Palm, often called Palma de Mallorca, is the main city and port of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is located in the Palm Bay of the island of Mallorca, 20 km wide and 25 km long. A major tourist center. Population — 407,648 (2012), with suburbs — 474,035. The population in 2017 was 406,492.
The foundation of the city dates back to the Roman conquest of the Balearic Islands. In 123 BC, Quintus Caecilius Metellus, later nicknamed Balearic, accused the islanders of helping pirates and conquered the archipelago. He laid a palm Tree. The city was a transshipment port and was administratively part of the province of Tarraconian Spain.
Since 902, the city has been under the rule of the Arabs. On December 31, 1229, the city was taken by the troops of the Aragonese King Jaime the Conqueror. In 1231-1349, Palma was part of the Kingdom of Mallorca associated with Aragon (the capital was located on the continent of Perpignan).
In the XVI century, Palm was repeatedly raided by Mediterranean pirates, which negatively affected the development of previously flourishing trade. A new rise was observed after restrictions on trade with the American colonies were lifted in the XVIII century. In 1833, Palma became the center of the province of the Balearic Islands. In 1996, the 1996 World Half Marathon Championship was held.
