All language subtitles for The.World.From.Above.S02E06.WEBRip.x264-ION10

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] Our journey
begins as we approach

the southwest corner of Mallorca,

and onto Palma, the capital of the island.

From there we head north
into the mountains,

and along the coast of the
hilltop village of Deia,

and then on to the monastry at Lluc.

Following the dramatic coastline,

we pass the town of Cala Sant Vicenc,

before arriving at the lighthouse
on the Cap de Formentor.

In the bay to the south,

we take a look at the resort
town of Port de Pollenca,

and then head east along
the coast to Cala Ratjada.

We fly south to Porto Cristo

before heading inland

to three historic mountain
monasteries at Randa.

Our journey around Mallorca
ends back at Palma.

Mallorca is the largest
of the Balearic Islands,

and has a history stretching
back to the Romans,

followed by the Vandals,
then by the Byzantines,

and the Moors.

It finally became Spanish
in the 13th century.

Today, Mallorca is a resort
island for mass tourism

which began back in the 1950s

when package holidays began to be sold.

In 1960, the island
received 500,000 visitors.

In 1997, it was nearly seven million,

and in 2010, around 10 million people

came here for a holiday.

To cope with this number of tourists,

resorts have grown up around the coast,

particularly in the
southwestern part of the island

near the airport.

The reason for this great
expansion is twofold,

climate and accessibility.

Mallorca enjoys roughly 300
days of sunshine a year,

and is easily reached from
most European countries.

This also makes it a popular
place to buy property,

and at Portals Nous, it
is mainly residential,

with a large marina for private yachts.

Many of the beaches are sheltered,

and make a perfect place
for families to spend a day.

Due to European regulations
and the Blue Flag policy,

there has been, over the years,
an environmental cleanup,

which means people can be
assured of unspoiled beaches

and unpolluted seas.

The capital of Mallorca is Palma,

where over half the local
population of the island live.

Its seaport is busy with cargo ships

as well as cruise ships,

and ferries between the other
islands and mainland Spain.

Since the start of mass tourism,

Palma has expanded to cope with
the increase in population.

Despite the rise of modern buildings,

the city is dominated by one of the finest

gothic cathedrals in Europe,

and a jewel in Mallorcan architecture.

(choir singing)

Known locally as La Seu,

and officially of the Palma
de Mallorca Cathedral,

it is one of the largest
Catholic places of worship,

at 121 meters long, and 55 meters wide.

It was founded back in the 13th century

following the defeat of
the Arabs by King James I

when he sailed to the
island with his army.

During the voyage, a storm raged,

and he feared for his life.

He made an oath to God,

promising to build a
cathedral in His honor,

and to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary

should his invasion be a success.

It was, and building
began around the year 1300

on the site of the old mosque.

Building was slow as money was scarce,

and it was not until 300
years later, in 1601,

that the main facade was completed

and this masterpiece began to take shape.

An earthquake in 1851
left the building unsafe,

which meant a great deal of
reconstruction and restoration.

The cathedral was not finely finished

until well into the 20th century.

As we head north from Palma,

the Serra de Tramuntana begin to rise up.

This mountain range runs
almost the whole length

of the west coast.

An inner mountain valley is
the Son Termens Golf Club.

This is a relatively new
course built in 1998,

and has stunning views of the mountains.

A few miles to the north

and further into the
mountains is Valldemossa.

This picturesque village
is perhaps most famous

for the Carthusian monastery

which was built at the
end of the 14th century.

It was disbanded in 1835.

A year later, the Polish
composer Frederic Chopin

spent time in the disused monastery

with his mistress, Lucile Dupin,

better known as the French
novelist Georges Sand.

Here in Mallorca,

Chopin composed several of
his well known piano pieces.

(light piano music)

The rugged west coast of Mallorca

is in stark contrast to
the main resort centers

with their high rise blocks
and countless hotels.

Here, the beautiful natural landscape

has remained unchanged for centuries,

and is now protected
from mass development.

Since the 19th century,

a number of villas have
been built along the coast,

and now change hands for
a great deal of money.

Some were once part of large estates

going back to a time when European royalty

holidayed on the island.

Many of the villas have
outstanding views over the sea,

and paths lead down to small coves

which are sheltered from the wind,

and the smooth, weathered rocks

provide a great platform for sunbathing.

One of the most beautiful
villages in Mallorca is Deia,

set deep into the surrounding
Tramuntana mountains.

(relaxing music)

This hilltop village
is built of local stone

with an ancient church at the top,

which can be reached through
the narrow, winding streets.

Deia has a special place
in Mallorcan history,

as it was on the coast in 1852

that 50 brave and determined islanders

fought off an invasion force
of 150 North African Moors.

This victory is celebrated
every year with a reenactment.

By the 19th century,
tourists began to arrive,

drawn by the beauty of the village

and the surrounding landscape.

