Breakingnewstravel report that there’s a new guide to the island from the official tourist board:

The Menorca Tourist Board has created a brand-new insiders travel guide to Menorca - revealing the natural, archeological, cultural, and gastronomic delights of one of the Med’s most pristine islands.

Easy to navigate and packed with tips from locals the guide will help holiday-makers decide where to stay, what to do and how best to experience this lesser-known Spanish island.

Boasting more than 200kms of coastline Menorca has almost as many beaches as Ibiza and Mallorca combined yet remains the most untouched and tranquil of all the Balearics.

Imagine a magical island with rugged caves and green rolling hills on one side, sandy beaches from where you can kayak round to hidden coves on the other. A paradise for nature lovers the island was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, to conserve and protect both its natural habitats and strong cultural identity.

Visit S’Albufera des Grau wetlands to get up-close to turtles and migrating birds or explore the island’s distinctive barrancs (deep ravines and canyons which run from the central part of the island to coast), home to Peregrines, Egyptian vultures and booted eagles.

Whether you’re day-tripping from Mallorca or coming from the UK the guide covers all the essentials on how to reach the island and what to expect from the weather. Like your beaches wild or prefer the convenience of shops and restaurants? In-depth information on the beaches will match you to your perfect stretch of sand.

And if you’re wondering how you might fit in all the island’s attractions turn to the top tips and take your pick from sightseeing in the charming old port of Ciutadella to some snorkeling in the calm waters of the Bay of Fornells.

Or if that all sounds a bit energetic then dive into the food and drink section and find out about the island’s world-class gin and cheese producers and where to eat the local speciality dish of “caldereta de llagosta” or lobster stew.

For more information about the island including today’s Menorca weather visit yourmenorca.net

Menorca travel site yourmenorca.net has just added some photographs of Cala En Porter and Fornells.

To view them click here

They also have details for Menorca villa holidays

Cala En Porter Beach

Florida was awarded to Britain as part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, and marked the time when Britain moved her focus from Europe to a more global domination.

When the British landed in Florida they found it unpopulated, and Dr. Andrew Turnbull, a Scottish doctor, took advantage of the treaty which offered easy terms of settlement to those who desired land grants.

The doctor felt that people from the British Isles might have found it difficult to adjust to the heat in Florida. Instead, he went to Greece hoping to find colonists. The Greeks were accustomed to humid, hot conditions and he felt they would do a good job of cultivating olives, cotton and tobacco.

Dr. Turnbull acquired land near Ponce de Leon Inlet near present day Daytona. He planned to have 500 Greek settlers from islands like Crete and Corfu to come back with him and would call his new colony New Smyrna. He arrived in June of 1767 at the port of Mahon on Minorca.

There he chose to delay his trip to Greece and vied instead for the attention of Italians in Leghorn Italy, of whom he heard some were interested in migrating to the New World. Sure enough several Italians males signed up to become inhabitants of New Smyrna, encouraged bu the thought that the climate would be similar to the Rome weather.

Alongside the Italians, a few Greeks from Levant joined the voyage.

As the doctor collected his new immigrants he sailed back to Mahon in February of 1768. There he found the Italians he had recruited had married Minorcan women.

On April 17, 1768 he sailed from Minorca with eight ships carrying a total of 1,403 settlers. This doubled the number he’d originally hoped for and then some. Unfortunately, 148 of the colonists died during the voyage from Minorca to Florida.

New Smyrna Residents Arrive

Upon arrival, the colonists’ met with rough conditions in New Smyrna. The land had yet to be cleared of trees and thick bush.

Two of the biggest obstacles were Indians and alligators. Food had to be gathered, hunted or caught by fishing, and they had to work the swamps for their very survival. Malaria from the mosquitoes quickly took its toll on the new settlers.

Settlers had several options to get food, but little time was allotted to the people to forage. They were forced to spend much of their time building homes for themselves.

These conditions led 300 of the colonists to revolt. They seized a ship and sailed south. A British Frigate found the ship and captured its passengers; taking them to St. Augustine. Most were returned to the colony, but two were executed.

In the first year, 450 colonists perished. Despite many of the hardships New Smyrna was one of the better colonies in North America at the time.

What to Expect in New Smyrna Today

The indentured Greek and Italian servants, who through their blood, sweat, tears made the colony successful are honorued by The Odyssey Monument. Every year on the first Saturday after Labor Day there is a commemoration in their honour at the monument.

