Balearic

Balearic refers to the Balearic Islands, an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea that forms an autonomous community of Spain. The principal islands are Mallorca (Majorca), Menorca (Minorca), Ibiza (Eivissa), and Formentera, with Cabrera as a nearby natural park. The regional capital is Palma de Mallorca. The Balearic Islands lie off the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and have an economy dominated by tourism, supported by agriculture and fishing in more rural areas.

Linguistically, Catalan is the co-official language alongside Spanish in the Balearic Islands. The local Catalan varieties are commonly referred to as Mallorquí, Menorquí, and Eivisià, corresponding to the major islands. The region also hosts a rich cultural heritage, including historic towns, coastal fortifications, churches, and archaeological sites.

In addition to geography and language, the term Balearic is used in music to describe a style associated with Ibiza and the surrounding islands. Balearic beat emerged from the Ibiza club scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s and is characterized by a relaxed, eclectic, and melodic approach that integrates disco, house, and world music influences.

The Balearic Sea is a term used for a marginal sea of the western Mediterranean named after the archipelago; however, its use varies among sources. Overall, Balearic serves as an umbrella adjective for geography, language, culture, and related cultural expressions tied to the Balearic Islands.