Year 13 students in Media, Art and Photography have returned from a four night cultural visit to Majorca where they explored the architecture, religion and history of the island, and shot photographs and footage for their coursework.

Staying in the beach resort of S'Arenal in the South of the island, the trip began with a day in the capital city of Palma and a visit to La Seu Cathedral, complete with its 87 stained glass windows. The Cathedral combines traditional Mediterranean Gothic design with modern and contemporary periods. They then selected their preferred cuisine for lunch at the Merkat de L'Olivar, which houses almost a hundred takeaway food stalls from traditional Spanish tapas, meats, cheese, pastries and cakes to Korean Noodles, Sushi, Middle Eastern cuisine, Peruvian seafood, Argentinian delicacies and stalls selling a wide variety of Spanish open sandwiches.

The group were able to take photos and shoot footage at Castell de Bellver, Spain's only round castle, which has a diverse history as a fortress, a royal summer residence and also as a prison. High on the hilltop, Bellver provides a 360-degree panorama of Palma and a museum filled with artefacts from Roman, Arab and Spanish periods. The day also included a ride on the City Tourist Bus.

Students took the coastal Road Train to C'an Pastilla where they visited Palma Aquarium, which has an extensive marine wildlife rescue programme. They learned about marine conservation and saw sea turtles, sharks, stingray, seahorses, octopus and a vast variety of fish, plus they were able to learn about humpback whales at the immersive 3D Aquadome film, 'Whales, Giants of the Ocean'.

On an evening visit to Palma, the group browsed the Pirates' Market and ate out in the famous Plaça Major, before exploring the stunning architecture and streets of the Old Town. At night, the illuminated city attracts thousands of locals and tourists alike.

On the final day, students visited S'Arenal Market and spent some time relaxing and swimming at the beach before heading out for a meal and watching the sun set over the Mediterranean. This provided an excellent opportunity for photographs and filming. A game of crazy golf and last minute shopping for silly t-shirts and sun glasses brought the trip to a fun and memorable close. Overall, students returned with some excellent work for their portfolios, an appreciation of Spanish history and culture, and much greater confidence. As an added bonus, students said that they felt much happier about their ability to meet new people, make friends and live independently when they started university or applied for a job next year.

Visit our website gallery to see a full selection of photos from the trip.