Palma de Mallorca comes as a surprise to many people - it is stylish, sophisticated, intimate, yet bursting with life. Located on the southern shores of Mallorca , the island's capital city looks out over the sparkling blue seas of the Mediterranean. Half of Mallorca's population live here, enjoying the island's best restaurants, shops and night-life as well as a thriving arts scene and a lively cafe society. It is often compared to Barcelona for its architecture and is an equally desirable destination for a city break. Majorca is a highly popular tourist destination, and Palma has been built up with many modern hotels and shopping centers. However, the city’s old town remains largely untouched and provides visitors a window to the past. The most popular sites are the Majorca Cathedral , the Arab Baths, and Bellver Castle . These impressive buildings reflect the dual influences of European Christianity and Arab Islamic traditions on the areas architecture and culture. Majorca’s principle draw is its beaches, and many are located very close to Palma. Some of the most popular are Ciudad Jardin, Can Pere Antoni, and Cala Major . All are fairly developed and have restaurants and bars at the edge of the sand.