Rathaus Palma de Mallorca abends (Zuschnitt).jpg{{!}}Palma City Hall
| caption5 = Palma City Hall
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Mallorca.svg
| image_shield       = Coat of Arms of Palma de Mallorca.svg
| nickname           = ''Ciutat de Mallorca'' (commonly shortened to ''Ciutat'')
| motto              = 
| image_map          = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=285|frame-height=180|frame-align=center|frame-coordinates={{Coord|39.5|N|3.7|W}}|zoom=4|type=point|title=Palma |marker=city|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|text=Interactive map of Palma .}}
| map_caption        = Location of Palma
| pushpin_map        = Spain Mallorca#Spain Balearic Islands#Spain
| pushpin_label_position = none
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|34|N|2|39|E|region:ES_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Spain
| subdivision_type1  = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous community]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Islands of Spain|Island]]
| subdivision_type4  = [[Comarcas of Spain|Comarca]]
| subdivision_type5  = [[Judicial districts of Spain|Judicial district]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Balearic Islands]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Balearic Islands]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Mallorca]]
| subdivision_name4  = Palma
| subdivision_name5  = Palma
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 124 BC
| seat_type          = Administrative HQ
| seat               = Palma City Hall
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Municipal corporation]]
| governing_body     = Ajuntament de Palma
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = [[Jaime Martínez Llabrés]]
| leader_party       = [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]]
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 208.63
| elevation_m        = 13
| elevation_min_m    = 
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_footnotes = <ref name="population">{{cite web |url=https://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/en/index.htm?padre=10607&capsel=11555|title=Annual population census 2021-2024|publisher=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]]}}</ref>
| population_total   = 438234
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 550,000<ref name="demographia2017"/>
| population_rank    = [[Ranked lists of Spanish municipalities#By population|8th in Spain]]
| population_demonym = ''palmesà'',&nbsp;''-ana''&nbsp;([[Catalan language|ca]])<br>''palmesano'',&nbsp;''-na''&nbsp;([[Spanish language|es]])
| population_note    = 
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/met_10r_3gdp/default/table?lang=en|title=Gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices by metropolitan regions|last=|first=|date=|website=ec.europa.eu|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Metro
| demographics2_info1 = €21.456 billion (2020)
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Spain|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 070XX
| area_code          = 971
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Dialing code]]
| website            = [http://www.palma.es/ www.palma.es]
| elevation_max_m    = 
| timezone           = [[Central European Time]]
| utc_offset         = +1
| timezone_DST       = [[Central European Summer Time]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +2
| module             = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Palma''' ({{IPA|ca|ˈpalmə|lang}}, {{IPA|ca-ES-IB|ˈpawmə|also}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dcvb.iec.cat/results.asp?word=Palma|title=Palma|publisher=Diccionari català-valencià-balear (DCVB)|language=ca}}</ref> {{IPA|es|ˈpalma|lang}}), also known as '''Palma de Mallorca''' (officially between 1983 and 1988, 2006–2008, and 2012–2016),<ref>Since December 2016 the city is officially "Palma", {{cite web |url=http://www.caib.es/eboibfront/ca/2016/10587/588528/llei-15-2016-de-2-de-desembre-de-modificacio-de-la |title=Llei 15/2016, de 2 de desembre, de modificació de la Llei 23/2006, de 20 de desembre, de capitalitat de Palma de Mallorca |language=ca |trans-title=Law 15/2016, of 2 December, of modification of Law 23/2006 of 20 December, capital of Palma de Mallorca |publisher=Govern de les Illes Balears |access-date=18 January 2018 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308233154/http://www.caib.es/eboibfront/ca/2016/10587/588528/llei-15-2016-de-2-de-desembre-de-modificacio-de-la |url-status=dead }}</ref> is the capital and largest city of the [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous community]] of the [[Balearic Islands]] in [[Spain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bibiloni.net/textos/13.html |language=ca |title=Palma de Mallorca? |publisher=Bibiloni.net |access-date=10 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723024757/http://www.bibiloni.net/textos/13.html |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is situated on the south coast of [[Mallorca]] on the [[Bay of Palma]]. With a population of 438,234 as of 2024, it is the [[Ranked lists of Spanish municipalities#By population|8th-largest city in Spain]].

The [[Cabrera Archipelago]], though widely separated from Palma proper, is part of the municipality.

== History ==
{{see also|Timeline of Palma de Mallorca}}
{{More citations needed|section|date=June 2018}}
Palma was founded as a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] camp upon the remains of a [[Talaiot]]ic settlement. The city was subjected to several [[Vandal]] raids during the [[fall of the Western Roman Empire]], then reconquered by the [[Byzantine Empire]], then colonised by the [[Moors]] (who called it '''''Medina Mayurqa''''') and, in the 13th century, by [[James I of Aragon]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hackel |first=Steven W. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Junipero_Serra/5csMGaP36FQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Palma+de+Mallorca+Medina+Mayurqa&pg=PA4&printsec=frontcover |title=Junipero Serra: California's Founding Father |date=2013-09-03 |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |isbn=978-0-374-71109-2}}</ref>

=== Roman period ===
After the conquest of Mallorca, the city was loosely incorporated into the province of [[Hispania Tarraconensis|Tarraconensis]] by 123 BC; the Romans founded two new cities: ''Palma'' on the south of the island, and ''[[Pollentia (Mallorca)|Pollentia]]'' in the northeast – on the site of a [[Phoenicia]]n settlement. Whilst Pollentia acted as a port to Roman cities on the northwestern [[Mediterranean|Mediterranean Sea]], Palma was the port used for destinations in Africa, such as [[Carthage]], and [[Hispania]], such as [[Saguntum]], [[Cádiz|Gades]] and [[Carthago Nova]]. Though present-day Palma has no significant remains from this period, occasional archaeological finds are made in city centre excavations.  For example, the remains of the Roman Wall can be seen at Can Bordils, the Municipal Archive, and below it, at the Maimó ben Faraig Center.<ref>{{cite web |title=Municipal Archive of Palma |url=https://www.palma.cat/portal/PALMA/contenedor1.jsp?seccion=s_floc_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=1057&tipo=1&nivel=1400&language=es |website=Municipality of Palma |access-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190329045826/https://www.palma.cat/portal/PALMA/contenedor1.jsp?seccion=s_floc_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=1057&tipo=1&nivel=1400&language=es |archive-date=29 March 2019 |language=ES |quote=Restos de la muralla romana se muestran descubiertos en la fachada lateral de Can Bordils |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Byzantine period ===
Though the period between the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]] and the [[Islamic conquest of Spain|Muslim conquest]] is not well understood (due to lack of documents), there is clear evidence of a [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] presence in the city, as indicated by mosaics found in the oldest parts of the cathedral, which was in early medieval times part of a paleo-Christian temple.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

=== Muslim period ===
Between 902 and 1229, the city was under [[Islamic]] control. It remained the capital of the island and it was known as '''''Medina Mayurqa''''', which in Arabic means "City of Majorca".

