For many people, primarily those who have never been there, Mallorca creates the impression of being a typical beach-based resort, often filled with rowdy twenty-somethings on a cheap week away, but for those who have visited the island and ventured away from the one of two resorts that seem to make the holiday headlines, Mallorca is a real jewel in the Mediterranean.

Famous people have been coming to Mallorca for hundreds of years and many have made their home there. Chopin in the past and, more recently, Madonna, footballer Steve McManaman, Michael Douglas and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber are the names you always read about when the Mallorca jet-set is mentioned. But others like Annie Lennox, Boris Becker and Claudia Schiffer have also bought homes on the island.

So why do these people choose Mallorca over places like Ibiza, Monaco or the French Riviera? For a start Mallorca is packed with landscapes, from golden sandy beaches all around its coastline to dramatic mountains in the north and sweeping plains across the central areas. Then there is its love of fine living and dining. The island has numerous top-quality restaurants and a choice of some of the finest hotels and villas in Europe. Culture is also abundant throughout the year, with local festivals, classical and contemporary concerts as well as many art exhibitions.

Then of course there is the weather. For much of the year the climate is warm, sunny and dry, without ever being too hot. If any or all of the above tick your holiday preference boxes then check the available flights to Mallorca for your next spring or summer holiday in Europe.