Shopping & Local Crafts in
Mallorca
Mallorca is home to some of the best local crafts and shops and has a long tradition in a number of different artistic and industrial activities. Let's discover the range of traditional arts and activities you might be interested in exploring during your next holiday, and where on the island you can find them.
Roba de llengues
The roba de llengues (literally translated – cloth of the tongues) is a feature in many Mallorcan homes and is used for curtains, bedspreads, wall furnishings and upholstery. The woven cotton cloth is still made in Pollença, Santa Maria and Felanitx. There is a museum in Pollença (Old Town), located at the bottom of the famous Calvari steps, which shows you how the cloth is made.
Glassblowing
The glassblowing industry on the island dates back to Roman times. Indeed, 16th century Mallorcan glass rivalled that of Venice. You can still watch the glassblowers at work at various places on the island – Casa Gordiola near Algaida, Menestralia near Campanet, and Lafiore on the road from Palma to Valldemossa at S’Esgleieta.
Ceramics and Pottery
Ceramics and pottery have a tradition all over the island that dates back to Arab times. The villages of Portòl and Sa Cabaneta in the area of Marratxí have the most working kilns. The siurell is a clay whistle styled in many different forms and painted white with red and green lines. In the past these were exchanged as tokens of friendship.
Felanitx is renowned for its pottery, and there are a great range of villas in Felanitx and other nearby areas to explore. For example, the Sunday market is a good place to browse and pick up examples of semi-glazed brown jugs and bowls. Furthermore, the main centre for leather goods in Mallorca is Inca. The industry started well over a century ago but became world famous in the 1960s and 1970s. You can visit the factories, or shop around in a number of outlets in Inca and Palma.
Mallorcan Pearls
Artificial pearls have been made in Mallorca since the turn of the 20th century. Manacor is the home of Mallorcan pearls, and you can visit the factories (Perlas Orquidea) and see exactly how they are made, strung into bracelets and necklaces, pearl ear-rings, packaged ready for sale and export, and then visit the outlets nearby. Manacor is also well known for its furniture industry.
Palma – Shopping Capital of Mallorca
Palma is a lively shopping centre with many pedestrianised streets within its city walls, as well as an excellent cultural centre – art galleries, museums and monuments. Plaça del Olivar near Plaça Espanya in Palma has an indoor market with local and imported produce including fruit, vegetables and meat, and there is a large hall where you can buy a great variety of fresh fish which is open from 07:00-14:00. The Moll de Pescadores on the Passeig Marítim in Palma – Llonja del peix – fish market opens at 06.00.
Useful Shopping Vocabulary
"desnatada"
"queso"
"huevos"
"carne"
"verduras"
"Fruta"
"agua con gas"
"agua"
"carnecería"
"Pan"
"vino (blanco/tinto/rosado)"
"Leche"
"librería"
"pescaderia"
"estanco/tabacos"
"joyería"
"panadería"
"pastelería"
"supermercado"
"Correos"
"zapatería"
"caja"
"abierto"
"cerrado"
"salida"
"entrada"
"por favor"
"gracias"
"periódico, diario"
"hecho a mano"
"¿dónde esta…?"
"¿tiene usted..?"
"¿puede ayudarme?"
Or More Politely "Quisiera"
Explore Our Villas in Mallorca