Palma

Market madness

Spanish cities are famous for having a market for every barrio (neighbourhood). Palma is no different. Locals go to Olivar (just above the Plaza Major) for day-to-day basics, Llotja de Peix for fish, Santa Catalina for shopping and snacking, and the Mercat Ecologic on the Plaza Bisbe Berenguer de Palou for organic veg, cheese and charcuterie on Saturday mornings.

Shoe heaven

If you’ve never been to Palma before, one of the first things that will strike you is how good the shopping is. The centre of the island has been a hub of the shoe-making industry in Spain since the turn of the 20th century (there’s a shoe festival in Lloseta in June), which explains the high proliferation of shoe shops in Palma - if this is your passion, you could easily loose a day trying and buying.

Interiors haven

The other big draw for homemakers is the abundance of interiors items (textiles, ceramics, hand-made candles) grown out of traditional island crafts and given a contemporary twist.

Life’s a beach

And when you just need to chill you head either for Portixol (on the east) or Illetes (on the west) in search of sun, sand and cocktails.

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