Category: anecdotes

Primer coche en Mallorca
anecdotes History

First car in Mallorca

Did you know that the first car to arrive in Mallorca came to the island in 1897? On 8 April that year, a remarkable Roger-Benz arrived in Palma from Marseille, introducing Mallorcans to a revolutionary new invention that could travel without horses. Discover the fascinating story of Mallorca’s first car, the wealthy owner who brought it to the island, the difficulties involved in getting this pioneering vehicle on the road and the extraordinary fact that, more than 125 years later, the original Roger-Benz is still preserved in Mallorca.

Coronat, the remarkable motorbike built in Mallorca
anecdotes History

Coronat, the remarkable motorcycle built in Mallorca

Did you know that one of the most innovative motorcycles of the 1950s was designed and built in Mallorca? The Coronat was the brainchild of Mallorcan inventor Jaume Llobera Morro, who created an exceptionally advanced Spanish motorcycle in his workshop in Inca. With its own four-stroke engine, shaft drive, single-sided rear swingarm and central suspension, the Coronat featured technology far ahead of its time. Only seven motorcycles were registered between 1955 and 1957. Discover the fascinating story of the Coronat motorcycle, a remarkable piece of Mallorca’s industrial and motoring history.

The coats of arms of Mallorca’s villages and their fascinating stories
anecdotes History

The coats of arms of Mallorca’s villages and their fascinating stories

Have you ever wondered what the coats of arms of Mallorca’s villages actually mean? Look closely at the façades and historic buildings across the island and you’ll discover castles, towers, animals, religious symbols and even five traditional fritters hiding centuries of history and local traditions. Discover the fascinating coats of arms of Mallorca’s villages, from the castle and Arabic influences of Alaró to the radiant sun of Andratx, the five bunyols of Bunyola and the unusual symbols of Manacor and Sant Llorenç d’es Cardassar. Explore the stories behind Mallorca’s heraldry and discover a different way of uncovering the history of the island’s villages.

History of Mallorcan surnames
anecdotes History Traditions and customs

History of Mallorcan surnames

Have you ever wondered where Mallorcan surnames come from? The family names found across Mallorca today tell a fascinating story of the island’s history, shaped by different cultures, migrations and centuries of change. Discover the origins and meanings of Mallorcan surnames, from Catalan and Arabic influences to noble family names and the distinctive Xueta surnames of Mallorca. Ferrer, Pons, Serra, Riera, Oliver, Coll, Aguiló and Bonnín are just some of the traditional family names that reveal the island’s rich and complex past. Explore the history of Mallorcan surnames and discover how Mallorca’s family names have evolved over the centuries.

Llaut la Balear
anecdotes Gastronomy History

Sailing around Mallorca

What was it like to sail around Mallorca in 1899? That summer, nine friends from Santanyí set off on an extraordinary adventure aboard a traditional Mallorcan llaüt, sailing around the island, exploring coves and coastal villages, and eating and sleeping on board. More than a century later, the discovery of the expedition’s original diary and documents made it possible to reconstruct their remarkable journey and glimpse what Mallorca was like at the end of the 19th century. Discover the fascinating story of sailing around Mallorca in 1899, a unique adventure combining traditional sailing, friendship, food and history.

Spies in Mallorca: the incredible story of Tommy Harris
anecdotes History

Spies in Mallorca: the incredible story of Tommy Harris

Did you know that Mallorca was once a secret stage for international espionage? During the Spanish Civil War, the Second World War and the early years of the Cold War, the island’s strategic position attracted British, German and other intelligence agents. Among them was Tommy Harris, a British MI6 agent who played a key role in the deception network of Joan Pujol “Garbo”, helping to convince Hitler that the Allied invasion of Europe would take place elsewhere. Discover the fascinating story of spies in Mallorca, the secret networks operating on the island and the remarkable characters who made Mallorca part of the history of international espionage.

Mallorca and the return of eco-friendly sailing transport
anecdotes

Mallorca and the return of eco-friendly sailing transport

Did you know that Mallorca was once a key hub of Mediterranean trade? For centuries, sailing ships left the island’s ports carrying wine, citrus fruit, cured meats and textiles to France and other Mediterranean destinations. Ports such as Sóller and Portocolom played an important role in these maritime trade routes, connecting Mallorca with places such as Sète and leaving a lasting mark on the island’s history and culture. Discover how Mallorca’s traditional sea trade shaped the island and how some of these historic routes are now being revived through sustainable sailing transport.