In St. Augustine Florida, the St. Photios National Shrine honours the settlers. There you will find exhibits that adjoin a chapel. The stories of the people and their plight are told in wonderful detail, and the connection between today’s Florida and Minorca is evident.

For more details about Minorca including holidays in Minorca visit yourmenorca.net

Included is the latest news and press releases

A useful article for anyone considering buying a property appeared recently at thisismoney.co.uk:

The choice is yours. A holiday home can be bucolic or blingy, quiet or hectic, easy-to-reach or hard-to-find — and on the Balearics, that means a choice between sister islands Menorca and Mallorca.

They may be a mere 20-minute flight from each other, but they are exact opposites. One is tiny, elegant, with oodles of unspoilt beauty; the other is larger, much more developed, and wealthy with a contemporary edge.

Interestingly, both islands’ holiday home markets have, to some extent, bucked the downward trend that characterises mainland Spain, where prices in the Costas are still far below their 2006 highs.

Menorca remains the less well-known of the two locations for Britons, but it is the one to choose for chic, unspoilt elegance.

Its 125 miles of coastline are truly uncrowded — there are just 90,000 Menorcans plus another 10,000 second-home owners — and few parts of the coast have any major developments.

It takes 90 minutes to travel the island on roads lined by dry-stone walls. Much of the inland region is sparsely populated, with occasional clusters of white-walled, pink-roofed fincas and the odd small settlement.

At the eastern edge of the island is its new capital, Mahon, with a modern, low-rise harbour. At Menorca’s western tip lies the old capital, Ciutadella, a well-preserved Moorish town centred on a handful of beautifully restored squares and a maze of quiet backstreets.

Busiest area on the whole island is its quaint but crowded harbour, where visitors mingle with local fishermen landing the catch for the restaurant tables that line the waterside.

Prices are down 15% to 25% on their 2006 highs, according to estate agent Engel & Voelkers. ‘Main buyers here are Spanish, followed by British and German, with increased interest from Swiss, Irish and Italians.

More than 50% of buyers are aged 40 to 50 and about 30% are 50-plus,’ says E&V’s Sebastian Boelger.

Rhona Hutchinson, of Integrated Relocation Spain, a buying agency that helps Britons purchase homes on the Balearics, says: ‘Prices have traditionally been lower on Menorca (than Mallorca) and continue to be so.

‘There are hotspots along the southern coast between S’Algar and Binidali where more upmarket properties have been built.

‘Construction on what is termed “rustico” land has long been restricted, but in the past eight years the law has changed and it is simply not allowed. The island is very quiet,’ she says.

Part of its appeal — but not always welcomed by second-home owners — is the difficulty in reaching Menorca in winter. Direct flights from the uK reduce significantly from October to March, and ferry services to the Spanish mainland are curtailed too.

There is no such problem with Mallorca, the much larger Balearic island with more than a hint of bling. It’s easy to get to year-round, and has a round-the-clock lifestyle.

‘As a destination, Mallorca continues to offer a sophisticated infrastructure and an array of modern facilities,’ says Georgina Richards, of Knight Frank.

Prices here, too, have fallen 20 per cent to 30per cent, but she says years of investment have paid off for the island, which is still improving its infrastructure.

‘The Port Adriano marina extension in the south-west will provide another super harbour, with even more moorings for yachts up to 60 metres in length.

‘The Spanish Airports Authority is investing £203m in Palma’s international airport to improve and expand facilities, with further investment planned for Palma’s private aerodrome at Son Bonet,’ she says.

Twenty airlines fly from Britain to Mallorca and, once there, its recently improved roads and decent railway service mean all five regions of the island are easily accessible.

One region is its capital, Palma, just 10 minutes from the airport and with pretty stone houses and apartments in the sought-after Cathedral Quarter.

The city has a burgeoning reputation for good shops and a busy nightlife. Many Britons prefer holiday homes here to more traditional coastal or mountain areas.

On the north-west coast, a 45-minute drive from the airport, once-tiny ports such as Soller have blossomed into handsome marinas. On the east coast — considered the best-value area for homes —there are unspoilt towns such as Arta and Capdepera.

Inland, the island is rugged and mountainous, but not as remote as it used to be. One-time quiet villages such as Alaro and Santa Maria are now fairly busy. This region is popular among selfbuilders of large homes.

