We continued our walk around the western section of Palma. We walked La Rambla and the shopping streets. We stopped for Estrella beer and Tapas by the La Llotya of Palma. It was open for viewing. It was built 1426 for the Merchants Guild and used for trading purposes.

We visited the Almudaina Palace next to the Cathedral. The history of the location of the Almudaina Palace goes back long before the Moors and even the Romans who founded Palma in 123 BC. The site dominates the entrance to the city and this excellent strategic position was realised as early as the Talayot period, whose people were the first to live here millennia ago. The Romans used the same area in the 2nd century BC to create a nucleus for their new city, Palmeria.

When the ‘Dark era’ began, 7 centuries later, the Vandals destroyed it building one of their own, but in 903 when the Arabs conquered the island, the governor, or Wali as he was known, built himself a fortress on the same site. ‘Almudayna’ in Arabic meaning ‘Fortress’ and this was the beginning of the current building.

More street exploring next where we found new Tapas and Pintos Cafes, Bars, Restaurants and Bakeries for tomorrow. I had a palmier from one of the many bakeries in this street.

We bought the famous Spanish Serrano cured ham from a fine foods store. We chose the second most expensive variety at the recommendation of the store assistant, 16.9 Euro per kg. He hand shaved off small thin cuts. We bought 6 Euro worth for tasting. It was fabulous. Similar to prosciutto.

The finest ham is called jamón ibérico de bellota (acorn). This ham is from free-range pigs that roam oak forests (called dehesas) along the border between Spain and Portugal, and eat only acorns during this last period. It is also known as jamón ibérico de Montanera.