The sun rose over the palm tree port of Palma, the capital city of Majorca and the largest of the Balearic Islands. We began our visit stopping first in the mountain village of Soller. We were lucky because the famous outdoor market was in full swing. Vendors were selling a vast cornucopia of olives, cheeses, hams, cakes, clothing, and artwork. The ancient plazas were packed with locals and the entire amil plaza was dominated by a medieval church.
After a lunch of traditional paella de marisco, we toured Palma, beginning with the massive gothic Cathedral of Palma. It has one of the highest vaulted ceilings at fifteen stories and the sun shining through the stained glass created a kaleidoscope of colors. Leaving the cathedral, we wandered through the labyrinth of historic medieval and renaissance homes. Our tour concluded with a stop at the Bellver Castle for a scenic view of the harbor and the historic old city.
