The capital of the Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca (Catalan also: Ciutat de Mallorca), is the center of the island and has a metropolitan character despite its 400,000 inhabitants - impossible to escape the magic of this city with its multitude of fascinating hot spots. The capital of the island is the seat of the autonomous government of the Balearic Islands and was only called Palma between 2008 and 2011. The reason for this type of abbreviation was due to a request made in 1998, but the government, which has been in charge of the city since 2011, promptly reversed this change and the city has had its full name again since November 16, 2011. The island's capital is home to both the largest port and the largest airport on the island. The capital is a real tourist magnet for this reason and due to the fact that the hotels scattered around the island offer excursions there. Palma de Mallorca stretches along the Bay of Palma in the west of Mallorca.