Majorca

Majorca is the largest of the Spanish Balearic Islands.
It became part of the Roman Empire in 123 BCE and later formed part of the Province of Hispania Tarraconensis.
The name is from the Latin ‘Insulae Major’, meaning ‘Majorica, the larger one’ as opposed to ‘Minorica, the smaller one’.

The Taleoitic Culture built Chamber Tombs known as Navetas on Minorca, that resemble an inverted boat which date to between 3,300-1,200 BCE.
Later, 274 Megaliths called Talaiots were constructed between c.1,300-500 BCE and are found on both Minorca and Majorca.
They later constructed Megaliths called Taulas on Minorca that resemble table structures, between 500-300 BCE.

The Balearic Islands remained independent after the Fall of Carthage in 146 BCE, but in 123 BCE, the Roman Commander C. Caecilius Metellus conquered the Islands and founded the cities of Palma and Pollentia.
They formed part of the Province of Hispania Tarraconensis, forming the fourth division ruled by a Praefectus pro legato.
Under Diocletian (284-305 CE), and during the fourth century CE, they became a separate Province called Hispania Balearica.

Pollentia Roman city
- Pollentia was a port city and capital of Palma, founded in 123 BCE and the well preserved remains are now located in the modern city of Alcudia in the north of Palma de Mallorca. The oldest ruins date from 70 BCE.
- Roman Forum
- Roman Theatre with a capacity for 2,000 spectators.
- Residential quarter called La Portella with three town houses on a main street with columns, the House of the Two Treasures, the House of the Bronze Head and the Northwest House.

Museo Monografic de Pollentia
- The Museum is located on the Site and is included in the entrance fee to the Site.
- The museum holds scale models of some buildings and the town, and artefacts, such as the Bronze Head, found on the Site.

Majorca, Balearic Islands