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Palma de Mallorca on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca attracts many visitors with its mild climate and wonderful beaches. The island has a rich history and lots of sights all over the island and not least in the Mallorcan capital, Palma. There is so much more to to enjoy than the lovely beaches.
Palma de Mallorca is full of beautifully architecture. Here is everything from old fortifications to modernista and modern buildings and infrastructure. Palma’s impressive cathedral is the largest and perhaps most impressive of the man-made structures, and the many narrow streets in Palma’s old town are inviting to nice walks to discover all the sights.
If you want a taste of the countryside, a trip with the charming railway line between the capital of Palma de Mallorca and Sóller is a good choice. On this tour, your will see the big city, heritage buildings and a lot of the Mallorcan nature in a good and easily accessible way.
Mallorca’s many activities for tourists help make the stay both fun and exciting. There are many places that are ideal for travelers with children, and if you prefer to find a small cozy and isolated stretch of coastline, this is also possible. Traditional Mallorcan culture, beautiful landscapes and popular beaches are never far away from Palma.
Palma’s impressive cathedral was built from 1229 and completed in 1587. The Majorcan king Jaume I had the foundation stone for the Christian cathedral laid on the exact spot where the Arabs, as former rulers, had built their main mosque in the city.
The building style is Gothic, but due to the long construction period, later styles have also had some influence on the final result, which can be admired from near and far. The cathedral’s mighty dimensions make it visible from many places in the city.
Mallorca Cathedral has different entrances. The main entrance is the magnificent Major Portal/Portal Major, which was initially constructed in the years 1594-1601 in Mannerist style. However, the work was not completed then, and the portal was completed in the 19th century in a neo-Gothic style.
Facing the sea, you can see the beautiful Mirador Portal/Portal del Mirador, which is a fine example of Spanish Gothic, and finally you can use the Neo-Gothic Almoina Portal/Portal de l’Almoina.
The interior of the church is 6,600 m² in a three-nave floor plan. With 44 meters to the ceiling, the central nave is among the highest in the world. The interior has been continuously changed throughout the church’s history, and there are many exciting things to see.
The large rose window measures 11 meters in diameter, and it was designed by Antonio Gaudi, who is also behind the church’s other rosettes and large decorative windows. His works came about during the restoration of the church, which he led in the years 1901-1914.
There are 18 chapels in the two aisles and behind the altar. The most interesting is also the oldest in the church, the Trinity Chapel/Capella de la Trinitat, which was built in the Mudejar style. The Mallorcan kings Jaume II and Jaume III are buried here.
A total of nine bells hang in the cathedral’s bell tower. One of them is the five-ton bell with the name N’Eloi, which can be heard over large parts of Palma.
In the cathedral, you can also see the church’s museum, where various ecclesiastical works of art and historical objects are exhibited. Particularly interesting are altarpieces and art from the Gothic, Baroque and the Spanish Mujedar period, which was a mixture of Christian and Islamic art throughout the 12th and 16th centuries.
The entrance to the museum is through the Casa de l’Almoina building next to the cathedral’s bell tower. The Casa de l’Almoina used to be the place where alms were given to the poor.
The beautiful Almudaina Palace was built as a citadel during Mallorca’s Moorish era, and the building style is also clearly inspired by that period. Over time, the palace has been the seat of several leaders and kings; both the island’s Moorish governors and the Mallorcan kings such as Jaume I, Sanç I and Jaume II.
It was Jaume II who rebuilt the solid Moorish citadel initially into a summer palace. The court had a residence in the city of Perpignan and was therefore only occasionally in Palma. The rebuilding started in 1309, and Jaume II established, among other things, the fine Sankt Annæ Kapel/Capilla Santa Ana.
Of particular detail, one can see a bronze sculpture depicting the archangel Gabriel at one of the palace’s towers. Inside, you can enjoy the beautiful halls, which are primarily decorated in Gothic and Renaissance styles, as well as various chapels.
In 1349 Majorca came under the rule of King Pedro IV of Aragon, and thereafter Almudaina was used by governors, viceroys and the military. Today, Almudaina is used as the Spanish king’s official residence in Mallorca.
Palma City Hall was built in the years 1649-1680 with an elegant baroque facade with Mannerist elements, where the wide balcony and the town hall clock are special features. The architects Pere Bauçá, Miquel Oliver and Bartomeu Calafat were behind the design. Inside the beautiful town hall you can find, among other things, a number of portraits of historical figures from Mallorca.