==== Under the Emirate of Córdoba ====
{{unreferencedsect|date=December 2023}}
The arrival of the [[Moors]] in the Balearic Islands occurred at the beginning of the 8th century. During this period, the population developed an economy based on self-sufficiency and [[piracy]] and even showed evidence of a relative hierarchy. The dominant groups took advantage of the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] withdrawal due to Islamic expansion across the Mediterranean, to reinforce their domination upon the rest of the population, thus ensuring their power and the gradual abandonment of Imperial [[political structure]]s.

In 708, a Muslim fleet, under the command of Abd Allah ibn Musa, son of the governor of [[Ifriqiya]], [[Musa ibn Nusayr]], stopped off at the island. It appears that Abd Allah convinced the powers of the city to accept a peace treaty. This treaty was granted in exchange for a tax, respect for the social, economic, and political structures of the communities that subscribed to it, as well as the continuity of their religious beliefs.

After 707, the city was inhabited by Christians who were nominally in allegiance to the sovereignty of the [[Umayyad Caliphate]], yet who, ''de facto'', enjoyed absolute autonomy. The city, being in Mallorca, constituted an enclave between western Christian and Islamic territories, and this attracted and encouraged increased levels of piracy in the surrounding waters. For wide sectors of the city's population, the sacking of ships (whether Muslim or Christian) which passed through Balearic waters was a source of riches over the next fifteen decades. Eventually, continued piracy in the region led to a retaliation by [[Al-Andalus]] which launched a naval fleet against the city and the whole of the Islands. The Islands were defended by the emperor [[Charlemagne]] in 799 from a Muslim pirate incursion.

In 848 (maybe 849), four years after the first [[Viking]] incursions had sacked the whole island, an attack from [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]] forced the authorities to ratify the treaty to which the city had submitted in 707. As the city still occupied an eccentric position regarding the commerce network established by the Moors in the western Mediterranean, the enclave was not immediately incorporated into Al-Andalus.

While the [[Emirate of Córdoba]] reinforced its influence upon the Mediterranean, Al-Andalus increased its interest in the city. The consequence of this was the substitution of the submission treaty for the effective incorporation of the [[Balearic Islands|islands]] to the Islamic state. A squad under the command of [[Isam al-Jawlani]] took advantage of the instability caused by several Viking incursions and disembarked in Mallorca, and after destroying any resistance, incorporated Mallorca, with Palma as its capital, to the Córdoban state.

The incorporation of the city into the Emirate set the basis for a new society. Commerce and manufacturing developed in a previously unknown manner. This caused considerable demographic growth, thereby establishing Medina Mayurqa as one of the major ports for trading goods in and out of the Emirate of Córdoba.

==== Dénia—Balearic taifa (1015–1087) ====
{{unreferencedsect|date=December 2023}}

The [[Umayyad]] regime, despite its administrative centralisation, mercenary army and struggle to gain wider social support, could neither harmonise the various ethnic groups inside al-Andalus nor dissolve the old tribes which still organised sporadic ethnic fighting. During the 11th century, the Caliphate's control waned considerably. Provinces broke free from the central Cordoban administration and became effectively sovereign states — ''[[taifa]]s'' — under the same governors that had been named by the last Umayyad Caliphs. According to their origin, these "taifas" can be grouped under three broad categories: people of [[Arabs|Arab]], [[Berbers|Berber]] or [[Saqaliba|Slavic]] origin.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Strangers_in_the_Land_Traveling_Texts_Im/wZ4LEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=taifas+Arab+Berber+or+Slavic+origin&pg=PA131&printsec=frontcover |title=Strangers in the Land: Traveling Texts, Imagined Others, and Captured Souls in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Traditions in Late Antique and Mediaeval Times |date=2024-06-03 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-69331-9}}</ref>

Palma was part of the [[taifa of Dénia]]. The founder of this state was a client of the [[Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir|Al-Mansur]] family, [[Muyahid ibn Yusuf ibn Ali]], who could profit from the progressive crumbling of the Caliphate's superstructure to gain control over the province of [[Dénia]]. Subsequently, Muyahid organised a campaign throughout the [[Balearic Islands]] to consolidate the district and incorporated it into their "taifa" in early 1015.

During the following years, Palma became the main port from where attacks on Christian vessels and coasts could be launched. Palma was the base from where a campaign against [[Sardinia]] was launched between 1016 and 1017, which caused the [[republic of Pisa|Pisans]] and [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] forces to intervene. Later, this intervention set the basis for Italian [[mercantile]] penetration of the city.

The Denian dominion lasted until 1087, a period during which the city and the rest of the islands were relatively peaceful. Their supremacy at sea was still not rivaled by the [[Italian maritime republics|Italian merchant republics]], thus there were few external threats.

==== Balearic Taifa (1087–1115) and Western Mediterranean ====
{{unreferencedsect|date=December 2023}}
The [[Banu Hud]] conquest of Dénia and its incorporation to the Eastern District of the [[taifa of Zaragoza]] meant the destruction of the legacy of Muyahid. The islands were freed from mainland dominion and briefly enjoyed independence, during which Medina Mayurqa was the capital.

The economy during this period depended on both agriculture and piracy. In the latter 11th century, Christian commercial powers took the initiative at sea against the [[Muslims]]. After centuries of fighting defensively in the face of Islamic pressure, Italians, [[Catalan people|Catalans]] and [[Occitans]] took offensive action. Consequently, the benefits of piracy diminished causing severe economic stress to the city.

The clearest proof of the new ruling relation of forces, from 1090, is the [[Crusade]] organised by the most important mercantile cities of the Christian states against the Islands. This effort was destined to finally eradicate Muslim piracy mainly based in Palma and surrounding havens. In 1115, Palma was sacked and later abandoned by an expedition commanded by [[Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona|Ramon Berenguer III the Great]], [[count of Barcelona]] and [[Count of Provence|Provence]], which was composed of Catalans, Pisans, and other Italians, and soldiers from Provence, [[Corsica]], and Sardinia, in a struggle to end [[Almoravid dynasty|Almoravid]] control.

After this, the Islands became part of the [[Almoravid dynasty]]. The inglobement{{typo help inline|reason=similar to englobement|date=November 2019}} of all the taifa to a larger state helped to re-establish a balance along the frontier that separated western Christian states from the Muslim world.

