Balearic
Island
Events
 Among
the typical festivities that are held in the different towns
and villages of the Balearic Islands, one of the most
important is the Fiesta of San Juan at Ciutadella around June
18, 23 and 24. The festivities of La Devallament at Pollensa
(March 23), Sa Pobla (January 16 and 17)
in honour of San
Antonio Abad, and the Day of La Beata at Santa Margarita
(September 3), are all of interest to tourists. Ibiza
celebrates its festivities on the days between July 30 and
August 5.
History
Archaeologists have found
evidence of human habitation on the Balearics as early as 5000
BC, though it's likely people enjoyed those sandy beaches even
earlier. Prehistoric relics like pottery, tools, jewellery and
ruins show that agriculture and animal husbandry freed many a
hand for more esoteric pursuits - the hallmark of a successful
civilisation. Menorca in particular boasts impressive remnants
of these ancient peoples. Enormous slabs of rocks arranged in
specific formations litter the island: navetas, caves
built with large stones; talayots, mounds of stone
perhaps used as watchtowers; and taulus, stone tablets
balanced in the shape of a 'T', are all much in evidence.
The Balearics were regular ports of call for ancient
Phoenician traders. The Carthaginians founded Ibiza City in
654 BC and made it one of the Mediterranean's major trading
ports. Next came the Romans, who were eclipsed by the
Visigoths, who were followed by Muslims in the 8th century AD.
Muslim domination, which lasted longer than three centuries,
left a lasting impression on the islanders' culture, from
their traditional dress to architectural styles.
In 1229, the Christian Reconquista, led by Jaume I of
Catalunya, scored its first major victory in the island chain:
Palma de Mallorca. Ibiza and Formentera followed six years
later, but Menorca held fast until 1287, when Alfonso III
finished incorporating the islands into the Catalan world.
After an initial boom as trading centres and Catalan colonies,
the islands fell on hard times in the 15th century. Isolation
from the mainland, famine and frequent raids by pirates made
life difficult. Adding insult to injury, Menorca's two major
towns were virtually destroyed by Turkish forces during the
16th century. Ibiza added fortifications and managed to fight
off the Turks, but Formentera fell completely.
The Balearics fared poorly in warfare. After backing the
Hapsburgs in the Spanish War of Succession, Mallorca and Ibiza
were occupied by the victorious Bourbon monarchy in 1715.
Menorca, on the other hand, was granted to the British along
with Gibraltar in 1713 under the Treaty of Ultrecht. British
rule lasted until 1802, with the exception of the Seven Years
War
(1756-63), during which Menorca was occupied by the
French.
During the Spanish Civil War, Mallorca was repeatedly bombed
by Nationalist forces. Peace has been much better to the sunny
isles. With the postwar stability of the 1950s, the Balearics
discovered tourism, and the tourists discovered the islands'
vast unspoiled beaches. It was a match made in heaven, and the
economy got a jumpstart that locals are still enjoying today.
In recent years islanders have grappled with the challenge of
maintaining the prosperity without losing the island's natural
beauty to concrete. Many of the islanders of today are among
the wealthiest citizens of the country, but there have been
downsides - construction and hotel mafias have made a killing
while inland villages are suffering from depopulation. |