Before the town hall, the Hospital de Sant Andreu was located on this site. The city’s university was housed in the current building until 1718, when it was closed. On this occasion, the place was set up as Palma’s town hall.
S’Hort del Rei is the name of the beautiful garden at the foot of the walls of the Almudaina Palace. Originally, the garden was surrounded by walls and functioned as the king’s private garden, where a number of fruits and vegetables were grown.
Over time, the city of Palma developed and the garden was developed. In 1966, however, the city council decided to recreate s’Hort del Rei, and the houses on the site were demolished in connection. The style became elegant Arabic, as is known from, among others, the Alhambra in southern Spain.
Fountains, straight rows of cypresses, statues and shady trees are part of the experience in Kongens Have. Here you can also see a large arch spanning a pond. It dates from the Arab period of Palma, and it once formed the entrance from the sea.
Plaça Major is Palma’s central square, and its construction was inspired by Plaza Mayor in Madrid. Until 1828, the Spanish Inquisition was located in this area, which is now beautifully paved with elegant and symmetrical buildings on all sides. The first part of the houses around Plaça Major was completed in 1838.
Before the Inquisition, the monastery Convento de San Felipe Neri was located in this area, which today is a true oasis, completely shielded from the city’s traffic. There are outdoor dining venues in the beautiful surroundings with archways and balconies on all sides.
The Passeig Marítim street is Palma’s seafront promenade and at the same time the city’s fashionable street. With palm trees and a yacht atmosphere, a walk along the promenade is both very atmospheric and the epitome of Palma’s Mediterranean relaxation.
The beautifully landscaped street is officially named Avinguda Gabriel Roca after the engineer Gabriel Roca, who planned the area through his work for Palma in the years 1940-1962. He also held offices to develop the island’s tourism.
The beautiful avenue, La Rambla, is one of Palma’s main streets. Until the 17th century, the now paved middle part of the street was one of the city’s waterways, where a small stream flowed. The Rambla is today a lovely place for a stroll under the treetops.
Palma’s bullring is popularly called the Balearic Coliseum/Colisseu Balear. The arena was built in 1928-1929, and it can accommodate more than 11,000 spectators.
It is not often that there is a bullfight in the arena, which is instead used for many other events. Stars such as Julio Iglesias, Sting and the Scorpions have given concerts here, and of sporting events, the arena has laid the ground for the Davis Cup in tennis.
Can Casasayas and Pensión Menorquina are the names of two of Palma’s well-known modernist buildings. They lie opposite each other and were built in 1908-1910 and 1909-1911 respectively.
The two buildings were designed by Francesc Roca i Simó and designed as an architectural whole. The facades are typical of Catalan modernism with stylized flowers and other nature as decoration between the curved sandstone balconies with sandstone surrounds. In e.g. the lines, the arches and the windows, you can see an inspiration from Antoni Gaudí’s works; in particular from Casa Battló in Barcelona.
Francesc Roca i Simó went to Argentina in 1909, where he designed and built several buildings in the same style as these two in Palma. After this, it was the architect Guillem Reynés who took over the construction of the beautiful houses that you can see today.
Can Forteza-Rey was completed in 1909 by the goldsmith and builder Lluis Forteza-Rey. The house stands as one of the finest examples of modernism in Palma, and the beautiful exterior decoration is reflected in the house’s interior.
Biological motifs adorn the richly decorated facade, which, like the house as a whole, was inspired by modernism in Barcelona and not least the buildings of Antoni Gaudí. Balconies, windows and other details are typical of the style.
Palma’s Arab baths, Banys Arabs, are among the few remaining Arab buildings in the city. The style and of course the bath itself is interesting and dates from the 11th century. The elements are typically Arabic with columns and arches, and above the bath itself there is a dome with windows that allow the light to enter.
It is possible that the quite well-preserved bath was adjacent to a well-to-do residence, as has been shown to be the case in other Arab cities. The site’s columns may also have been reused from Roman buildings, where columns were often part of the buildings.
The place is worth seeing as historically interesting with its Arab origins, and in addition to that you can enjoy the place’s lovely garden. Here there are a multitude of flowers, citrus fruits and other plants, and you can sit and simply enjoy it all as a small oasis in the city.