==== Period of the Banu Ganiya (1157–1203) ====
{{unreferencedsect|date=December 2023}}
The situation changed in the mid-12th century when the Almoravids were displaced from al-Andalus and western [[Maghreb]] by the [[Almohad]]. Almoravid dominions, from 1157 on, were restricted to the [[Balearic Islands]], with Palma again acting as the capital, governed by [[Muhammad ibn Ganiya]]. The massive arrival of al-Andalus refugees contributed to reinforcing the positions of the last Almoravid legitimatists, the Banu Ganiya, who, conscious of their weakness in the Western Mediterranean context, started to get closer to the growing powers represented by [[Italian maritime republics]]. [[history of Genoa|Genoa]] and [[history of Pisa|Pisans]] obtained in this period their first commercial concessions in the city and the rest of the islands.

The Banu Ganiya, taking advantage of the great loss suffered by [[Abu Yuqub Yusuf]] in the [[Siege of Santarém (1184)|Siege of Santarém]], attacked [[Ifriqiya]], where the Almohad dominion had not been consolidated yet, in the same year. However, this attack was repelled and the Almohad authorities encouraged anti-Almoravid revolts in the Islands. The city was captured by the Almohads in 1203.

=== Aragonese conquest and late Middle Ages ===
[[File:Croada-Mayurqa-1229.jpg|thumb|Conquest of Madina Mayurqa]]

On 31 December 1229, after three months of siege, the city was [[Conquest of Majorca|conquered]] by [[James I of Aragon]] and was renamed Ciutat de Mallorca (Mallorca City). In addition to being kept as the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca, it was given a municipality that comprised the whole island. The governing arm was the University of the City and Kingdom of Majorca.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

After the death of James I of Aragon, Palma became the joint capital of the [[Kingdom of Majorca]], together with [[Perpignan]]. His son, [[James II of Majorca]], championed the construction of statues and monuments in the city: [[Bellver Castle]], the churches of St. Francesc and St. Domingo, reformed the [[Palace of Almudaina]] and began the construction of the [[Palma Cathedral|Cathedral of Majorca]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ring |first=Trudy |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Southern_Europe/fYH7AQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=began+construction+Cathedral+Majorca&pg=PA525&printsec=frontcover |title=Southern Europe: International Dictionary of Historic Places |last2=Watson |first2=Noelle |last3=Schellinger |first3=Paul |date=2013-11-05 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-25965-6}}</ref>

The city's advantageous geographical location allowed it extensive commerce with [[Catalonia]], [[Valencia (autonomous community)|Valencia]], [[Provence]], the [[Maghreb]], the Italian republics, and the dominions of the [[Ottoman Empire]], which heralded a golden age for the city, ending with Aragonese conquest in 1344.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Travel |first=D. K. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/DK_Eyewitness_Travel_Guide_Mallorca_Meno/F8RIDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Palma+%22golden+age%22+for+the+city&pg=PA39&printsec=frontcover |title=DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza |date=2018-04-17 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-4654-7781-1}}</ref>
In 1391, anti-Jewish riots broke out. The Jewish community of Inca was completely wiped out, as were those of Sóller, Sineu, and Alcudia. Despite the governor's prohibition on leaving the island, many Jews fled to North Africa. The remaining Jews were forced to convert under the threat of death.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0013_0_13064.html |title=Majorca |website=Jewish Virtual Library}}</ref>

[[Abraham Cresques]] was a 14th-century [[Jews|Jewish]] [[Cartography|cartographer]] of the [[Majorcan cartographic school]] from Palma; Cresques is credited with the authorship of the famous [[Catalan Atlas]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bagrow |first=Leo |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_Cartography/aFYPEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Cresques+Catalan+Atlas&pg=PA66&printsec=frontcover |title=History of Cartography |date=2017-07-12 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-51559-7}}</ref>

The river that cut through the city gave rise to two distinct areas within the city; the "Upper town" and "Lower town", depending upon which side of the river one was situated.<ref>{{Cite book |last=D'Este |first=Margaret |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/With_a_Camera_in_Majorca/OL9CAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Palma+Mallorca+Lower+town+Upper+town+river&pg=PA8-IA3&printsec=frontcover |title=With a Camera in Majorca |date=1907 |publisher=G. P. Putnam's Sons}}</ref>

At the beginning of the 16th century, the Rebellion of the Brotherhoods (a peasant uprising against [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]]'s administration) and the frequent attack of [[Ottoman Empire|Turkish]] and [[Berber people|Berber]] pirates caused a reduction of commercial activities and a huge investment in defensive structures. As a consequence, the city entered a period of decadence that would last till the end of the 17th century. [[Catalina Tomas]], a [[canoness]] and [[Mysticism|mystic]] who became later one of the [[Patron saint|patron saints]] of Mallorca, lived in the [[convent]] of St [[Mary Magdalene]] of Palma between 1550 and 1572.<ref name="RealAcademia">{{cite web |last1=Yuste |first1=Belén |last2=Rivas-Caballero |first2=Sonnia L. |title=Santa Catalina Tomás |url=https://dbe.rah.es/biografias/85613/santa-catalina-tomas |publisher=Real Academia de la Historia |access-date=3 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="Canonesas">{{cite web |title=Santa Catalina Tomás |url=http://www.canonesaspalma.org/catalina.php |website=Canónica de Santa Mª Magdalena |publisher=Canonesas de Santa Mª Magdalena |access-date=3 November 2023}}</ref>

=== 17th to 19th centuries ===
[[File:Plano de Mallorca Antonio Garau.jpg|thumb|17th-century map of Mallorca by Antoni Guerau]]
The 17th century was characterised by the division of the city into two sides or gangs, named ''Canamunts'' and ''Canavalls'' (from Majorcan Catalan "the ones from the upper/lower side"), with severe social and economic repercussions. During this period, the port became a haven for pirates. During the last quarter of the century, the [[Inquisition]] continued its persecution of the city's Jews, locally called ''[[xuetes]]''. [[Xuetes]] practiced strict [[endogamy]] by marrying only within their own group. Many of their descendants observe a [[Syncretism|syncretist]] form of Christian worship known as [[Xueta Christianity]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Those of the Street - The Catholic-Jews of Mallorca: a Study in Urban Cultural Change |first=Kenneth |last=Moore |year=1976 |isbn=9780674037830 |page=46|publisher=Michigan University Press}}</ref>

