The history of Mallorca

From 1700 to today

What happened next?

The War of the Spanish Succession reached Mallorca in the early 18th century. Bourbon rule was established in 1715. The Nueva Planta reforms fundamentally changed the island’s political institutions and tied it more closely to the centralised monarchy. For many people, everyday life still revolved around farming, crafts and their village.

Trade and industry grew during the 19th century, while early visitors began discovering the island. George Sand and Frédéric Chopin spent the winter of 1838–39 on Mallorca, a stay particularly associated with Valldemossa. Later, Archduke Ludwig Salvator’s work brought wider attention to its landscapes and way of life. You can explore his story at Son Marroig.

The Spanish Civil War, which began in 1936, brought violence and persecution. The military rebels secured control of Mallorca, and a Republican landing on the east coast failed. Political repression continued under Franco’s dictatorship. Castell de Bellver is part of that history: it was used as a prison during the Civil War.

Tourism transformed the island from the 1950s onwards, particularly during the 1960s. Growing air travel brought more holidaymakers. In 1960, Son Sant Joan took over commercial flights from Son Bonet. Hotels, roads and resorts were built or expanded, and many people found work in tourism. Stretches of coast became the holiday destinations you know today.

After Franco’s death in 1975, Spain began its transition to democracy. The Balearic Islands gained their Statute of Autonomy and their own political institutions in 1983. Today, Mallorca is a home, a workplace and a holiday destination. How to balance tourism with the protection of landscapes, water supplies and places to live remains one of its central challenges.

A journey from a coastal resort into the inland villages shows these changes side by side: old estates, established village centres and a coast shaped by tourism. The island’s history extends well beyond its archaeological sites.