Palma de Mallorca, 14th Nov 02

MALLORCA'S WINTER WARMERS

A round-up of activities/culture/food and wine for the winter visitor.

Mallorca, one of Britain’s favourite tourist destinations in the summer, is also promoting itself as a winter destination with a varied programme of events and activities for the visitor.

Over the past few years Mallorca’s tourism industry has been looking to diversify its product in order to attract the winter visitor. The island has a great deal to offer throughout the winter with a full programme of cultural, musical and sports activities, fiestas, food and wine tours and shopping.

Food & Wine

New routes are being developed around the island following producers of local produce and wine have been devised by the local Ministry of Agriculture. A wine and cheese route, and a wine and olive oil route, take the visitor through the villages where the producers are based. These include 20 wine cellars and four cheese and two oil producers.

Mallorca has a long tradition of wine making. However, in the last century the majority of the vines were wiped out by disease. Recently, key families around the island have been working to restore this industry and in the last decade local wine producers have been developing the vineyards and planting more vines with encouraging results.

Shopping

The concentration of top international designer names, quality artisan handmade goods and products, and boutiques in Mallorca, and in particular in the capital of Palma, makes the island an ideal location for shopping breaks.

BaleArt - Balearic Arts & Crafts Fair – Nov 29th – Dec 8th

This fair is now in its 18th year and is specifically dedicated to the master craftsmen of the Balearic Islands providing small enterprises with an opportunity to display their work in a larger arena. Bale Art features all types of foods, wine, ceramics, art, glassware, wrought ironwork, leather goods and candlemaking.

Christmas

“Belenes”

Cribs and nativity scenes in Mallorca are traditionally extremely elaborate. In Palma the visitor can see some of the oldest cribs in Spain. One, at the “Iglesia de la Sang”, dates back to 1480. The best examples will be on display in Palma’s Town Hall, and the main churches within the city from December 13th through to January 6th (Three Kings), 2003.

Christmas Market

A large selection of Christmas goods will go on sale from December 2nd in Palma’s two main plazas: Placa Major and Placa España.

Christmas Shopping

The majority of shops throughout Palma are open throughout the day (although some traditionally close at lunchtime). The strength of sterling makes Mallorca particularly good value for the British - savings of up to 50% can be found on a wide selection of goods over prices in the UK.

Carol Singing

Mallorcan choirs will be meeting in an island wide competition from December 10th at El Corte Ingles (Palma’s main department store), and at various parish churches around the island.

In addition, Christmas concerts will be featured all over Palma from December 14th culminating in the traditional Christmas Eve service in Palma Cathedral starting at 23.00.

New Year’s Eve

In Mallorca, the locals take to the streets to greet the New Year. In Palma, a band plays in front of the town hall and the bells ring out the Old Year whilst revellers open bottles of “cava” and eat grapes in time with the chimes up to midnight. A spectacular fireworks display can be seen from Palma’s Paseo Maritimo running between the sea and the city walls.

Fiestas

Local festivals at this time, which are celebrated throughout the island, are extremely popular with local visitors. The main ones include: The Three Kings (January 6th) elaborate parades of the Kings are held throughout the island, sweets and presents are thrown to the children in the crowds; Saint Anthony – the patron saint of animals – people bring their animals to be blessed to the local church (17th January); Saint Sebastian (January 20th) is the patron saint of Palma and all the plazas feature different types of live music. Bonfires and barbecue grills are lit around the city so that revellers can grill their own supper as they enjoy the music.

Calvia

Calvia Council, in the South West corner of Mallorca, launches its 10th winter programme in the five resorts of Magaluf, Peguera, Illetes, Santa Ponsa and Palma Nova.

The programme of free activities include keep fit and Tai Chi sessions on the beach, yoga, tea-dances, ballroom dancing classes, bowling, guided walks, classical and contemporary music concerts, “fiestas” in typical Mallorcan style, photography, drawing/painting competitions and open air shows.

In addition, scheduled events include the International Calvia Marathon (December 15th), The Almond Blossom Festival (February), a concert by the Salzburg Orchestra, and an exhibition of contemporary art.

Mallorca is easily accessible throughout the winter from the UK with daily scheduled flights operated by Easyjet and British Midland. GB Airways and Air Europa operate flights throughout the week. In addition, a range of flight only reservations are available from leading tour operators.

A selection of UK tour operators feature short breaks to Mallorca these include: Alternative Mallorca, Bonaventure Holidays, Breakaway, Bridge Travel, British Airways Holidays, Cadogan Holidays, Castaways, Classic Collection, Cresta Holidays, Crystal Holidays, CV Travel, Eurobreak, Freelance Holidays, Lotus Supertravel, Magic of Spain, Mundi Color, Portland Direct, Premier Cities, The Real Spain, Seasons in Style, Simply Spain, Sovereign, Thomson, Time Off & Travelscene and Weekenders.

The Mallorca Tourist Board is a private, independent entity which was founded in 1905. It is therefore considered to be the first ever tourist board in Europe. The objective then was to create awareness of Mallorca as a destination. Now, almost a 100 years later, it ranks as one of the favourite holiday destinations of the British.

For further information:
Tel: Dominique Carroll/Anna Skidmore
Mallorca Tourist Board, Tel:(+34) 971 725396 Fax: (+34) 971 713540
Email: news@newsmallorca.com

November 2002

For further information, please contact:
Mallorca Tourist Board, Dominique Carroll / Anna Skidmore,
Tel:(+34) 971 725 396 Fax: (+34) 971 713 540
E-Mail: info@fomentmallorca.org

Further Press Releases:

FIVE NEW HOTEL OPENINGS IN MALLORCA SPRING – SUMMER 2013 (31st May 13)

GOOD NEWS FOR MALLORCA IN 2012 (09th Feb 12)

THREE KINGS - THE FESTIVITIES CONTINUE! (05th Jan 12)