5 April: Mallorca

Today is the feast day of St Catherine Tomás, Patron of Mallorca (also sometimes spelled Majorca in English). Ten facts about the island:

1. It’s the largest of Spain's Balearic Islands, and the seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.

2. The name of the island comes from an old Latin phrase ‘insula maior’ which translates as ‘larger island’, which was often mispronounced and that evolved into its modern name.

3. The capital is Palma, where around half the population live.

4. Its highest peak is the Puig Major (1445 metres) which is also the highest mountain in the Balearic Islands.

5. In 2011, Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana mountain range was awarded World Heritage Status by UNESCO for being an area of great Physical and Cultural significance.

6. There is a cathedral there which was built on the site of a mosque, so its orientation is towards the southeast rather than the usual Christian east to west alignment. Construction started on La Seu cathedral began in 1230 and continued for 400 years. In recent times, Antoni Gaudi made some additions.

7. There’s also a castle which is unusual because it’s built in a perfect circle. Castell de Bellver was built in the 14th century.

8. The island has been an inspiration to creative people of many kinds. Frederic Chopin spent some time here on his doctor’s advice. While he didn’t have the best possible time, he got a lot of composing done, working on the Preludes, Op. 28, his Ballade No. 2, Op. 38; two Polonaises, Op. 40; and the Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39. Agatha Christie stayed in Palma and Port de Pollença and was inspired to write a short story collection called Problem at Pollensa Bay and Other Stories. The artist Joan Miro and the poet Robert Graves chose to settle on the island.

9. Mallorca has a traditional dance called Ball dels Cossiers which dates back to the 13th or 14th century. Three pairs of dancers, usually male, defend a "Lady," who can be played by a man or a woman, from a demon or devil.

10. In the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries there was a renowned school of cartographers, cosmographers, and navigational instrument makers called the "Catalan school". Their work with maps and navigational instruments made the discovery of the New World possible.

I also write novels and short stories. If you like superheroes, psychic detectives and general weirdness you might enjoy them. 

Check out my works of fiction at https://juliehowlinauthor.wordpress.com/my-books/