The final Mallorcan area is the south-west, just 30 minutes from the airport, but infamous for the club haven of Magaluf and crowds of Britons troughing all-day english breakfasts. But the prettiest area here is Andratx, an attractive and increasingly affluent port.

There are now about 11,000 British-owned holiday homes on the island, including those of Andrew Lloyd Webber and former James Bond Pierce Brosnan. International celebs who have invested in homes on Mallorca include Antonio Banderas, Boris Becker, Claudia Schiffer and Michael Schumacher.

Jan Westwood, of The Property Finders on the island, says that on the lower-priced east coast you can get a two-bed apartment minutes from the beach for £119,000.

‘At the other end of the scale, a new waterfront villa at Cala D’Or in the south-east is on the market at £1.01m, having been steadily reduced from its asking price of £1.6m. Prices have reduced to the same level as the last quarter of 2006 and appear to have bottomed out,’ she says.

And on islands as diverse as Mallorca and Menorca there’s plenty of choice — whatever kind of home and whatever kind of lifestyle you’re after.To read the full article click here

For Menorca property for sale details visit menorcaprops.com - for Majorca flights yourmajorca.net

Not sure whether to book your holiday to Menorca or Majorca?

The Sunday Mirror has compared to the two and has come up with this advice:

Pale blue sky, deep blue sea, red-hot sun. And a perfect summer soundtrack dancing across the water from the speakers on our boat. We’re on the top deck of a beach-hopper called Fiesta, sailing slowly east along the south coast of Menorca.

As Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side fades into Otis Redding’s Dock Of The Bay, I take a sip of cold Estrella beer and gaze ahead to the pretty cove where the Fiesta is about to dock. And hope that if I ever get to heaven, it might be something just like this.

Four of us are on a Thomas Cook package to the Balearic island of Menorca, the quiet little sister to brash Ibiza and Majorca.

We’ve signed up for a Castaway Cruise, sailing from the west-coast port of Ciutadella at 10am and back at 5pm after visits to two idyllic beaches. The Û50pp ticket includes chicken paella plus helpings of sangria and pomada (gin and lemonade).

A day earlier we joined a Shop and Sail tour of the capital, Mahon (Û40pp). It was my birthday, so we forgot the shopping to enjoy a Cava-fuelled tapas lunch at Bracafe in Plaza Colon (www.bracafe.com, tapas Û3.50-Û8). After lunch we visited the Xoriguer gin distillery on the waterfront. Founded in the 18th Century to keep British sailors happy, they don’t bother showing how the gin is made… the tour cuts straight to the free samples (www.xoriguer.es).

Then it was a short stumble to the jetty for a boat tour of Mahon harbour, second largest in the world after Hawaii’s Pearl Harbour. All around are reminders of the 1708-1802 British occupation, from Admiral Collingwood’s house to the mansion where Lord Nelson romanced Lady Hamilton.

We’d gone all-inclusive at Hotel San Luis in S’Algar, and could have lazed away our week with drink on tap and an all-you-can eat buffet. About two-thirds of guests here are cheerful British over-60s who like to put their feet up. The bar closes at 11pm, so they’re sure of a good night’s sleep too.

But we wanted to see the island. We had a hire car and on a cloudy Sunday we drove to the upmarket harbour of Fornells. King Juan Carlos of Spain sails in here for lobster stew at El Plas restaurant on the waterfront… at Û75 a bowl. On Monday the sun finally got his hat on and we hit the beach at Cala En Porter, one of the best villages for Menorca holidays. To reach this scenic cove you walk down hundreds of steps from the town - or drive down a back road like us. After a swim in the crystal water we collapsed on to sun loungers (Û17 a day for two plus parasol).

The sun stayed out all week and we found a new beach to laze on every day. Our cruise took us to a tiny cove, Cala Turqueta, and a wide bay, Son Saura. The only facilities are basic loos, but the beaches are totally unspoilt. Like all secluded Menorcan beaches, full-on nudists mingle with regular sun-worshippers and one or two visions almost put us off our packed lunch!

We visited three-mile long Son Bou, a developed ribbon of sand with beach bars. And we tried busy Cala Santa Galdana, a large cove with top-class facilities, but too built-up for our taste.

We spent our last day on what turned out to be our favourite beach, Cala Mitjana. It’s impossibly pretty, totally sheltered, with walks along the wooded cliffs.

And with an iPod on shuffle, I created my own soundtrack to make the heavenly scene complete.