The fall of Barcelona in 1714 meant the end of the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] and the defeat and destruction of the [[Crown of Aragon]], and this was reflected in the [[Nueva Planta decrees]], issued by [[Philip V of Spain]] in 1715.{{cn|date=November 2024}} These occupation decrees changed the government of the island and separated it from the municipality's government of Palma, which became the official city name.{{cn|date=November 2024}} By the end of the 19th century, the name ''Palma de Mallorca'' was generalised in written Spanish, although it is still colloquially named ''Ciutat'' ("city") in Catalan. In the 18th century, [[Charles III of Spain]] removed interdiction of commerce with [[Spanish Empire|Spanish colonies in America]] and the port and commercial activity of the city grew once again.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
At the beginning of the 19th century, Palma became a refuge for many who had exiled themselves from the [[Napoleonic occupation of Catalonia]] and [[Valencian Community|Valencia]]; during this period freedom flourished, until the absolutist restoration.{{cn|date=November 2024}} With the establishment of the contemporary Spanish state administrative organization, Palma became the capital of the new [[Balearic Islands]] province in the [[1833 territorial division of Spain]]. The French occupation of [[Algeria]] in the 19th century ended the fear of Maghrebi attacks in Majorca, which favoured the expansion of new maritime routes, and consequently, the economic growth of the city.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

=== Modern period ===
[[File:Llotja de Palma - 1910.jpg|thumb|The Llotja circa 1910]]

Since the advent of mass tourism in the 1950s, the city has been transformed into a tourist destination and has attracted many workers from mainland Spain. This has contributed to a huge change in the city's traditions, its language, and its economic power.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McNeely |first=Jeffrey A. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Culture_and_Conservation/-eghREYx1RgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Mallorca++change+traditions+mass+tourism&pg=PA96&printsec=frontcover |title=Culture and Conservation: The Human Dimension in Environmental Planning |last2=Pitt |first2=David C. |date=1985 |publisher=IUCN |isbn=978-0-7099-3533-9}}</ref>

The boom in tourism has caused Palma to grow significantly. In 1960, Mallorca received 500,000 visitors, in 1997 it received more than 6,739,700. In 2001 more than 19,200,000 people passed through ''[[Son Sant Joan airport]]'' near Palma, with an additional 1.5 million coming by sea. In 2023, the total number of passengers arriving at ''Son Sant Joan airport'' amounted to 31,105,987.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mallorcaglobalmag.es/en/total-number-passengers-palma-airport-2023/|title=This was the total number of passengers at Palma airport in 2023|website=Mallorca Revista de Información General|access-date=9 December 2024}}</ref>

In the 21st century, urban redevelopment, by the so-called ''Pla Mirall'' (English "Mirror Plan"), had attracted groups of immigrant workers from outside the [[European Union]], especially from Africa and South America.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

Tourism provides 80% of the island's GNP.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Buswell |first=R. J. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Mallorca_and_Tourism/m38TvRYi2HcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Palma+80%25+tourism&pg=PR14&printsec=frontcover |title=Mallorca and Tourism: History, Economy and Environment |date=2011-06-23 |publisher=Channel View Publications |isbn=978-1-84541-213-5 |language=nl}}</ref> Tourism has affected the rapid economic growth of Palma, placing the island of Mallorca among the wealthier regions in Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2023/09/03/116641/mallorca-millionaires-one-spain-wealthiest-regions-loads-money.html/|title=The superrich in the Balearics, one of Spain's three wealthiest regions|website=Majorca Daily Bulletin|access-date=9 December 2024}}</ref>

The second economic portal of Palma is agriculture. The main exports of Palma's agriculture are almonds, oranges, lemons, and olives. The island is also gifted with a wide variety of natural resources, such as mines of copper, lead, and marble.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.majorca.com/v/economy/|title=Majorca Economy - Information on Business and Investment in Majorca|website=majorca.com|access-date=14 November 2016}}</ref>

The city also has several surrounding neighborhood communities including [[Establiments]], Nord, Son Espanyol, Ces Cases Noves, and Sa Creu Vermella.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Establiments,+Palma,+Balearic+Islands,+Spain/@39.611051,2.6266783,9z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x1297f2b06ce771ab:0x3f152ff8adcb0172?hl=en-us|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref>

In 1953, the Riu family—Juan Riu and María Bertrán Espigulé, together with their son [[Luis Riu Bertrán]] —acquired the small Hotel San Francisco at Playa de Palma, a property that later became emblematic of the island’s beach tourism. <ref>{{cite news |last=Álvarez |first=Raquel |title=RIU: la empresa familiar mallorquina que se erigió en un emporio hotelero |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2018-10-02/riu-empresa-familiar-hoteles-emporio-bra_1623606/ |work=El Confidencial |date=2 October 2018 |language=es}}</ref> During a 1954 trip to Germany, Luis Riu reached a booking arrangement with tour operator Dr. Tigges (a forerunner of today’s TUI), which began sending organised groups of German holidaymakers to the hotel and helped to pioneer early package travel to Mallorca. <ref>{{cite news |title=Per Wellblechmaschine nach Palma |url=https://www.abendblatt.de/reise/article106673888/Per-Wellblechmaschine-nach-Palma.html |work=Hamburger Abendblatt |date=12 April 2003 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The story behind the RIU chain |url=https://www.riu.com/blog/en/explore-with-us-the-history-of-the-riu-chain/ |website=RIU Blog |date=13 August 2019 |language=en |publisher=RIU Hotels & Resorts}}</ref> At the time, flights for these early packages used Palma’s Son Bonet airfield, which served as the island’s main civil airport until traffic moved to Son Sant Joan in 1959. <ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.aena.es/en/history.html |website=Son Bonet Airport |publisher=AENA |language=en}}</ref> In the early 1960s, German charter carriers—among them LTU, founded in 1955—expanded seasonal services from Düsseldorf and other cities to Mallorca, contributing to the consolidation of mass tourism in the Balearic Islands. <ref>{{cite web |title=LTU Group Holding GmbH |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/ltu-group-holding-gmbh |website=Encyclopedia.com |publisher=Gale |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Reisen – Ab in den Süden |url=https://www.focus.de/reisen/service/ab-in-den-sueden-reisen_id_1498875.html |work=Focus |date=8 February 2009 |language=de}}</ref>

In October 2021, Palma was shortlisted for the [[European Commission]]'s 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism award along with [[Bordeaux]], [[Copenhagen]], [[Dublin]], [[Florence]], [[Ljubljana]] and [[Valencia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism - Competition winners 2022|url=https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/cities/competition-winners-2022_en |website=European Commission|date=2 October 2021 |access-date=8 November 2022 }}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:ISS Palma de Mallorca.jpg|thumb|left|Palma pictured from the [[International Space Station]]]]

Palma is a major city and seaport located in the southwest of Mallorca, a western Mediterranean island belonging to the [[Balearic Islands]] archipelago. The land area of the city is about {{convert|21.355|km²|3|abbr=out}} with an altitude of {{convert|13|m|0|abbr=off}} [[above mean sea level|above sea level]].