Mallorca Museum is what you can call Mallorca’s national museum. Here, the island’s history is depicted through a series of fine archaeological finds, effects, descriptions and other things from ancient times through the Roman and Moorish times to today’s partial autonomy in Spain.
The museum has a section for various works of art from and by the island’s artists. Gothic art, Islamic art, altarpieces are some of the things you can see in the varied collections.
The museum building is also interesting in itself. It is a Majorcan mansion, Ca la Gran Cristiana, which was built in its current style from 1634 on the basis of an existing medieval house.
The beautifully situated Parc de la Mar has the Mediterranean on one side and Palma’s skyline with the distinctive cathedral on the other. The park was laid out in the mid-1980s, and it is very pleasant to take a walk in. A nice detail is when the town’s houses are reflected in the landscaped lake and show the town from a new side.
Various art is displayed in the park, including a work by Joan Miró, a sculpture group by Josep Guinovart and Llorenc Rosselló’s bronze figure depicting a typical Balearic slingshot. Sling-throwers were, according to a legend, the first population of the archipelago.
After dark, the beautifully illuminated cathedral can be seen very nicely from here. You can also see remains of Palma’s old defenses, the city walls, which were built during the city’s Arab era.
At 112 meters above Palma lies Castell de Bellver, which was founded by King Jaume II in the 14th century as the summer residence of the Mallorcan kings and as part of the city’s defences.
The castle is very exciting to visit. Here is a fantastic view of the city and the sea, and at the same time it is one of Spain’s finest examples of Mediterranean Gothic military architecture.
Bellver Borg’s circular structure is unique in Spain. The castle’s exterior fortress character is replaced inside by a fine, castle-like atmosphere; for example in the elegant circular castle courtyard. Around the courtyard is the residence on two floors, and three towers and a magazine that is 33 meters high have been built around the ring wall.
After playing its role as a residence, Castell de Bellver was used for prison purposes over the centuries. In 1931, the city of Palma handed over the castle, which opened as a museum the following year. After a restoration in 1976, Palma’s City History Museum/Museu d’Història de la Ciutat was arranged in historically interesting settings, and here you can now see, for example, interesting finds from Palma’s Roman, Arab and medieval history.
Llotja is Palma’s old trade exchange and market building. It was built 1426-1447 in noble Gothic style by Guillem Sagrera. Behind the beautiful facade lies the stock market, which is decorated with fine twisted columns and vaulted ceilings.
Spires, towers and decoration characterize the exterior of the building, and above the main entrance to the east you can see the angel of trade, Ángel de la Mercadería.
From the building’s completion, it became the center for goods from the maritime trade. It had happened on the basis of a privilege from King Martin of Aragon with the first foundation in 1403 in Barcelona. Right up until the dissolution of this stock exchange in the 1830s, the institution was located in Palma in Llotja. Over the centuries, the place performed not only the role of a stock exchange, but also the maintenance of Palma’s harbor and the regulation and protection of trade.
Throughout the 1800s and 1900s, Llotja was used, among other things, as a workshop, magazine building and as a museum. Today, art exhibitions are regularly organized in the beautiful and historic setting.
Sollér is a cozy town with mountains as a backdrop. Here there is a good atmosphere and also many old houses as well as a number of buildings in Catalan modernism, the so-called modernista, which was at the same time as Art Nouveau.
Saint Bartholomew’s Church/Església Sant Bartomeu (Plaça Constitucion) was built in 1912 by Juan Rubió, who was Antoni Gaudí’s student. It is just an example of the buildings in the center.
The city is also home to Mallorca’s natural science museum, the Museu Balear de Ciències Naturals, and the Sóller Botanical Garden/Jardí Botànic de Sóller. The museums are housed in a mansion from 1900 and in the mansion’s garden (Carretera Palma–Port de Sóller).
The station building in Sóller is the Can Mayol building, which dates from 1606 and was converted into a station the year before the opening of the Sollér line. In the station there is a museum where works of art by Miró and Picasso are exhibited.
You can travel between Sóller and Palma on this very charming railway, which opened in 1912. The line runs 27 km up and down the countryside, through 13 tunnels and over bridges, and everything is almost intact from the time when the line opened. The trip takes 1 hour each way and there are several trains daily in each direction.
From Sóller you can go to Sóller’s harbor town, Port de Sóller, with a tram (Tranvía) from the place where the Sóller Railway has its terminus. Port de Sóller is cozy, and from here you can sail to the well-known beach of sa Calobre, which lies in a natural setting between large cliffs.