Majorca.. best for the buzz

There’s something they don’t tell you about Majorca. It has a town that can up sticks and move - houses, shops, churches the lot - in just a couple of minutes.

You’ll discover the secret if you take an hour-long trip on the historic electric train that trundles into the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains from the island’s capital, Palma.

One moment you’ll see your destination, Soller, in a bowl-shaped valley as you look out of the windows on your right.

Shortly afterwards it will be on your left. It appears the valley has been magically transported from one spot to another.

I spent a good few minutes looking puzzled as those with a quicker grasp of these things explained the town appears to move because of the way the narrow-gauge tracks snake their way round the mountains.

First you approach the valley one way, then you make a gradual turn and come back the other… so the view is reversed. Simples, as they say. (www.sollertrain.com, Û17 return).

Soller is famous for its orange groves and terraces of ancient olive trees and had a nice, laid-back, slightly arty feel. And there’s a cute tram that will take you the 3k down to the port, with a wonderful curved bay and all the cafes and restaurants you could wish.

It’s a popular area for Majorca villa holidays.

We Britons have long loved Majorca and it’s a sure favourite with many celebs and sports stars, from the likes of Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and to Patsy Palmer and tennis names Boris Becker and Rafael Nadal.

If you go you’ll find Palma city itself has plenty to keep you occupied. The place has a buzz which I liked - you got the feeling there is a lot going on.

I could easily have stayed longer, but wanted to see more of Majorca. So next morning we went south to the port of Colònia de Sant Jordi and took a 12-seat speedboat to Cabrera, one of the islands off the coast.

It was a lovely two-hour trip - once I’d got used to sitting astride a padded tube and clinging on. It was great swathing through the water and the sea was a lovely shade of blue… pretty well matching the colour of a couple of passengers after they’d dived in during a stop inside a cave. I’m told the water is beautifully warm later in summer, but one test of the temperature when we were there and I decided my teeth didn’t need reminding of how to chatter (www.marcabrera.com, adults Û38, under-12s Û30).

Afterwards we stopped off at the Jaume Mesquida winery in Porreres. They make 200,000 bottles a year and use “biodynamic methods” meaning they are nature-friendly (www.jaumemesquida.com). We were meant to be doing more sightseeing, but the lure of our pools at the Hotel Hilton Sa Torre was too strong. It’s a lovely place in what seems the middle of nowhere… but is an easy 16k from Palma Airport and Majorca flights home.

To read the full article click here

Menorca Blog

With the banking crises and subsequent recession in Europe and the U.S. over its worst (hopefully) this year had all the signs of being a good one for the Menorca holidays industry.

Tourist arrivals to the island has been down in the last couple of years, in common with most Mediterranean islands, as a direct result of the bank failures and subsequent recession that hit consumer spending on things like overseas holidays hard.

But a turnaround was definitely on the cards with good early bookings, and a sense of optimism was in the air among the hotel owners and flight operators.

But then came along Eyjafjallajokull - or as it’s become better known in Europe and the wider world, the Iceland volcano - which after erupting continuously for over a month caused an ash cloud that grounded planes, left holidaymakers stranded, and caused a lot of people to reconsider their Menorca holidays for this year.

The direct consequence has been that instead of booking a few months ahead many tourists have held off and are booking their Menorca holidays much closer to their intended arrival dates - leaving some tour operators and villa holiday companies with excess accommodation and reducing prices.

And airlines lost out big time as those based in the EU had to pay for accommodation for those passengers they couldn’t fly home, even though insurers often got away with paying out. The airlines industry feel that as the governments stopped them flying, they should now pay their bills without some will run at a loss this year.

It’s not just Menorca that has been affected by the volcano among the Mediterranean islands where tourism forms an important part of the local economy, and is reliant on flights to bring the tourists in to their hotels and for their villa holidays for a week or two.

Malta for example saw a sharp decline in visitors in April and May, and local media have reported that the national flag carrier Air Malta could have lost over 3 million Euros in April alone as their planes were effectively grounded and flights to their important UK market halted altogether for some time.

Unlike Malta, Menorca doesn’t have an airline to speak of that it can call her own, but Mahon Airport is well served with both low cost airlines and tour operators from both the UK and Germany have regular flights to Menorca at various times of the day, with scheduled flights available out of the holidays season.

But there is some good news around, despite the awful start to the year. While there were plenty of Menorca villa holidays available for June and July to be booked when looking for availability in early May, a month later a lot of them had gone by early June, showing that potential visitors were gaining confidence as the volcano quietened down.

