Mallorca has often been a mainstay destination for Irish holiday makers, with its pristine beaches and affordable family accommodation making it a popular choice for those seeking sun at any time of the year.

But away from the package holiday options, there’s a whole world of Mallorcan culture and cuisine to be discovered, which with a little bit of planning can open up a whole new aspect of the island.

The wonder of its capital city, Palma, which I had previously only ever flown in and out of, reveals a city teeming with stunning architecture, mouth watering cuisine and marine views that would rival any of its larger Mediterranean neighbours.

A walking tour of the city centre is a must and is neither an epic, nor shoe wearing endeavour as the main sights and delights are within relatively close proximity to each other.

The stunning Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca is a mecca for tourists but on the way there, keep an eye out for the shop buildings that have thankfully not fallen victim to Irish planning laws and have retained original frontage that belies their interior functions. A dentist’s surgery on Plaça del Marquès del Palmer, doubles as a shoe shop and trusting that neither your teeth nor your feet require attention, stand back and savour the splendour of the building.

Bar Abaco

Although you probably won’t want to venture into a dentist’s surgery, there are an abundance of public buildings, offering free access, that showcase the rich history of Mallorcan nobility, as well as providing respite from the midday heat.

While the history of architecture might not float everyone’s boat on a city break, the care and attention Mallorca gives to its older buildings reveals itself in a whole new light, after dark.

A visit to Bar Abaco, one of the trendier cocktail bars in the Old Town district, is an assault on the senses as the impressive stone staircase, and tremendous fresh floral displays vie for attention – and that’s before you’re even shown the drinks menu.

The name 'Abaco' was taken from the enormous abacuses that are on the columns of the entrance hall, where carriages and horses used to enter. The bar, which sits in the courtyard, features tables and chairs upholstered with Mallorcan fabrics, sitting in front of a large fireplace with old paintings, sculptures and ceramic plates adorning the expansive interior walls.

A city stay may seem counterintuitive to anyone planning a trip to Mallorca, but the beauty of Palma is its coastal location, which guarantees a steady supply of pristine beaches within a 20-minute drive of its centre.

The coastal town of Portals Nous, on the southwest of the island, is in the municipality of Calvia and boasts what is considered to be the most prestigious marina of the Mediterranean. It offers the chance to indulge in a boat trip out to sea and the opportunity to discover less populated beaches.

Sustainable tourism

Many of the tours being operated are in keeping with the Mallorcan government’s aim of becoming a global leader in sustainable tourism, with electric boats available for hire.

The chance to swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean is another refreshing antidote to temperatures in the high 20s, which Mallorca enjoys from May to September.

The authorities are aiming to spread visitor numbers to take pressure off resources and the environment during the high summer months which impacts water, energy and fuel consumption.

One of the most attractive aspects of Mallorca is the ability to travel to most parts of the island in under an hour. One trip certainly worth the effort will take you north, to the old town of Pollenca where tradition trumps tourism in terms of attraction.

One of the most attractive aspects of Mallorca is the ability to travel to most parts of the island in under an hour

Vicens is a family owned and run textiles business that has been weaving its own fabric since 1854. The distinctive Ikat design, seen throughout Mallorca on fabric and ceramics, forms the basis of the Teixits Vicens brand, with the family firm offering workshop tours where visitors get to see the traditional weaving under way.

A lifestyle shop is based at the front of the factory and offers a treasure trove of finds for anyone with an eye for interior design with everything from cushions to tote bags available in a range of designs, including the indigenous Ikat.

Cultural development

Staying in the north of the island, a stunning find lies tucked away at the end of a dirt road near Alcudia, where the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca serves up a feast of artistic and popular culture exhibits.

Founded by artists Yannick Vu and Ben Jakober to promote cultural development and respect for the natural environment, this museum is like no other you’ve visited, from its location in a protected wildlife sanctuary to the sheer global range of material curated.

The main house, the Hassan Fathy building houses a stunning collection of north African and Spanish art, including a Ghanian shoe that is in fact a coffin.

Famous artists are also celebrated throughout the museum, with pieces by Picasso, Ernst Fuchs, Yoko Ono and Irish artist Francis Bacon to be found on the walls.

A visit to the extensive gardens reveals an underground room, the Sokrates gallery that features a spectacular crystal curtain by Swarovski, composed of 10,000 pieces, that forms a backdrop to a complete fossilised skeleton of a Siberian woolly rhinoceros dating from the Riss-Würm upper Pleistocene interglacial period.

The Sculpture Park, also in the gardens, features a series of spectacular and quirky installations, from a marble bookshelf to a full-sized space rocket that would intrigue and enthral younger visitors.

For those whose only interest in Mallorca is the sun, sea and sand, the island continues to delight with a host of high quality, reasonably priced hotel accommodation to be found. If like me your only prospect of sea swimming comes when you’re within reach of the tepid waters of the Mediterranean, this is the place to indulge all things marine.

Swimming at sunrise was a standout highlight from the trip, and given we travelled at the end of September, this isn’t a pursuit confined to the high summer season.

For those sporty types who don’t like getting their hair wet, the island has a feast of gold standard golf courses, with golf bags as common as suitcases on the luggage belts at Palma airport.

Strike it lucky

Pula Golf has been the scene of prestigious events like the PGA European Tour Championships Mallorca, Mallorca Skin Games and the Olazábal & Nadal Invitational among others, with Grand Slam tennis icon Rafa Nadal a Mallorcan native.

The golf resort is built around a 16th century manor house that is often used as a wedding venue with suites that offer the typical Mallorcan hospitality.

The venue has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, along with a spa that can be a draw for those who aren’t really that into striking a golf ball all day long. The S’era de Pula Restaurant, whose terrace overlooks the course, offers food grown from a 6,000m square garden and orchards, complete with chicken coup, ensuring the freshest of ingredients served in sumptuous dishes.

Mallorca is an almost year-round holiday destination that caters to every budget.

Aer Lingus flights from Dublin run until the end of November, resuming again in February with Aer Lingus while Ryanair’s service runs from March to October, with a service also planned from Shannon in 2025.

Jacqueline Hogge was a guest of Mallorca Tourism.