The city center of Palma is located north of the homonymous bay (''Badia de Palma'' in the local Catalan language). The area that extends eastwards is mostly a flat fertile plain known as Es Pla. To the north and west, the city borders the [[Serra de Tramuntana]], the island's major mountain range, and a Unesco World Heritage site.

=== Climate ===
Palma has a [[semi-arid climate|hot semi-arid climate]] bordering on a [[Mediterranean_climate#Hot-summer_Mediterranean_climate|hot-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''BSh'' bordering on ''Csa''; [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''BSal'' bordering on ''Csal'') with an average annual temperature of {{convert|18.5|C|F|0}}. During the coldest month, January, the average high temperature is {{convert|15.7|C|F|0}}, while the average low is {{convert|8.5|C|F|0}}. In the warmest month, August, the average high temperature is {{convert|30.2|C|F|0}}, while the low is {{convert|23.0|C|F|0}}. Autumn is the wettest season, with occasional heavy rainfall and storms. The average sunshine hours are around 2800 per year.<ref name="aemet.es"/> There is a significant maritime influence, so the city has mild winters and hot but not extreme summers. The surrounding continental landmasses can warm up the offshore sea surface temperatures and as a result, the small confines of Mallorca are still able to build up and sustain heat despite being on an island. There is vast [[seasonal lag]], especially in late summer courtesy of the seawater peaking in temperatures long after the summer solstice. Extreme temperatures are rare for the influence of the sea. Freezes are extremely rare, as the port of Mallorca has only registered once a low temperature below freezing ({{convert|-0.1|C|F|0}} in February 2012), as well as Mallorca, has never gone above {{convert|40|C|F|0}} in any summer month since temperature records began in 1978.<ref name="Valores extremos. Palma, Puerto">{{cite web |title=Valores extremos. Palma, Puerto |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos*?w=0&k=bal&l=B228&datos=det&x=B228&m=13&v=todos |publisher=[[AEMET]] |access-date=5 January 2022}}</ref> The average temperature of the sea in Mallorca is {{convert|19.5|C|F|0}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seatemperature.org/europe/spain/palma.htm|title=Palma Water Temperature - Spain - Sea Temperatures|first=Copyright Global Sea Temperatures - A-Connect|last=Ltd|website=World Sea Temperatures}}</ref> and the beach weather normally lasts about 6–7 months, from late April to early November.

{{Weather box
|location = Palma de Mallorca ([[Port of Palma|Puerto de Palma]])<br>[[Location identifier#WMO station identifiers|WMO ID]]: 08301; Climate ID: B228; coordinates {{coordinates|39|33|19|N|02|37|31|W}}; elevation: {{cvt|3|m}}; 1991–2020 provisional normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1978–present<ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/4a2f221b
|title = Weather station data
|website = opendata.aemet.es
|publisher = AEMET OpenData 
|language = es 
|access-date = 13 November 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241113115453/https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/4a2f221b
|archive-date = 2024-11-13}}</ref>
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 24.2
|Feb record high C = 24.4
|Mar record high C = 27.3
|Apr record high C = 28.9
|May record high C = 32.0
|Jun record high C = 36.5
|Jul record high C = 38.0
|Aug record high C = 39.1
|Sep record high C = 35.5
|Oct record high C = 31.2
|Nov record high C = 27.6
|Dec record high C = 26.0
|year record high C = 39.1
|Jan avg record high C = 19.7
|Feb avg record high C = 20.2
|Mar avg record high C = 22.6
|Apr avg record high C = 24.7
|May avg record high C = 28.1
|Jun avg record high C = 32.5
|Jul avg record high C = 34.3
|Aug avg record high C = 34.3
|Sep avg record high C = 31.4
|Oct avg record high C = 28.1
|Nov avg record high C = 23.9
|Dec avg record high C = 21.0
|year avg record high C = 35.4
|Jan high C = 15.7
|Feb high C = 15.7
|Mar high C = 17.6
|Apr high C = 19.7
|May high C = 23.0
|Jun high C = 27.0
|Jul high C = 29.7
|Aug high C = 30.2
|Sep high C = 27.4
|Oct high C = 24.0
|Nov high C = 19.5
|Dec high C = 16.8
|year high C = 22.2
|Jan mean C = 12.1
|Feb mean C = 12.0
|Mar mean C = 13.8
|Apr mean C = 16.0
|May mean C = 19.2
|Jun mean C = 23.2
|Jul mean C = 26.0
|Aug mean C = 26.6
|Sep mean C = 23.8
|Oct mean C = 20.4
|Nov mean C = 16.0
|Dec mean C = 13.4
|year mean C = 18.5
|Jan low C = 8.5
|Feb low C = 8.4
|Mar low C = 9.9
|Apr low C = 12.2
|May low C = 15.5
|Jun low C = 19.4
|Jul low C = 22.4
|Aug low C = 23.0
|Sep low C = 20.1
|Oct low C = 16.8
|Nov low C = 12.4
|Dec low C = 9.9
|year low C = 14.9
|Jan avg record low C = 4.5
|Feb avg record low C = 4.4
|Mar avg record low C = 6.2
|Apr avg record low C = 8.1
|May avg record low C = 11.7
|Jun avg record low C = 15.5
|Jul avg record low C = 19.2
|Aug avg record low C = 19.7
|Sep avg record low C = 15.9
|Oct avg record low C = 12.3
|Nov avg record low C = 7.9
|Dec avg record low C = 5.4
|year avg record low C = 3.3
|Jan record low C = 0.0
|Feb record low C = -0.1
|Mar record low C = 1.6
|Apr record low C = 4.4
|May record low C = 8.0
|Jun record low C = 11.0
|Jul record low C = 15.8
|Aug record low C = 15.8
|Sep record low C = 10.0
|Oct record low C = 8.4
|Nov record low C = 3.8
|Dec record low C = 2.5
|year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 44.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 36.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 29.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 37.5
|May precipitation mm = 31.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 13.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 5.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 21.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 60.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 72.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 67.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 49.3
|year precipitation mm = 470.1
|unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.2
|Feb precipitation days = 5.9
|Mar precipitation days = 4.6
|Apr precipitation days = 4.7
|May precipitation days = 3.1
|Jun precipitation days = 1.9
|Jul precipitation days = 0.6
|Aug precipitation days = 1.8
|Sep precipitation days = 5.3
|Oct precipitation days = 6.3
|Nov precipitation days = 7.2
|Dec precipitation days = 5.9
|year precipitation days = 53.6
|Jan snow days = 0.2
|Feb snow days = 0.3
|Mar snow days = 0
|Apr snow days = 0
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0
|Dec snow days = 0
|year snow days = 0.5
|Jan humidity = 74
|Feb humidity = 73
|Mar humidity = 71
|Apr humidity = 69
|May humidity = 70
|Jun humidity = 68
|Jul humidity = 69
|Aug humidity = 70
|Sep humidity = 72
|Oct humidity = 75
|Nov humidity = 74
|Dec humidity = 75
|year humidity = 72
|Jan sun = 167
|Feb sun = 172
|Mar sun = 217
|Apr sun = 249
|May sun = 298
|Jun sun = 327
|Jul sun = 353
|Aug sun = 319
|Sep sun = 234
|Oct sun = 208
|Nov sun = 162
|Dec sun = 152
|year sun = 
|Jan percentsun = 55
|Feb percentsun = 57
|Mar percentsun = 58
|Apr percentsun = 62
|May percentsun = 66
|Jun percentsun = 73
|Jul percentsun = 78
|Aug percentsun = 75
|Sep percentsun = 63
|Oct percentsun = 60
|Nov percentsun = 54
|Dec percentsun = 52
|year percentsun = 63
|source 1 = [[State Meteorological Agency]]/AEMET OpenData<ref name="Valores extremos. Palma, Puerto"/><ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/a5e3e909
|title = Extremes
|website = opendata.aemet.es
|publisher = AEMET OpenData 
|language = es 
|access-date = 17 December 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241217223338/https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/a5e3e909
|archive-date = 2024-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url =  https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/5ecfc340
|title = Normal
|website = opendata.aemet.es
|publisher = AEMET OpenData 
|language = es 
|access-date = 17 December 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241217223247/https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/5ecfc340
|archive-date = 2024-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.aemet.es/es/datos_abiertos/AEMET_OpenData 
|title = AEMET OpeenData 
|publisher = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia]] 
|access-date = 2024-11-13}}</ref><!--
|source 2 = [[NOAA]]/[[NCEI]]<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Spain/CSV/CADIZOBS_8452.csv
|title = Cadiz OBS Climate Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = [[NOAA]]
|language = en-us
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240329103401/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Spain/CSV/CADIZOBS_8452.csv
|archive-date = 29 March 2024}}</ref>-->}}

