Spain: Balearics (Islas Baleares)

Overview

The Balearic Islands (5,015km2/1,936mi2) in the Mediterranean are both a region and a province, and consist of the islands of Ibiza, Majorca (Mallorca), Minorca (Menorca), Formentera and Cabrera (plus several other tiny islands). The Balearics are Spain’s foremost tourist region accounting for over 40 per cent of overnight stays in Spain and some 9 million visitors a year. They differ considerably in character, although they all have excellent clean beaches and exhibit a stark contrast between their bustling coastlines with large towns, and tranquil inland villages and hills. The three main islands are all popular with foreign property buyers, particularly British and German.

The islands have a fascinating chequered history, including colonisation by Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Vikings, Normans, Charlemagne, Moors, the British (Minorca), the French and Catalonians, until being integrated into a unified Spain in the 15th century.Until the ’60s, when tourism began luring people away from the land, agriculture was the main industry, but today there’s little agriculture left and most food is imported from the mainland. The islands have a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers, tempered by cool sea breezes. Annual sunshine is similar to the Levante (Valencia), while annual rainfall is higher at between 450 and 650mm (18 to 26in). The islands suffer from a perennial shortage of water, which is mostly extracted from deep wells and is expensive. Spanish (Castillian) is widely spoken, although the local language is a dialect of Catalan which varies from island to island, e.g. Majorca (Mallorquín), Minorca (Menorquín) and Ibiza (Ibicenco). All three are similar in vocabulary with many words having their origin in Arabic, French, Italian, Latin and Portuguese.

Majorca (Mallorca)

Majorca, situated 150km (93mi) off the mainland, is the largest island (3,640km2/1,405mi2), 95km (60mi) wide at its widest point. A rugged mountain range (Sierra de Tramontana) covers 20 per cent of the island, extending for 100km (62mi) along the north-western coast from Isla Dragonara to Cabo Formentor, with seven peaks over 1,000m (3,280ft), the highest of which is Puig Mayor (1,445m/4,750ft). In contrast to parts of the over-developed coastline, the rugged interior is empty and peaceful and completely unspoilt. Nearly half the island’s population of 759,000 live in Palma de Mallorca (population 369,000), the capital of the Balearics and an attractive town with many architectural treasures, including a splendid cathedral. Majorca has a wealth of resort towns, the most popular of which are situated on Palma Bay (Bahía de Palma). However, most of these (such as El Arenal, Magaluf and Palma Nova) are prime examples of the worst kind of ’60s over-development, with a plethora of ugly high-rise buildings.

In stark contrast to Palma Bay, the mountainous north-west coast is still relatively undeveloped and the east coast is also mostly unspoilt with many isolated beaches and coves (only 10 per cent of the coastline has been sacrificed to tourism). Popular east coast resorts include Cala Bona, Cala Figuera, Cala Millor, Cala d’Or and Porto Cristo. There are also many attractive residential towns along the north-west coast, including Andratz, Camp de Mar, Deya (home of the late British poet Robert Graves), Puerto de Pollensa, Sóller and Valdemosa. In the north on Alcudia Bay (Bahía de Alcudia), Alcudia and Ca’n Picafort are picturesque towns. The main inland towns are Inca and Manacor, centre of the island’s artificial pearl industry. Railway enthusiasts can enjoy a trip on the vintage (circa 1900) train running from Palma to Sóller (the only other train in the Balearics runs from Palma to Inca), travelling through tunnels and mountains and offering some of the best views on the island. From Sóller an equally ancient tram runs through orange and lemon groves to Puerto de Sóller.

Majorca is the most favoured destination in Spain for British property buyers, although property on the island is among the most expensive in the country with prices for a small two-bedroom apartment starting at €200,000 and at €500,000 for a villa. The ugly low-quality, high-rise buildings of the ’60s are now out of favour and new developments consist mainly of low-rise, low-density buildings. Planning laws mean it’s now difficult to build on the island. Majorca is home to the international jet set and many of the world’s rich and famous have homes there (luxury properties abound). The island has a bustling nightlife and an endless choice of bars, restaurants and night spots, and enjoys a high standard of living, exceeded only by Madrid and Barcelona. Majorca caters to millions of tourists annually, including some three million Germans (it has been dubbed Munich-on-the-Med) and nearly 3.5 million Britons.

Average temperatures are 10°C (50°F) in winter and 25°C (77°F) in summer, when the heat is moderated by cooling winds from the south. Most rain falls in November and December, when it can be torrential, and it also snows occasionally, although the mountains protect the island from the cold north winds from France. Majorca’s San Juan airport (Palma) is the busiest in the whole of Spain and there are frequent ferry services from Barcelona, Denia and Valencia, and to Ibiza, Mahón and Cabrera.