Pollença is one of Mallorca’s first tourist centers, created by the lovely beaches of the Bay of Pollença and the city’s surroundings, including on the scenic Cap de Formentor peninsula.
In the central square, Plaça Major, is the Church of Our Lady of the Angels/Església de Nostra Senyora dels Àngels. The square is a good starting point for tours in the central part of the city with its small streets.
In Pollença, the Pollença Museum/Museu de Pollença is located in a former Dominican monastery, which was built 1588-1616. The museum primarily exhibits modern art, and the basis for a museum here is the many artists who were attracted to the place from the beginning of the 20th century. Among the artists were both painters and poets who immortalized Pollença through their works.
A different and interesting sight are the 365 steps that make up Carrer de Calvari. After the steps you come up to a small chapel on top of a hill in the town.
The medieval town of Alcúdia is one of Mallorca’s major holiday areas. Historically, there are several things to see here, not least the city gates, which are rebuilt from the old city wall from the 16th century. Alcúdia’s old town is still delineated within the old walls and city gates.
In the city wall to the southwest, St. James Church Església de Sant Jaume (Plaça Jaume Ques) was built in 1882-1893. At the church, a chapel has been preserved from the predecessor on the site. The chapel dates from 1675-1697 and was built in the Renaissance.
Immediately south of the old town lies an area with excavated ruins from the city’s Roman times. In the year 70 BC Rome founded the city of Pollentia, which was under active Roman rule until 426, when Vandals ravaged and destroyed the city. In the excavation area you can see, among other things, a Roman theater (Camino de Teatre Roma).
The beautiful Dragon Caves are one of Mallorca’s natural attractions. The caves consist of four caves, and one unique impression succeeds the other between the stalagmites and stalactites of the stalactite caves.
The caves are 2,400 meters long and they go down to a depth of 25 meters underground. On a trip here you can see the large underground Lake Martel/Llac Martel, which measures 177×30 metres. Regular concerts are held at the lake, which you can sail on.
If you want to see more of the island’s more than 800 caves, the nearby Cuevas de Artá and Cuevas de Hams are both very breathtaking.
Avinguda Jaume III 15
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It is not known exactly when Mallorca settled, but there are traces of early cave dwellers dating back to around the year 1000 BC. However, it is certain that Phoenician and Greek traders settled on the Balearic Islands, including Majorca. Some of the earliest settlers were, according to the legend, the so-called sling throwers, and this is possibly the name of the archipelago. Ballein means tosses in Greek.
In the Second Punic War, Majorca supported Carthage in the fight against Rome. The result, however, was that the Roman Empire had conquered Mallorca in 123. The Romans began to build roads and build new cities, and they introduced Christianity into Mallorca.
After the decline and disintegration of the Roman Empire, Mallorca came after a time under the Arab Moors who ruled from the Emirate of Cordoba. It turned into 300 years of Arab rule in Mallorca. During this period some economic development occurred, but the ongoing tensions between Christians and Muslims also created periodic lows. In general, trade and agriculture were booming due to a strategically good position at the sea between Spain and Africa.
At the beginning of the 13th century, some of King Jaume I of Aragon and Catalonia’s ships were robbed by the emir of the people of Mallorca. It caused King Jaume I in 1229 to conquer the island and establish the independent kingdom of Mallorca. During the fighting, many of the island’s Arab buildings were destroyed. Others were destroyed after the war as a symbol of the new rulers being Christians. However, there are still Arab buildings here, such as fortresses and Palma’s Arab baths.
King Jaume I’s political reforms created a boom in the new kingdom. Among other things, he gave the Jews freer rights and eased the taxes on trade that were rapidly developing.
At the death of Jaume Is, his kingdom was divided so that both his sons could take over part of the land. Pedro was assigned to Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia, while Montpellier, Roussillon and the Balearic Islands fell under Jaume II, a new regent.
Majorca’s positive development continued under both Jaume II and his successor Jaume III, who became the last Majorcan king. From the Spanish mainland, Pedro IV wanted to take part in the booming economy of Mallorca, and his forces invaded the island in 1349.
The Spanish conquest of Mallorca was the start of a long descent for the island. The era of independence and thus very free trade rights was replaced by rulers seeking to stimulate the development of Aragon on the mainland.