{{Weather box
|location = Palma de Mallorca, 1981-2010 normals
|collapsed = yes
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 15.4
|Feb high C = 15.5
|Mar high C = 17.2
|Apr high C = 19.2
|May high C = 22.5
|Jun high C = 26.5
|Jul high C = 29.4
|Aug high C = 29.8
|Sep high C = 27.1
|Oct high C = 23.7
|Nov high C = 19.3
|Dec high C = 16.5
|year high C = 21.8
|Jan mean C = 11.9
|Feb mean C = 11.9
|Mar mean C = 13.4
|Apr mean C = 15.5
|May mean C = 18.8
|Jun mean C = 22.7
|Jul mean C = 25.7
|Aug mean C = 26.2
|Sep mean C = 23.5
|Oct mean C = 20.2
|Nov mean C = 15.8
|Dec mean C = 13.1
|year mean C = 18.2
|Jan low C = 8.3
|Feb low C = 8.4
|Mar low C = 9.6
|Apr low C = 11.7
|May low C = 15.1
|Jun low C = 18.9
|Jul low C = 21.9
|Aug low C = 22.5
|Sep low C = 19.9
|Oct low C = 16.6
|Nov low C = 12.3
|Dec low C = 9.7
|year low C = 14.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 42
|Feb precipitation mm = 37
|Mar precipitation mm = 28
|Apr precipitation mm = 39
|May precipitation mm = 36
|Jun precipitation mm = 11
|Jul precipitation mm = 6
|Aug precipitation mm = 22
|Sep precipitation mm = 52
|Oct precipitation mm = 69
|Nov precipitation mm = 59
|Dec precipitation mm = 48
|year precipitation mm = 449
|Jan humidity = 73
|Feb humidity = 72
|Mar humidity = 70
|Apr humidity = 68
|May humidity = 69
|Jun humidity = 69
|Jul humidity = 68
|Aug humidity = 70
|Sep humidity = 72
|Oct humidity = 74
|Nov humidity = 74
|Dec humidity = 74
|year humidity = 71
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 5.8
|Feb precipitation days = 5.6
|Mar precipitation days = 4.5
|Apr precipitation days = 5.1
|May precipitation days = 3.6
|Jun precipitation days = 1.7
|Jul precipitation days = 0.7
|Aug precipitation days = 1.9
|Sep precipitation days = 4.7
|Oct precipitation days = 6.7
|Nov precipitation days = 6.4
|Dec precipitation days = 6.5
|year precipitation days = 53.1
|Jan snow days = 0.3
|Feb snow days = 0.1
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.0
|year snow days = 0.4
|Jan sun = 167
|Feb sun = 170
|Mar sun = 205
|Apr sun = 237
|May sun = 284
|Jun sun = 315
|Jul sun = 346
|Aug sun = 316
|Sep sun = 226
|Oct sun = 205
|Nov sun = 161
|Dec sun = 151
|year sun = 2779
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref name="aemet.es">{{cite web
|url = https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=B228&k=072
|title = Valores climatológicos normales. Valladolid
|publisher = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
|language = es
|access-date = 17 December 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241217230515/https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=B228&k=072
|archive-date = 2024-12-17
}}</ref>}}

