Golf Holidays In The Med - Majorca And Menorca
Two of the three Spanish Balearic Islands are popular for golf holidays - Majorca and Menorca.
Between them they offer no less than 14 golf courses, and are well designed courses that can be as enticing to novice golfers as they are challenging to veterans. Thirteen of the courses are located on Majorca, and plans are afoot to let holiday golfers know what they are missing if they overlook golf in the Balearics.
With its world famous beaches, cultural offerings and sporting opportunities, Majorca is an ideal travel destination. The island is nearly 80 kilometers long and boasts over 500 kilometers of coastline. Much of that coastline features beaches ranging from pristine white sand stretches to tiny out of the way coves and inlets. The surrounding waters are a crystal clear invitation to swimmers, wind surfers, scuba divers, fishermen, sailors and surfers.
The capital of Majorca is Palma. This is really the centre of the island's culture. Tourists are often stunned by the beauty of the Cathedral of Palma. It is an almost overwhelming gothic structure overlooking the bay. It is noted for its enormous rose window and wrought iron works by Catalan master Antonio Gaudi. At night, the cathedral radiates green lighting that could almost be mistaken for Frank Baum's Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz.
Throughout the year, the city offers festivals, concerts, literary events and exhibitions that attract artists and fans from around the world. Tourists can find works by Cezanne, Picasso, Gauguin and Kiefer in museums like L'Almudaina and Es Baluard.
Inland, the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range reaches heights of 14,000 feet. Travelers will delight in discovering numerous small towns within the peaks and valleys of the mountains. Eventually, the mountains sweep down to the sea in dramatic fashion. Equally delightful, tourists will also find a wide variety of Balearic cuisine, much of which is Mediterranean inspired.
Menorca is much smaller than its sister to the south. Often referred to as "the island of pleasant breezes," Menorca has remained much more rural. Despite its much smaller size, Menorca has almost as many inviting beaches along its coastline as Majorca and Ibiza combined. The white sand beaches and crystal clear waters are hard to resist. Swimming, diving, fishing, scuba diving, sailing and surfing are as popular on Menorca as they are on Majorca. Sailing, in particular, draws many enthusiasts because of the stunning harbours and inlets that dot the coastline.
Golf is also extremely popular on the island. Although Menorca has just one course at the present time, it is situated within sight of the stunning Son Parc beach on the north coast. Both novices and expert golfers enjoy the challenges that the course offers.
As in the rest of the Balearic islands, Mediterranean cuisine abounds. Known for its sumptuous seafood varieties, a staple of Menorcan cuisine is caldereta de llgosta, a delicious lobster stew that all visitors are encouraged to try at least once before they leave the island. But if lobster is not your choice, there are sardines, mullet, squid, prawns, grouper, tuna and sole to choose from as well. Combine these with the island produced varieties of olives, cheeses and abundant fresh vegetables, and it is hard to imagine a disgruntled diner.
So whether you come for the water sports, the golf, or the sheer beauty of the islands, you will have chosen well if your holiday is spent in the Balearics. In particular, Majorca and Menorca have all the components of a wonderful holiday. It is little wonder that so many first time visitors soon become return visitors to the islands, whether for golf or a break with the family.
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