In the 20th century, it was to be the home

of the English poet Robert Graves,

who died in 1985, and is
buried in the churchyard.

Today, many film stars, rock musicians,

and successful industrialists
from around the world

have made Deia their summer retreat.

Over the centuries,

only a few towns have been
built along the coast,

as the Tramuntana mountains

made an effective barrier
for communication.

But it's only in the sheltered valleys

that a town could prosper.

Soller is one of them,

and stands in the Valley of Oranges.

History stretching back
to the 13th century,

this ancient town survives
and prospers on tourism,

and in particular, its port on the coast.

An old tram connects the town to the port,

which has been a favorite
resort for decades,

and especially for people
who want a quieter holiday

away from the noisy and
more populated resorts

of the south coast.

This sheltered bay offers
not only a glorious beach,

but also hiking trails into the mountains,

which form the backdrop to the port.

The Serra de Tramuntana is the largest

and one of the most important areas

of natural beauty on Mallorca.

In this 50 kilometer range of mountains

are a huge variety of
geological formations,

as well as unique plants,
rare animal species,

and above all, spectacular scenery.

For decades, the area has been threatened

with new public works,
planning applications,

and the spread of tourism.

June of 2011, the Tramuntana mountains

were awarded World
Heritage status by UNESCO

as an area of great physical
and cultural significance.

Up in the mountains, the
climate is significantly wetter

than the rest of the
island, and in the winter,

it's not unusual for snow to be seen

on the top of the peaks,

the highest of which is
Puig Major at 1,445 meters.

Since 1958, the public are
barred from the summit,

as it is a military zone
with a radar station

perched on the top,

which watches over the
western Mediterranean,

as well as Northern Africa.

(relaxing music)

Up at this height, birds
of prey seek their food,

including falcons, ospreys,
and vultures, and in fact,

Mallorca is the only
island in the Mediterranean

where vultures still survive.

Centuries ago, much of the island

was covered with natural forest,

and it's only here in the mountains

that some of it survives.

The protection by UNESCO
will hopefully help

in keeping this rare woodland
safe from further development,

as well as protect all the
animals that live in it.

One building in the mountains
that has its own protection

is the Santuari de Lluc,

which has been here
since the 13th century.

The reason for building
the monastery on this site

was thanks to a young shepherd boy

who had found an ancient
statue of the Virgin Mary

buried in the ground.

Lluc is considered to be the
most important pilgrimage site

on Mallorca, and has been
welcoming guests for centuries.

Today, the monastery offers
simple accommodation,

mostly in cells once
occupied by former monks.

However, unlike any other modest hotel,

guests are asked to be
silent after 11 p.m.

The monks welcome people of all faiths,

and those that have none,

because Lluc is more than a sanctuary,

as it is a secular national symbol,

it is designed for those
people seeking an alternative

to days spent on a beach
and partying at night.

Many people often use the monastery

as a base for days spent
walking in the mountains.

The monastery is also
internationally known

for its choir school,

which was established
back in the 16th century.

During term time,

they sing at services in
the morning and evening,

and also regularly hold concerts
during the summer months.

10 miles to the north,

where the mountains begin
to slope down to sea,

is the town of Pollenca.

It was founded back in the 13th century

as a center for defense
on the northern coast.

The name of the town comes from the time

of the Roman occupation
when a nearby settlement

was called Pollentia.

Much of the town was built in
the 17th and 18th centuries,

but it's along the old medieval streets

that Pollenca displays a
character all of its own.

As it's close to the sea,

a large number of holiday villas,

each with its own swimming pool,

have been built in the
hills above the town.

Across the mountains to the west,

and in a small valley
surrounded by high cliffs,

is the seaside resort
town of Cala Sant Vicenc.

The beach is divided into two
by the long, high peninsula,

which carries the main road
and many of the town's hotels.

The road carries right on to the end,

offering great views of the
sea as it pounds the rocks.

A few miles to the north
is the Cap de Formentor,

which is a narrow peninsula

at the northernmost point in Mallorca.

The cliffs are spectacular,

and have been carved into wonderful shapes

by the force of the sea and the wind

over thousands of years.

(relaxing music)

And at the end is a large
lighthouse built in 1892.

Building it was quite a task

in this remote and harsh terrain.

Due to the difficulty of
transporting the workforce

along the peninsula,
everyone stayed on site,

and construction carried on

over Sundays and religious holidays.

When the Bishop of
Mallorca heard about this,

he was so appalled that he
had an altar built nearby

so that the workers could
hear mass on Sundays.

In 1962, a power line was
installed across the mountains

to light the lamp,

but lightning strikes rendered it useless,

and so two generators
were installed instead.

Today, the lighthouse is solar powered,

and also remotely controlled.

