Gymnesian Islands, Mediterranean archipelago in Balearic Islands, Spain
The Gymnesian Islands are an archipelago in the western Mediterranean, made up of Mallorca and Menorca along with smaller islands, forming the northern part of the Balearic Islands. The terrain combines coastal bays and sandy shores with hilly interiors that slope gradually toward the sea.
The Greeks called these islands Gymnesiae, a name linked to how the inhabitants dressed in warm months in ancient times. The islands later passed through Roman, Vandal, and Arab rule before being brought under the Crown of Aragon in the 13th century.
The ancient inhabitants of these islands were known as slingers who served in armies across the Mediterranean. Their skill with the sling was so recognized that some scholars link the name of the islands to this very practice.
The islands have a Mediterranean climate with dry, warm summers and rain mostly in spring and autumn, so the best time to visit depends on what you are looking for. Crowds tend to be much lighter outside the summer months, which also makes it easier to move around.
These islands are home to animals found nowhere else, such as the Lilford wall lizard and the Majorcan midwife toad, both surviving only in protected areas. Their presence is a direct result of the islands being separated from the mainland for a very long time.
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