And the price cuts that were showing are now back to something like their normal level. But for those thinking of taking a villa holiday in September when the weather is still normally good, there are some available for under UK 700 - it’s quiter then with the schools back and if Menorca villa holidays are something to be considered it could be worth investigating further and booking ahead to get a good deal.

More details about Menorca, including a forecast and today’s Menorca weather are at yourmenorca.net and for independent comments visit social media like jumptags

An article appeared on the internet recently that’s worth having a look at, if you’re considering holidays in Menorca at the moment.

Here’s an extract:

Get out your thesaurus and look up “Holiday heaven”, and a “Son Bou villa” will be first on the list. Well ok, that may not be strictly true - but it should be! This small but lively resort on the Spanish island of Menorca is the quintessential holiday maker’s paradise.

Even though Menorca is one of the lesser visited Balearic islands, Son Bou is a hive of activity in the high season. It might be the crystal clear waters, it might be the temperate climate, or it just might be the fact that Son Bou can lay claim to the longest (and widest) beach on the island. Its fine white sands stretch for nearly three miles, and unlike some of Menorca’s other beaches, it is also unusually wide.

The beach area in front of the commercial centre of town is the centre of the action. Every kind of activity you could want on your Son Bou holiday is on offer; pedalos, inflatable rides, canoes, water-skiing and jet-skiing for the energetic; and sun loungers and beach umbrellas those just wanting to laze away the day and top up their tan! The beach itself is gently shelved and gives way to the crystal clear waters of the shallows, which form an ideal natural paddling pool for young children. Out further, the currents can get strong, and although the beach is mostly patrolled by a life guard, it is always wise to heed the flag warning system in place.

Son Bou is an ideal family destination. Many of the hotels cater specifically for families, and the San Jaime complex houses a maze, tennis courts, children’s playgrounds and a fantastic water chute which will entertain children (and parents!)of all ages. There is also a great little ‘fun train’ running from the resort right down along the beach and back again. Perfect for a bit of family fun or just to take you back to your Son Bou villa, to save your legs after a long day spent relaxing on the beach!

To read the full article click here

For information about James Villa holidays visit yourmenorca.net

Menorca

Menorca holidaymakers are often curious about the Mediterranean diet, and many don’t realise that Menorca cooking even in popular resort areas involves ingredients they wouldn’t use themselves at home.

But it can be quite easy to incorporate some popular Menorca ingredients back at home if the Mediterranean diet does appeal.

A shopping exhibition to your local health food store isn’t always necessary. When the growing season is in full bloom, there are often many opportunities to source your nutrition from the wild. This is certainly the case when it comes to dandelion and nettles. As a low cost alternative to supplements, they’re vitamins and minerals in unadulterated form.

The dandelion for example has a rich history as a nutritious food with medicinal properties. The word “dandelion” comes from the French “dent de lion” or “lion’s tooth.” This is in reference to the plants leaves, which are jagged edged.

The official name for the flowering plant is Taraxacum from the Asteraceae family. The word Taraxacum has its basis in the Greek language, and its definition is “remedy for disorders.”

The dandelion is native to Europe and Asia, with two species found as weeds globally. Common in the northern temperate zone, dandelions grow in pastures and meadows, on waste ground and by roadsides.

The head of a dandelion is actually a small cluster of yellow flowers. Being plenteous, it’s no wonder the plant came into wide usage in the past and continues so today.

Concerning nettles, there are numerous species of the plant. However, Stinging nettle (officially called Urtica dioica) is the perennial flowering plant used as nutritious food. Native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America, it also goes by the name “common nettle.” 

Stinging nettles grow between 3 to 7 feet in height during the summer. They have soft green leaves with edges that resemble a serrated knife. The leaves and stems have non-stinging hairs and many stinging hairs. The chemical compounds in hairs that come off when touched emit chemicals that cause a sting, hence the name.

Today there is much concern about unhealthy fats in a typical diet. Many people are espousing the benefits of a Mediterranean diet instead. Common fare for people of this region includes plenty of green vegetables, fresh fruit, fish and the use of olive oil.

Dandelions traditionally find themselves as salad greens in the Mediterranean diet. Stinging nettle, with a flavour akin to spinach, is also becoming more popular as a side dish.