As relations with America had been established following the voyages of Christoffer Columbus, Mallorca was prohibited from participating in this new trade opportunity, and this led to a marked economic downturn.
The 16th century was a time of civil unrest, which among other things was directed at Karl V’s administration. At the request of the Inquisition, there were also some executions of Jewish residents, and finally there were increasing threats from the ever-strengthening Ottoman Empire. The stagnation continued into the 1600s, where besides economic downturns occurred plague epidemics that killed thousands of the island’s inhabitants.
During the Napoleonic wars around 1800, there were many Catalans who fled to Mallorca, who also belonged to the Catalan culture and language group (although Spanish had been introduced in the 18th century). After years of drought and the resulting famine, many of the island’s inhabitants emigrated to America.
However, after many centuries of stagnation, the 19th century became the starting point for a positive time for Mallorca’s economy. Agriculture improved, railways were built and communication with the Spanish mainland was greatly expanded. Catalan language and culture were then given a new era in Mallorca.
The beginning of the 20th century was a time of many new buildings inspired by contemporary modernism, which not least influenced Catalonia and Barcelona. Many buildings were shot up during this time and there was a bustle with the trade.
In the mid-1900s, Majorca’s economic boom began in earnest. With the development of civil aviation, tourism really took off from the 1950s, with more and more Northern Europeans traveling to Spain and Mallorca.
Today, the archipelago constitutes one of the most prosperous parts of Spain. From 1983, the Balearic Islands became a province of regional autonomy. Palma is the capital as the largest city on the most populous island in the Balearic Islands.
Overview of Palma de Mallorca
The Mediterranean island of Mallorca attracts many visitors with its mild climate and wonderful beaches. The island has a rich history and lots of sights all over the island and not least in the Mallorcan capital, Palma. There is so much more to to enjoy than the lovely beaches.
Palma de Mallorca is full of beautifully architecture. Here is everything from old fortifications to modernista and modern buildings and infrastructure. Palma’s impressive cathedral is the largest and perhaps most impressive of the man-made structures, and the many narrow streets in Palma’s old town are inviting to nice walks to discover all the sights.
About the upcoming Palma de Mallorca travel guide
About the travel guide
The Palma de Mallorca travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Spanish city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Palma de Mallorca is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Palma de Mallorca and Spain
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Palma de Mallorca you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
Cathedral • Plaça Major • Passeig Maritim • Almudaina Palace
Overview of Palma de Mallorca
The Mediterranean island of Mallorca attracts many visitors with its mild climate and wonderful beaches. The island has a rich history and lots of sights all over the island and not least in the Mallorcan capital, Palma. There is so much more to to enjoy than the lovely beaches.
Palma de Mallorca is full of beautifully architecture. Here is everything from old fortifications to modernista and modern buildings and infrastructure. Palma’s impressive cathedral is the largest and perhaps most impressive of the man-made structures, and the many narrow streets in Palma’s old town are inviting to nice walks to discover all the sights.
About the upcoming Palma de Mallorca travel guide
About the travel guide
The Palma de Mallorca travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Spanish city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Palma de Mallorca is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Palma de Mallorca and Spain
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Palma de Mallorca you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
The beautiful avenue, La Rambla, is one of Palma’s main streets. Until the 17th century, the now paved middle part of the street was one of the city’s waterways, where a small stream flowed. The Rambla is today a lovely place for a stroll under the treetops.
Palma’s bullring is popularly called the Balearic Coliseum/Colisseu Balear. The arena was built in 1928-1929, and it can accommodate more than 11,000 spectators.
It is not often that there is a bullfight in the arena, which is instead used for many other events. Stars such as Julio Iglesias, Sting and the Scorpions have given concerts here, and of sporting events, the arena has laid the ground for the Davis Cup in tennis.
Can Casasayas and Pensión Menorquina are the names of two of Palma’s well-known modernist buildings. They lie opposite each other and were built in 1908-1910 and 1909-1911 respectively.
The two buildings were designed by Francesc Roca i Simó and designed as an architectural whole. The facades are typical of Catalan modernism with stylized flowers and other nature as decoration between the curved sandstone balconies with sandstone surrounds. In e.g. the lines, the arches and the windows, you can see an inspiration from Antoni Gaudí’s works; in particular from Casa Battló in Barcelona.
