Audio Guide: Palma de Mallorca Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Palma de Mallorca

French author Aurore Dupin, better known by her pen name George Sand, spent the winter of 1838–1839 in Mallorca together with the famous Polish composer Frédéric Chopin. Despite the cold weather, she wrote that Mallorca was “all that a poet or a painter might dream of.”

The first part of city’s name, Palma, is traditionally linked to the Latin word that means “palm tree,” a symbol often associated with victory and fertile land, while the latter part of city's name, "de Mallorca'', distinguishes it from other places with "Palma” in their same names and firmly anchors it to the island.

The earliest major urban development dates to 123 BC, when the Romans founded Palmaria Palmensis after conquering the Balearic Islands. Under Roman rule, Palma grew into a strategic port and administrative center. Following the decline of the Roman Empire, the city passed through several hands, including Byzantine control, periods of instability, and pirate activities.

A decisive transformation came with Islamic rule, which lasted from 902 to 1229. Known as Madina Mayurqa, Palma became a flourishing Muslim city with sophisticated irrigation systems, fortified walls, palaces, and a dense street network that still influences the layout of the Old Town today.

In December 1229, after a siege lasting three months, the city fell to King James I of Aragon, and Mallorca was incorporated into the Christian Crown of Aragon. The Islamic city was reshaped: mosques were converted into churches, Gothic buildings rose atop earlier foundations, and Palma developed into a key maritime and commercial hub in the western Mediterranean.

Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Palma endured pirate raids and political shifts but remained an important fortified port. The demolition of the city walls in the 19th century allowed expansion beyond the medieval core, opening the way for new neighborhoods and promenades.

Walking through Palma’s Old Town today, visitors encounter narrow stone streets, shaded courtyards, Gothic churches, and elegant palaces built from warm honey-colored sandstone. Palma Cathedral dominates views near the waterfront alongside the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, while nearby lanes lead toward Plaza Mayor, revealing hidden patios, artisan shops, and small squares. Arab-influenced street patterns mix with medieval façades, cafés, and galleries, creating a compact city center where history unfolds step by step amid everyday local life.

As this walk begins, it’s easy to understand what George Sand meant. Palma still feels like a city shaped for poets, painters, and anyone willing to look closely. You may miss many places in life, but one thing is certain: it would be a shame to miss Mallorca.