Always experimenting with culinary delights, the Mediterranean diet now includes different recipes using dandelion and stinging nettle. In culinary concoctions, dandelion leaves are becoming more prevalent on restaurant menus. They are a part of braised dishes and salad dishes. As a leafy green vegetable, stinging nettle finds use as a flavouring in some Gouda cheeses. It also makes a substantial soup and is rich in protein.

The medicinal uses of dandelion and stinging nettle are plentiful. After washing them well, you can boil both of these plants. Next, you infuse them to make a rich tea full of vitamins and minerals.

Dandelion finds use mainly for disorders related to the liver. This includes congestion and inflammation, cirrhosis, hepatitis and jaundice. It also includes gallstones and bile-duct inflammation. In addition, the dandelion has diuretic properties.

The stinging nettle has cleansing and strengthening nutrients. A quality remedy for hay fever, asthma and eczema, they have a strong anti-allergenic effect. Some hair shampoos contain nettle to control dandruff and to give hair shine.

Legend has it that dandelions were responsible for saving a people from a famine. This was on the Mediterranean island of Menorca. Stories of old speak of how a plague of locusts on the island consumed virtually most of the plant life on Menorca. The residents of the island survived for almost a year by eating dandelion root.

One of Spain’s Balearic Islands, Menorca - which is also known as Minorca - lies between Spain and the North African coast. It’s not surprising, to this day, to find dandelion in Mediterranean dishes in homes and restaurants on Menorca. Along with its healthy Mediterranean cuisine, the island offers sun, sand and siestas by the sea.

Menorca is home to more than 120 beaches. Water and water sports abound on this piece of western Mediterranean archipelago. Holidaymakers who travel to Menorca can enjoy a host of activities and good eating in places such as Mahon, the island’s capital. 

You can make the Mediterranean way part of your lifestyle even before you travel. Mediterranean diets rich in leafy greens like dandelion and stinging nettle are beneficial in many ways.

More details about Menorca including hotels and Menorca villa holidays are available at yourmenorca.net while people who are trying the Mediterranean diet often use social media to report their findings.

From The Times in the UK this appeared recently:

For a completely different world, head to Menorca, the second biggest of the Balearic Islands, largely undeveloped and rich in Neolithic taulas (T-shaped stone monuments) and talayots (stone cones). Mahón, one of the main cities, was established as the island’s capital in 1722 when the British began their 80-year sojourn.

Four-storey Georgian town houses with sash windows still remain. The Scientific, Literary and Artistic Centre is filled with paintings and mementoes of Menorcan writers, poets and musicians, along with natural artefacts from seashells to stuffed birds. The Principal Theatre, built in 1824 as an opera house, is a miniature La Scala.

Menorca’s main cultural events are Mahón’s international opera week and the Capella DavÍdica concerts at the other main city Ciutadella, along with the summer organ festivals in Santa Maria Church, Mahón, and Ciutadella cathedral. Easter week in Mahón brings out spectral penitents, while in late June Ciutadella’s dancing horses perform in honour of St John the Baptist.

To read the full article visit The Times at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/specials/artistic_spain/article5904117.ece

For holidays in Menorca visit yourmenorca.net

The number of property sales in Menorca and the other Balearic Islands has slowed down - no surprise there.

Majorca has seen a 50 per cent drop.

Here is an extract from the article we saw at the movechannel:

Long a favourite with the rich and famous, Mallorca is traditionally the most popular of the Balearic Islands.

Stunning coastlines and months of mellow sunshine provide the perfect backdrop to its role as the super yacht hub of the western Mediterranean. The true jewel in the crown is the capital city of Palma which offers a far more cosmopolitan and cultural twist that most holiday hotpots.

The other Balearic Islands, namely Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera, are also popular with holidaymakers and investors and, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute, the number of foreigners living in the Balearics rose by a whopping 17.2 per cent last year.

More than 32,000 foreigners arrived to set up home on one of the islands last year, with Germans heading up the exodus. German nationals now account for the largest single group of immigrants to the Balearics, swiftly followed by Brits, Moroccans and Italian citizens.

Mallorca’s stunning capital city of Palma is the most populous town, followed by Calvia, where over 33 per cent of residents are foreign. Ibiza Town came in third place with 11,604 foreigners, or almost a quarter of its inhabitants.

But, local estate agent Engel & Volkers which specialize in selling luxury second homes, said that Mallorca endured one of the most challenging financial quarters at the end of last year.

To read more click here