Francesc Roca i Simó went to Argentina in 1909, where he designed and built several buildings in the same style as these two in Palma. After this, it was the architect Guillem Reynés who took over the construction of the beautiful houses that you can see today.
Can Forteza-Rey was completed in 1909 by the goldsmith and builder Lluis Forteza-Rey. The house stands as one of the finest examples of modernism in Palma, and the beautiful exterior decoration is reflected in the house’s interior.
Biological motifs adorn the richly decorated facade, which, like the house as a whole, was inspired by modernism in Barcelona and not least the buildings of Antoni Gaudí. Balconies, windows and other details are typical of the style.
Palma’s Arab baths, Banys Arabs, are among the few remaining Arab buildings in the city. The style and of course the bath itself is interesting and dates from the 11th century. The elements are typically Arabic with columns and arches, and above the bath itself there is a dome with windows that allow the light to enter.
It is possible that the quite well-preserved bath was adjacent to a well-to-do residence, as has been shown to be the case in other Arab cities. The site’s columns may also have been reused from Roman buildings, where columns were often part of the buildings.
The place is worth seeing as historically interesting with its Arab origins, and in addition to that you can enjoy the place’s lovely garden. Here there are a multitude of flowers, citrus fruits and other plants, and you can sit and simply enjoy it all as a small oasis in the city.
Mallorca Museum is what you can call Mallorca’s national museum. Here, the island’s history is depicted through a series of fine archaeological finds, effects, descriptions and other things from ancient times through the Roman and Moorish times to today’s partial autonomy in Spain.
The museum has a section for various works of art from and by the island’s artists. Gothic art, Islamic art, altarpieces are some of the things you can see in the varied collections.
The museum building is also interesting in itself. It is a Majorcan mansion, Ca la Gran Cristiana, which was built in its current style from 1634 on the basis of an existing medieval house.
The beautifully situated Parc de la Mar has the Mediterranean on one side and Palma’s skyline with the distinctive cathedral on the other. The park was laid out in the mid-1980s, and it is very pleasant to take a walk in. A nice detail is when the town’s houses are reflected in the landscaped lake and show the town from a new side.
Various art is displayed in the park, including a work by Joan Miró, a sculpture group by Josep Guinovart and Llorenc Rosselló’s bronze figure depicting a typical Balearic slingshot. Sling-throwers were, according to a legend, the first population of the archipelago.
After dark, the beautifully illuminated cathedral can be seen very nicely from here. You can also see remains of Palma’s old defenses, the city walls, which were built during the city’s Arab era.
At 112 meters above Palma lies Castell de Bellver, which was founded by King Jaume II in the 14th century as the summer residence of the Mallorcan kings and as part of the city’s defences.
The castle is very exciting to visit. Here is a fantastic view of the city and the sea, and at the same time it is one of Spain’s finest examples of Mediterranean Gothic military architecture.
Bellver Borg’s circular structure is unique in Spain. The castle’s exterior fortress character is replaced inside by a fine, castle-like atmosphere; for example in the elegant circular castle courtyard. Around the courtyard is the residence on two floors, and three towers and a magazine that is 33 meters high have been built around the ring wall.
After playing its role as a residence, Castell de Bellver was used for prison purposes over the centuries. In 1931, the city of Palma handed over the castle, which opened as a museum the following year. After a restoration in 1976, Palma’s City History Museum/Museu d’Història de la Ciutat was arranged in historically interesting settings, and here you can now see, for example, interesting finds from Palma’s Roman, Arab and medieval history.
Llotja is Palma’s old trade exchange and market building. It was built 1426-1447 in noble Gothic style by Guillem Sagrera. Behind the beautiful facade lies the stock market, which is decorated with fine twisted columns and vaulted ceilings.
Spires, towers and decoration characterize the exterior of the building, and above the main entrance to the east you can see the angel of trade, Ángel de la Mercadería.
From the building’s completion, it became the center for goods from the maritime trade. It had happened on the basis of a privilege from King Martin of Aragon with the first foundation in 1403 in Barcelona. Right up until the dissolution of this stock exchange in the 1830s, the institution was located in Palma in Llotja. Over the centuries, the place performed not only the role of a stock exchange, but also the maintenance of Palma’s harbor and the regulation and protection of trade.
Throughout the 1800s and 1900s, Llotja was used, among other things, as a workshop, magazine building and as a museum. Today, art exhibitions are regularly organized in the beautiful and historic setting.
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