{|style="width:100%;text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Colspan=14|Climate data for Palma
|-
!Month
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
!style="border-left-width:medium"|Year
|-
!Average sea temperature °C (°F)
|style="background:#D8D8FF;color:#000000;"|14.4<br />(57.9)
|style="background:#D0D0FF;color:#000000;"|13.9<br />(57.0)
|style="background:#D3D3FF;color:#000000;"|14.1<br />(57.4)
|style="background:#EEEEFF;color:#000000;"|15.9<br />(60.7)
|style="background:#FFD95D;color:#000000;"|18.9<br />(66.1)
|style="background:#FF9300;color:#000000;"|22.5<br />(72.5)
|style="background:#FF6400;color:#000000;"|24.9<br />(76.7)
|style="background:#FF4E00;color:#000000;"|26.0<br />(78.8)
|style="background:#FF6200;color:#000000;"|25.0<br />(77.1)
|style="background:#FF8F00;color:#000000;"|22.7<br />(72.9)
|style="background:#FFCA19;color:#000000;"|19.7<br />(67.4)
|style="background:#F4F4FF;color:#000000;"|16.3<br />(61.4)
|style="background:#FFCD28;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|19.5<br />(67.2)
|-
!Mean daily daylight hours
|style="background:#F0F011;color:#000000;"|10.0
|style="background:#F7F722;color:#000000;"|11.0
|style="background:#FFFF33;color:#000000;"|12.0
|style="background:#FFFF44;color:#000000;"|13.0
|style="background:#FFFF55;color:#000000;"|14.0
|style="background:#FFFF66;color:#000000;"|15.0
|style="background:#FFFF66;color:#000000;"|15.0
|style="background:#FFFF55;color:#000000;"|14.0
|style="background:#FFFF33;color:#000000;"|12.0
|style="background:#F7F722;color:#000000;"|11.0
|style="background:#F0F011;color:#000000;"|10.0
|style="background:#E9E900;color:#000000;"|9.0
|style="background:#FFFF35;color:#000000;"|12.2
|-
!Average [[Ultraviolet index]]
|style="background:#289500;color:#000000;"|2
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|3
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|5
|style="background:#f85900;color:#000000;"|6
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|8
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|9
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|9
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|8
|style="background:#f85900;color:#000000;"|6
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|4
|style="background:#289500;color:#000000;"|2
|style="background:#289500;color:#000000;"|2
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|5.3
|-
!Colspan=14 style="background:#f8f9fa;font-weight:normal;font-size:95%;"|Source: seatemperature.org <ref name=seatemperature>{{cite web |url=http://www.seatemperature.org/europe/spain/palma-november.htm  |title=Palma de Mallorca Sea Temperature |publisher=seatemperature.org |access-date=15 March 2017 }}</ref>
|-
!Colspan=14 style="background:#f8f9fa;font-weight:normal;font-size:95%;"|Source: Weather Atlas <ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/spain/palma-climate |title=Palma, Spain - Climate data |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=15 March 2017 }}</ref>
|}

====Note====
{{notelist}}

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations|1842|42352|1857|53382|1877|60633|1887|62534|1900|65382|1910|69913|1920|78363|1930|87746|1940|117188|1950|133397|1960|157131|1970|217525|1981|290372|1991|296754|2001|333801|2011|402044|2021|424837|source=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]]<ref>{{cite web|title=INEbase. Alterations to the municipalities in the Population Censuses since 1842|url=https://www.ine.es/intercensal/intercensal.do|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Spain)|National Statistics Institute]]}}</ref>|align=right|cols=1}}
As of 2024, the population is 438,234,<ref name="population" /> and the population of the urban area is 550,000 as of 2017,<ref name="demographia20172" /> making it the 12th-largest urban area of Spain. Almost half of the total population of Mallorca lives in Palma.
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+Foreign population by country of birth (2024)<ref name="population3" />
!Nationality
!Population
|-
|{{Flag|Colombia}}
|17,767
|-
|{{Flag|Argentina}}
|14,764
|-
|{{Flag|Ecuador}}
|7,731
|-
|{{Flag|Morocco}}
|6,900
|-
|{{Flag|Bolivia}}
|5,199
|-
|{{Flag|Germany}}
|4,543
|-
|{{Flag|Venezuela}}
|3,990
|-
|{{Flag|Italy}}
|3,878
|-
|{{Flag|Peru}}
|3,507
|-
|{{Flag|Dominican Republic}}
|3,256
|-
|{{Flag|Bulgaria}}
|3,253
|-
|{{Flag|Cuba}}
|3,204
|-
|{{Flag|China}}
|3,193
|-
|{{Flag|Romania}}
|3,143
|-
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|2,732
|}
As of 2024, the foreign-born population of the city is 128,005, equal to 29.2% of the total population.<ref name="population2" />

== Main sights ==
[[File:Palma Majorca 2019.webm|thumb|Video of main sights]]

=== Plaça d'Espanya ===
The ''Plaça d'Espanya'' is the transport hub of Palma. The [[Palma Intermodal Station|Estació Intermodal]] caters to buses and trains (the latter controlled by [[Mallorca rail network#TIB|TIB]]). The two old buildings are home to the tourist information centre and several cafés sit on either side of the two large escalators which lead into the ''Estació'', which sits underneath a large and popular park. On the lawns are several glass boxes, which let in light and ventilation to the station below ground. There are also train-themed playing structures, each one shaped like a train carriage and named after towns along the line of the [[Ferrocarril de Sóller]], a railway dating back to 1911 which has its [[Ferrocarril de Sóller#Estación de Palma|Palma Station]] right next to the park. Just down the street from here a new bus station is under construction. At the centre of the plaza is a statue of [[James I of Aragon|James I]], Conquistador of Majorca.<ref name=MORCA1>{{cite book|title=Mallorca|last=Tisdall|first=Nigel|publisher=Thomas Cook Publisher|date=2003|isbn=9781841573274|page=48|chapter=Section 1 – Plaça d'Espanya – description of statue of James I}}</ref>

=== Cathedral area ===
[[File:Kathedrale von Palma III.jpg|thumb|[[Palma Cathedral|La Seu, Palma Cathedral]], built between 1229 and 1346]]
Palma is famous for [[Palma Cathedral|La Seu]], its vast cathedral built on a previous [[mosque]] which was built atop an original Christian church. Although construction of the present Cathedral began in 1229, it did not finish until 1601. Catalan architect [[Antoni Gaudí]] was drafted to restore the building in 1901. The Parc de la Mar (Park of the Sea) lies just south, overlooked by the great building which sits above it on the city's stone foundations. Between the two are the town walls.

=== Old city ===
[[File:Mediterranes-stadtleben-mallorca.jpg|thumb|left|Street in Palma's Old City]]
The Old City (in the southeast area of Palma behind the cathedral) is a maze of streets clearly hinting at an Arab past. {{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} Except for a few streets and squares which allow traffic and are populated with tourists most of the time, the walkways of this city quarter are fairly narrow, quiet streets, surrounded by a diverse range of interesting buildings, the architecture of which is comparable to cities such as [[Florence]]. The majority are private houses, some of which are open to the public as discreet museums or galleries. The Old City is also home to the ''Ajuntament'' (or Town Hall), the Convent of the cathedral, and the ''Banys Àrabs''.
[[File:Baños Árabes. Hammams de Mayurqa.jpg|thumb| The ''Banys Àrabs'', one of the few remnants of Madina Mayurqa]]
[[File:Bagno_z11.jpg|thumb| The ''Banys Àrabs'', garden view]]

==== Banys Àrabs ====
The ''Banys Àrabs'' (Arab Baths, in English), one of the few remnants of Palma's [[Moors|Moorish]] past, are situated on Can Serra street, 7, near the Convent of the cathedral. 

