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Palma
Tourist information - Palma
The capital of the island of Majorca, famous for its beaches and beautiful sea, has a beautiful historic quarter, deeply marked by history. The cathedral, the Palace of Almudaina, the fish exchange, and Plaza Mayor are some of the places where the visitor will have to stop. Fishing boats, pine groves and palm trees complement the most beautiful monuments. The coastal landscape of the island is graced with coves, beaches, and cliffs; inland, we find typical Majorcan towns, as well as sierras 15,000 metres above sea level. A beautiful, diverse landscape, as well as a rich cultural life, are most inviting to a journey through every last inch of Majorca, as well as through the pleasures of its excellent cuisine.
The present city of Palma was coveted, since times immemorial, by Romans, Arabs, and Berber pirates. It was Catalan monarch Jaume I who put an end to Muslim rule in this Mediterranean island in the 13th century, and the ruler responsible for the most important buildings in Palma.
Behind the eighteenth-century walls that kept pirates and privateers away, the historic quarter is concealed, within a bay that shares its name with the city. Old churches, palaces, and stately mansions speak of a prosperous past.
The cathedral of Palma (Sa Seu) enjoys a spectacular location, on the shore of the bay and fishing port. This elegant Gothic temple is quite harmonious, in spite of its huge size. The cathedral, with its very high vaults, was ordered by King Jaume I, who had it built on top of the old mosque of the Medina of Mayurqa. However, the features that attracts the most attention are a great rose window and a unique wrought iron baldachin, by Catalan master Antonio Gaudí.
Across from Sa Seu is the Palace of L'Almudaina. A former Arab palace, and later residence of the Majorcan monarchs, the building is presently a museum. The fact that it resembles an Arab fortress contrasts with the ornate flamboyant Gothic Chapel of Santa Ana, located inside.
Sa Llotja (the Fish Exchange) is located in the nearby Passeig Sagrera. This ancient exchange, which is presently an exhibition hall, is one of the best examples of civil Gothic architecture in Spain. Its spiral columns and orgive vaults do not cease to surprise, for a non-religious building. Next to the Exchange, we find the Consolat de Mar (The Sea Consulate), whose Renaissance arches house the Autonomous Government.
Our journey can continue through Passeig des Born. It is one of the main arteries of the city, dividing the monumental historic quarter from the fishing, popular districts of Sant Joan and Puig de Sant Pere.
If we take Unió street, from the square Plaça Rei Joan Carles, our next stop would be the Caixa Foundation. The old Grand Hotel, a modernist building, now houses an important cultural centre. Across the street, in El Forn des Teatre Bakery, a peculiar Art Deco building, we can try the delicious "ensaimadas" (a flaky, spiral-shaped bun), and the famous "gató" (almond cake), the best of the whole city.
Further down we find Plaça Major, a square with great modernist influence. From this point on, the great avenues and boulevards that make up the new suburbs of Palma de Majorca unfold: the modern city.
To return to the coast from Plaça Major, we can go across the historic quarter and visit Plaça de Cort, the City Hall, the Palace of Vivot, and the church of Santa Eulària. The City Hall, also known as "Cort", is a Baroque structure built on top of an old sixteenth-century hospital; on the other hand, the church—the first Christian structure erected in Palma— is a great example of the Catalan Gothic period. Other mansions in the area include the neo-Mudejar Can Corbella, Can Forteza Rey, and the Modernist building "El Águila".
Another way is to walk through the old Jewish quarter, and the district of Sa Calatrava. Along this journey we will see the Gothic temple of Sant Francesc and, at the heart of "Call" (the Jewish quarter), the Baroque church of Montisió, which sits on top of an old synagogue. Reaching the Promenade, we will see the Arab public baths, a reminder of the rule of the Caliphate of Cordoba over these lands.
In this area we can also visit the Museum of Majorca. This ancient palatial-residence houses a magnificent collection that includes prehistoric, Roman, Muslim, and medieval artefacts.
Two kilometres away from Palma's city centre we see the Castle of Bellver. The castle is located on top of the wooded hill that dominates the bay. Its unusual, circular floor plan and the delicate arches inside lend it an ornamental, rather that defensive, appearance. The precinct is the current home of the Municipal Museum of History
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