Condesas y duquesas de Mallorca
anecdotes

Cars made in Mallorca: the story of the CBA Condesa and Duquesa

Did you know that some remarkably unusual classic cars were actually made in Mallorca? The CBA Condesa and Duquesa were built in Palma during the 1980s, combining a distinctive Belle Époque-inspired design with the simple and reliable mechanical components of the Citroën 2CV. With around 200 examples produced on the island, these rare vehicles have become a fascinating piece of Mallorca’s automotive and industrial history. Discover the story behind the cars made in Mallorca and the unusual CBA Condesa and Duquesa.

Hidroaviones en Mallorca
anecdotes

Seaplanes in Mallorca

Saviez-vous que les premiers hydravions sont arrivés à Majorque dès 1920 ? Au cours des années 1920 et 1930, l’île est devenue un point important de l’aviation maritime en Méditerranée, avec des liaisons entre Barcelone et Palma, une école de pilotes d’hydravion à Porto-Colom et une base aérienne historique dans la baie de Pollensa. Découvrez l’histoire fascinante des hydravions à Majorque et le rôle qu’ils ont joué dans les débuts de l’aviation moderne sur l’île.

Mallorca and Puerto Rico: a history that links two islands
anecdotes

Mallorca and Puerto Rico: a history that links two islands

What connects Mallorca and Puerto Rico? During the 19th century, thousands of Mallorcans crossed the Atlantic in search of a better life, leaving a lasting mark on Puerto Rico’s history and culture. Many came from Sóller and other towns across Mallorca, building successful businesses, coffee plantations and family networks on the island. Discover the fascinating story of Mallorcan emigration to Puerto Rico, the journey across the Atlantic and the legacy that can still be found today in Puerto Rican surnames, traditions and the famous “Mallorcas” – Puerto Rico’s version of Mallorca’s traditional ensaimada.

Cristóbal Colón era mallorquín
anecdotes

Christopher Columbus was Mallorcan.

Could Christopher Columbus have been Mallorcan rather than Genoese? More than 500 years after his voyage to America, the explorer’s true origins remain one of history’s most intriguing mysteries. One theory suggests that Columbus was born in Mallorca, possibly near Felanitx, and that he deliberately concealed his origins for political reasons. Discover the historical clues linking Christopher Columbus to Mallorca, from his name and family connections to Mallorcan navigation, place names in the Americas and the latest scientific research into his ancestry.

What was Mallorca like in 1960
anecdotes

What was Mallorca like in 1960

Did you know that Mallorca in 1960 was a very different island from the one we know today? With just 362,000 inhabitants, quiet streets, almost deserted beaches and tourism only beginning to take off, life in Mallorca moved at a much slower pace. Through the memories of Erika, a young German woman who arrived on the island at the dawn of the tourism boom, discover what everyday life was really like in Palma and Mallorca in the 1960s: the cost of a Vespa or a Seat 600, where people ate, how they spent their Sundays, what the beaches looked like and the customs that surprised a young foreign visitor. Take a nostalgic journey back to Mallorca in 1960 and discover the island before mass tourism transformed it.

Fenómeno OVNI en Mallorca
anecdotes

UFO phenomenon in Mallorca

Have UFOs really been spotted in Mallorca? Discover some of the island’s most intriguing UFO sightings, from mysterious objects photographed over the Tramuntana Mountains to unexplained encounters off the Mallorcan coast. Explore fascinating cases reported in Sóller, Puig Major, Cúber and Cabo Blanco, including eyewitness accounts, photographs and declassified military documents relating to unidentified flying objects. Whether you are a believer, a sceptic or simply fascinated by unexplained phenomena, uncover the strange stories behind some of the most curious UFO sightings in Mallorca.

T
anecdotes Nature

Sharks in Mallorca

Are there sharks in Mallorca? Discover which shark species inhabit the waters around Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, from blue sharks and makos to the impressive great white shark. Explore the fascinating history of sharks in Mallorca, including the remarkable great white catches recorded in the Bay of Pollensa during the 1960s and 1970s, and find out why sharks in the Mediterranean are far less dangerous to humans than you might think.

The extraordinary story of travelling around Mallorca on a camel
anecdotes

The extraordinary story of travelling around Mallorca on a camel

Discover the extraordinary true story of a camel journey around Mallorca in 1964. Two young Mallorcan artists set out from Palma with Mohammed, a 600-kilo camel, determined to travel around the island and turn their adventure into a story. Follow their remarkable journey through Mallorca, from village to village and across the Tramuntana mountains, and uncover one of the most unusual and unforgettable stories from 1960s Mallorca.