The small two-roomed [[brick]] building that once housed the baths is of [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine]] origin, dating back to the 11th century<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 March 2021|title=Mallorca Culture: Muslim Water system|url=https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/international/2021/03/29/81647/mallorca-culture-muslim-water-system.html|access-date=24 October 2021|website=majorcadailybulletin.com}}</ref> and possibly once part of the home of a [[Muslim]] nobleman. The bathroom has a [[cupola]] with five [[oculus (architecture)|oculi]] which let in dazzling light. The twelve [[column]]s holding up the small room were pillaged from an earlier [[Roman architecture|Roman]] construction. The floor over the [[hypocaust]] has been worn away by people standing in the centre, mainly to photograph the entrance and the garden beyond it. The whole room is in a rather dilapidated condition. The other room is a brick cube with a small model of the baths as they once were in the corner.

== Notable people ==
Notable people who were born in the city include the following individuals:
* [[Álex Abrines]] (born 1993), basketball player for the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]]
* [[Marco Asensio]] (born 1996), footballer for [[Paris Saint-Germain]]
* [[Tolo Calafat]] (1970-2010), mountaineer
* [[Rossy de Palma]] (born 1964), actress
* [[Rudy Fernández (basketball)|Rudy Fernández]] (born 1985), basketball player for [[Real Madrid Baloncesto|Real Madrid]]
* [[Lorenzo Fluxá]] (born 2004), racing driver
* [[Izan Guevara]] (born 2004), motorcyclist
* [[Ramon Llull]] ({{Circa|1232 - c. 1315/16}}), philosopher and writer
* [[Jorge Lorenzo]] (born 1987), motorcyclist and five-time [[MotoGP]] champion
* [[Joan Mir]] (born 1997), motorcyclist and [[Moto 3]] and [[MotoGP]] champion 
* [[Rafael Nadal]] (born 1986), Tennis player and 22 time grand slam champion
* [[Guillermo Pont]] (born 1921), footballer 
* [[Luis Salom]] (1991-2016), motorcyclist   
* [[Margalida Caimari Vila]] (1839-1921), poet
* [[Agustí Villaronga]] (1953-2023), filmmaker

== Sports ==
[[File:Spain mallorca palma stadium Estadi de Son Moix.jpg|thumb|[[Estadi de Son Moix]]]]

[[association football|Football]] is the most popular sport on the island, led by the Palma-based [[La Liga]] club [[Real Mallorca]], who play at the [[Estadi de Son Moix]], and [[Segunda División B]] club [[CD Atlético Baleares|Atlético Baleares]].

Basketball is also a popular sport. Palma's top team is [[CB Bahía San Agustín|Bahía San Agustín]], which plays its home games at the 5,076 capacity [[Palau Municipal d'Esports Son Moix]].

Because of its maritime location, all sea sports have a big presence in Palma.

[[Road bicycle racing|Road cycling]] is popular in Mallorca. An international race for professional cyclists, the [[Vuelta a Mallorca]], is held in February, the first day of which consists of a circuit race around the streets of Palma. The city is also home to the [[Palma Arena]], a multi-platinum venue featuring a velodrome. The arena also hosted the [[Battle of Surfaces]] tennis event.

In June 2016, the city of Palma participated in the First World Company Sports Games which included five days of culture, sport, and inclusivity within the community of Mallorca as a whole. It was operated through the World Federation Company Sport and was promoted for both local people and tourists to come together in the city. It became a large business venture by offering packages including accommodations close to the events and additional tourism information for future events.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

In 2023, Palma hosted the [[2022–23 UEFA Futsal Champions League|2023 UEFA Futsal Champions League Finals]].

[[File:Platja de Palma 1.jpg|thumb|Platja de Palma in El Arenal]]
[[File:2016 Palma de Mallorca.jpg|thumb|Marina at night]]

== Transport ==
* [[Palma de Mallorca Metro]]
* [[Mallorca rail network]]
* The city is served by [[Palma de Mallorca Airport]]. It is located {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}} east of Palma.
* [[Port of Palma]]
* The city bus system, which includes a loop line through the historic centre, is run by the EMT (See external link below).
* There is also a bus system run by the TIB. This includes routes to and from the municipalities Calvià and Palma.
* In the City of Palma there is a fleet of 1246 taxis.{{cn|date=November 2024}} All are equipped with air conditioning and most of them have a radiotelephone station, with four existing companies: Taxis Palma Radio, Radio-Taxi Ciutat, Taxi Teléfono and Taxis adapted for users with reduced mobility. Until the change of colour regulated through the Municipal Decree No. 19985 of 15 October 1999, the taxis of Palma for 50 years had been of the characteristic black and ivory colours.{{Cn|date=November 2024}} Currently, they are white.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
Palma de Mallorca is [[Sister city|twinned]] with [[Caruaru]], Brazil,  [[Alghero]], Italy and [[Naples]], Italy.<ref name="Naples twinnings">{{cite web |url=http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/5931 |title=Comune di Napoli - Gemellaggi |access-date=8 August 2013 |last=Vacca |first=Maria Luisa |work=Comune di Napoli |trans-title=Naples - Twin Towns |language= it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722204102/http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/5931 |archive-date=22 July 2013 }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spain}}
* [[Cort Library]]
* [[Duchess of Palma de Mallorca]]
* [[Edwin Lewis Snyder]], "Spain's Magic Island", ''The Architect and Engineer'', 110:10, 37–45, August 1932
* [[List of municipalities in Balearic Islands]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="demographia2017">{{cite web |url=http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |title=Demographia: World Urban Areas — April 2017 |edition= 13th Annual |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517065701/http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |archive-date=17 May 2017}}</ref>
<!---
<ref name="demographia2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |title=Demographia: World Urban Areas — January 2015 |edition= 11th Annual |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016010540/http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2015}}</ref>
--->
}}

== Further reading ==
{{See also|Timeline of Palma de Mallorca#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Palma}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Palma de Mallorca}}
{{Commons|Palma de Mallorca}}
* [https://palmabeach.com/ Official website Playa de Palma Mallorca]
* [https://www.palmaweekly.com/ Official website Palma de Mallorca Living & Lifestyle]
* [http://www.palmademallorca.es/ Palma de Mallorca´s city council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112024322/http://www.palmademallorca.es/ |date=12 January 2012 }}
* [http://www.infomallorca.net/?lg=en Official website for Tourism in Mallorca]

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