During the early 20th century,

a mountain road was
built to the lighthouse,

and it's not for the fainthearted,

as it twists and curves around the cliffs

with few safety barriers.

The length of the peninsula
in a straight line

is slightly less than 10 kilometers.

The road runs for over
20 kilometers, however,

once at the end, the
views are reward enough.

Until the early 20th century,

the whole of the Cap de
Formentor was in private hands.

When the owner died,

the land was divided into lots and sold.

On one lot of 1,200 hectares,

a luxury hotel was built in 1928,

and the Barcelo Formentor
is still welcoming guests

from around the world.

It's one of the best
known hotels in Mallorca.

Sheltered from the wind,

but with glorious views
of the beach and sea,

the hotel can boast a who's
who of international guests

from the very start.

Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin,

Audrey Hepburn, John Wayne,

Laurence Olivier, and today,

movie stars such as Tom
Cruise and Michael Douglas.

In 1995, Barcelo Formentor
hosted a European Summit Meeting

with all the heads of
state staying on site.

This whole stretch of coast
around the sheltered bay

is home to some very
exclusive seaside villas.

(relaxing music)

The sea is clear and blue,

and the ferries take tourists
on trips around the bay.

They will pass this rather
amazing property, La Fortaleza.

The old fort was built in 1628

to protect the port of Pollenca,

and is now being turned into
a very exclusive holiday home

with no expense spared.

Secure on its own peninsula,

the villa can be got to by
boat, car, and helicopter.

It is rumored to have been
sold to a British banker

for an undisclosed sum,

but thought to be in the
region of $35 million,

and one of the most expensive

private property deals on the island.

The view from the south facing terraces

looks toward the port of Pollenca.

This beachside resort is the
northernmost town in Mallorca,

and one of the island's more
expensive holiday spots.

It is sheltered by the
Tramuntana mountains,

and has a large, sweeping beach

which runs for nearly six kilometers.

Porto Pollensa attracts families

from many different countries

who can enjoy the various activities,

including some which give
great views of the area.

On the northeastern tip of Mallorca

is the Punta de Capdepera,

and the small resort town of Cala Ratjada.

A small fortified town grew
up here in the 14th century,

then developed into a
fishing and trading port,

and today is a popular resort.

(relaxing music)

At Porto Cristo,

a resort has grown up
around the natural harbor,

which has been in existence
since the 13th century.

It is said in one legend that the name,

which means the port of Christ,

came about because a fishing
boat was washed ashore

which was carrying a large crucifix.

In another legend, two oxen
who were pulling a cart

with an icon on their way to Palma

refused to go any further.

The icon stayed, and the
town was named in its honor.

As we head inland, small
mountains begin to emerge,

and on one of them,

known as the three shrines
near the down of Randa,

are three monasteries.

At the foot of the mountain
is a Santuario de Gracia,

the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace.

Mallorca abounds in places
of devotion and pilgrimage

with most dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The main shrine and chapel has
been carved out of the rock

and hidden from view.

Over the centuries, the
buildings around the shrine

have suffered much damage and
lost most of their decoration.

Further up on the edge of the cliff,

above the Santuario de Gracia,

is the Ermita de Sant Honorat,

the hermitage of Saint Honorat.

In 1394, a knight by the
name of Arnau Desbrull,

who had chosen to live as a hermit

on the mountain for 30 years,

asked the Bishop of
Mallorca for permission

to build a chapel to Saint Honorat,

an early Christian saint
from the fourth century.

He chose a part of the mountain
with an unobstructed view

to the south to build his hermitage.

Over the succeeding centuries,

the primitive building
feel into a ruinous state,

and was rebuilt, along with a new church,

in the 17th century.

And finally, on the
very top of the mountain

is the Santuari de Nostra Senyora de Cura,

the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Cura,

who was a divine figure
from the ancient world

whose name means care or concern.

One of the most important
early Mallorcan philosophers

was Ramon Llull,

who had a spiritual retreat
in a cave on the mountaintop.

It was here he founded the
first Latin grammar school,

which was active until 1826.

In 1913, the sanctuary was restored,

but handed over to the
monastic order of Franciscans.

Today, with the help of volunteers,

people are welcome to the retreat

to stay in the converted cells

and enjoy the peace and quiet,

as well as the outstanding
views over the landscape.

On our way back to Palma
and the end of this journey

around Mallorca, we pass
the island's main airport.

During the summer months,

it's one of the busiest in Europe,

and in 2010, handled over
21 million passengers.

This number of people coming to the island

makes Mallorca one of the most

popular destinations in Europe.

It has been welcoming
tourists in all seasons

for well over 100 years.

Because the island boasts
300 days of sunshine a year,

that means 300 glorious sunsets to enjoy.

And as the sun goes down,

our journey around picturesque Mallorca

comes to a perfect end.

(inspiring music)