Minorca (Menorca)

Minorca, located 40km (25mi) north-east of Majorca, is 48km (30mi) long and 15km (9mi) wide, with a coastline of 189km (117mi). The island covers an area of 669km2 (258mi2) and has a population of around 83,000. The main towns include the capital Mahon (Mahón in Castillian Spanish/Maó in Menorquín), an attractive town with a fine harbour, and Ciudadela (Ciutadella), the ancient former capital. There are a number of relatively new resorts on the south and east coasts at Binibeca, Cala’n Porter, El Grao, Santo Tomas, Son Bou and Villa Carlos, while popular north coast developments include Cala Morell and Fornells. The main inland towns include Alayor, Ferrerias and Mercadal. Minorca is noted for its rugged coastline, rolling green landscape and sandy beaches, although the general topography is bleak and monotonous. The island has over 120 beaches, most in secluded coves, regarded by many as the best in the Balearics. It has a slow, relaxing pace of life and isn’t the place for those who want to rave all night long.

Old houses in Mahon and Ciudadela have an abundance of character and are much prized by foreign buyers. The island’s traditional Mediterranean island architecture has an English influence (it was ruled on and off by the British in the 18th century), which can be seen in the Georgian architecture, houses without balconies, sash windows, door knockers and latches. Not surprisingly, Minorca is popular with the British, who have traditionally been the main foreign homebuyers, although in recent years it has become popular with Germans. With the exception of a few eyesores, it’s largely unspoilt and there are few high-rise buildings, with low-level, Moorish-style architecture predominating. The less exposed south coast is primarily given over to purpose-built holiday homes and isn’t best suited for permanent residents.

Property on the island is expensive, although generally cheaper than property on Majorca and Ibiza, and there’s a reasonable choice of resale property. Prices for a two-bedroom apartment start at €160,000 and at €400,000 for a small villa. As on the other islands, new construction on Minorca is subject to strict regulations. Minorca has a fine summer climate, but is very windy from October to April when the cold Tramontana wind often blows. There’s an international airport in Mahon, although flights are greatly reduced in winter and you may have to travel via the mainland airports of Barcelona or Valencia. Minorca has ferry connections with Palma, Barcelona and Valencia.

Ibiza (Eivissa)

Ibiza is located 83km (52mi) from the mainland and 40km (25mi) south-west of Majorca, covering an area of 572km2 (220mi2) with a coastline of 179km (105mi). The resident population is around 106,000, most of which live in the capital, Ibiza Town, which enjoys a stunning location and has a well preserved and attractive old walled town (Dalt Vila). Ibiza is a beautiful island, with fine beaches and a rugged coastline, steep cliffs and barely accessible coves. Inland, there’s unspoilt countryside with fields of olive, almond and carob trees, melons and vines.

Ibiza is noted for its excellent restaurants and vibrant nightlife and has Europe’s biggest and boldest dance clubs. The island’s visitors and foreign residents are renowned for their excess. The island has a large gay population and nude bathing is commonplace. Ibiza is the most fashionable Balearic island, having been discovered by the international jet set and artists in the early ’60s. Mass tourism followed in the mid-’60s, although the over-development which ran riot in Majorca and on the mainland’s costas was avoided thanks to strict planning controls. However, although Ibiza hasn’t been ruined by high-rise buildings, like Majorca, it’s plagued by drunken tourists in summer and certain areas (e.g. San Antonio) are best avoided during the peak summer months.

Property is generally more expensive than in the other Balearic islands and luxurious millionaire’s homes abound. The coast between Ibiza Town (population around 23,000) and Santa Eulalia is particularly attractive and property is consequently expensive. The largest towns include Santa Antonio Abad and Santa Eulalia del Rio, both of which are ugly and over-developed. The northern rural half of the island around the villages of San Carlos and San Mateo is the least developed. Popular residential resorts include Cala Longa and Roca Lisa, while Portinatx is an attractive resort. Like Majorca, Ibiza has become increasingly popular with the Germans, who along with the British, are the main property buyers. Two-bedroom apartments cost from €200,000 and villas start at €500,000. The island authorities have imposed strict controls and quotas on building, which is now limited on the island.

The island has good roads, which were rebuilt in the mid-’80s, and the infrastructure and services have been upgraded in the last few decades. It has an international airport handling over 4 million passengers a year, although flight frequency is much reduced in winter and options are often limited to (expensive) flights via the mainland airports of Barcelona and Valencia. Ibiza is served by ferries from Barcelona, Denia and Valencia on the mainland, and also from Majorca.

Formentera

Formentera is just 7km (3.5mi) from Ibiza, although it’s a one-hour ferry or 20-minute catamaran trip due to the strong currents (take your seasickness pills). It’s the smallest of the inhabited Balearics (14km/9mi long) with an area of 115km2 (44mi2) and a population of just 7,200. The island has some of Spain’s longest, whitest and least developed beaches, although inland it’s completely barren, with the few remaining crops requiring protection from the strong winter winds. The capital is San Francisco Javier (Sant Francesc Xavier) situated in the middle of the island. Due to the island’s small size and shortage of water, there are few homes for sale (and almost nowhere to stay) and it’s of little interest to foreign homebuyers.

© Survival Books Limited 2005

“Buying a Home in Spain 2006” 5th Edition, David Hampshire.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on this topic can be found in “Buying a Home in Spain 2006” 5th edition, by David Hampshire.

For extensive, annually updated information about buying a property in Spain, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net