Primer vuelo en Mallorca
anecdotes

First flight in Mallorca

The first flight in Mallorca took place in 1910, when French aviator Julien Mamet arrived in Palma with his Blériot XI to give a pioneering flying demonstration. Thousands of spectators gathered to witness this extraordinary event, as the aircraft flew over Son Macià and the surrounding area before a dramatic crash brought the flight to an end. Discover the fascinating story behind Mallorca’s first flight and the early days of aviation on the island.

Contrabandistas en Mallorca
anecdotes

Smuggling in Mallorca

Smuggling in Mallorca became a major clandestine activity during the difficult post-war years of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Tobacco, coffee, sugar, medicine and other scarce goods arrived by boat from Gibraltar and North Africa, often being unloaded under cover of darkness along the island’s coast. Discover the fascinating history of Mallorca’s smugglers, how these secret networks operated and why the local expression “anar de tabac” became synonymous with the tobacco trade that shaped a remarkable chapter in Mallorca’s history.

First car registered in Spain
anecdotes

First car registered in Spain

Did you know that the first car registered in Spain was registered in Mallorca? On 31 October 1900, a French Clément quadricycle received the registration plate PM-1, making it the first officially registered car in Spain. Discover the fascinating story behind this pioneering vehicle, its Mallorcan owner José Sureda Fuentes and the beginnings of motoring on the island at the dawn of the 20th century.

The Mallorcan ensaimada and its distant cousin, the Filipino ensaymada
anecdotes

The Mallorcan ensaimada and its distant cousin, the Filipino ensaymada

Did you know that the famous Filipino ensaymada has its roots in Mallorca? Mallorca’s traditional ensaimada is much more than a famous island pastry: it has travelled across the world and inspired its Filipino counterpart, the ensaymada. Discover the fascinating story behind these two pastries, how the Mallorcan recipe made its way to the Philippines and how it evolved into a distinctly Filipino favourite, while preserving a link to Mallorca’s rich culinary heritage.

The Mallorcan pioneer of the helicopter: the story of Pere de Son Gall
anecdotes

The Mallorcan pioneer of the helicopter: the story of Pere de Son Gall

Did you know that a self-taught inventor from Mallorca dreamed of building a helicopter more than a century ago? Pere Sastre Obrador, better known as Pere de Son Gall, was a Mallorcan inventor from Llucmajor who designed and built the Cometagiroavión, an unusual aircraft designed to achieve vertical flight. Working with limited resources in rural Mallorca, he pursued his pioneering idea with remarkable determination. Discover the fascinating story of Pere de Son Gall, his helicopter prototype and the little-known chapter of Mallorca’s history of aviation.

"Dignitat i Feina" - that's how it all started
anecdotes

“Dignitat i Feina” – that’s how it all started

Discover the inspiring story behind Dignitat i Feina, a social initiative in Mallorca that turned a simple idea into an opportunity for work, dignity and rural regeneration. By recovering abandoned almond and carob groves, the project helped support people at risk of social exclusion while preserving Mallorca’s agricultural heritage. Find out how this remarkable initiative eventually gave rise to a traditional Mallorcan almond nougat, bringing together local produce, craftsmanship, sustainability and social commitment.

Mallorca on two wheels
anecdotes

When Mallorca made motorbikes

Did you know that motorcycles were once made in Mallorca? During the 1950s and 1960s, the island was home to several small motorcycle manufacturers, including Colomet, Coronat, BMS, Bordoy, Bibiloni and Joyca. At a time when affordable motorcycles were transforming mobility across Spain, Mallorcan entrepreneurs created their own designs and built a small but fascinating local motorcycle industry. Discover the story of motorcycles made in Mallorca, the pioneering Colomet and innovative Coronat, and why these home-grown brands eventually disappeared as competition from larger mainland manufacturers grew.

Loryc a car manufactured in Mallorca
anecdotes

Loryc a car manufactured in Mallorca

Did you know that cars were manufactured in Mallorca more than a century ago? Between 1921 and 1929, the Loryc brand built small cars and cyclecars on the island, combining Mallorcan craftsmanship with French engines and taking part in prestigious motor races. Despite its success, the company eventually disappeared as mass-produced French cars became increasingly competitive. Discover the fascinating story of Loryc, a car made in Mallorca, and how this forgotten Mallorcan motoring brand was brought back to life decades later as an electric car.