Long before its beaches ever became known, visitors to the Island of Calm, as Santiago Russinyol called it, were fascinated by Mallorca's enormous number of monuments, outstanding buildings, art galleries and literature. Not only were they attracted by famous historic monuments in Palma itself, such as the Cathedral, Bellver Castle, the Royal Palace, "Sa Llotja", the Gran Hotel, the Museum of Mallorca, but also by the monasteries, watch towers, cloisters, churches, town halls and museums which Mallorca's fifty-two towns and villages feature.

During the winter months, the island's cultural life is enriched by an opera season, the Ciudad de Palma Symphony Orchestra concerts or a programme of events entitled A Winter in Mallorca. Meanwhile, in summer, there are festivals of open-air classical music and recitals of modern music, jazz, ballet or theatre.

The island's public foundations also contribute towards the promotion and enjoyment of the arts, and exhibitions by the "Fundación Pilar y Joan Miró", "Fundación la Caixa", "Fundación Sa Nostra" and the "Fundación March" add to the programme of visual arts exhibitions usually offered by the government in places such as "Sa Llotja", "Ca'n Solleric", "Ses Voltes", the "Museo de Bellas Artes" or "La Casa de Cultura". There are daily literary or education programmes of events on offer, promoted by the University of the Balearic Islands in coordination with public and private institutions, held in comfortably-furnished, well equipped function rooms both inside and outside the capital.