Attractions

The Cathedral
La Almudaina
La Lonja
Consulado del Mar
Paseo del Borne
Between Cathedral and Plaza de Cort
Plaza de Cort
El Puig de San Pere
Around Plaza Mayor
Castillo de Bellver


Palma is the capital of the Balearic Isles, and was founded by the Romans in 120 B.C. At that time, the Romans already called it Palma. The Moors - from 903 A.D. - called it Madina't Mayurga, and the Catalonians, following the island's recapture in 1229, renamed it Ciutat de Mallorques. These days it is known by the islanders as Palma or Ciutat.

Palma will impress you from the moment you arrive to its port: yachts, palms, the cathedral… Palma creates magic, more than ever in the early hours of the day. History and modernity melt together with the deep blue of Mediterranean Sea. Approximately 320.000 people live here, about half of the island's total population.
The city's cultural offer is impressive, especially if you take its size into consideration, and there is a large number of monuments you really should not miss.

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The Cathedral

This is, probably, the most distinctive landmark of Palma. The cathedral, called la Seo by the Mallorquines, was constructed from 14th to 19th century, and the highly creative Antoni Gaudi designed its interior in 20th century. Results are fascinating and original at the same time, almost impossible to describe with words. Most outstanding are perhaps the Puerta del Mirador, a door towards the sea created by architect Guillen Sagrera, and, in the interior, the chapels Capilla Real and Capilla de la Trinidad, as well as the museum with masterworks specially of the Baroque epoch.

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La Almudaina

The "Royal Palace", constructed over the rests of the Muslim Alcazar, was the residence of the early kings.






La Lonja

It is one of the most outstanding examples of Gothic civil architecture in all the Mediterranean area, with a great facade and fantastic interior. It was built by Guillem Sagrera and is used today as Museum of Arts.

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Consulado del Mar

Close to "La Lonja", with an outstanding Renaissance gallery of 17th century. Today this building is the seat of the autonomous government.

Paseo del Borne

This is the heart of the historical center, and one of the most lively streets in town. At both sides it is flanked by narrow medieval lanes as well as elegant palaces of 19th century. The Italian influence, very typical for Mallorca in general, is remarkably evident here.

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Between Cathedral and Plaza de Cort

Here you will find several great palaces, as the ones of Colom, Villalonga, Oleo, Truyols, Oleza, the Archiepiscopal Palais, the church Iglesia de San Francisco and the Arabian Baths, one of very few remains of the Moorish epoch at Mallorca.

Plaza de Cort

Here are located the Ayuntamiento, town hall, with its outstanding 17th century facade, and the Gothic church Iglesia de Santa Catalina.

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El Puig de San Pere

Located behind "La Lonja", this is another old quarter of town that is well worth a visit. Of particular interest are the church Iglesia de Santa Cruz, of 14th century with a 13th century crypt, the Palacio de Montenegro, Casa Weyler and Casa Belloto.

Around Plaza Mayor

La Rambla and Avenida de Jaime III are two important shopping streets with beautiful buildings, as Casa Berga (today the province's court of law) with its impressive Baroque balcony. Calle del Sindicato was the seat of the medieval committees.

Castillo de Bellver

A fortress located on top of a hill close to the historical center, built by Per Salv during the Gothic epoch. Its elegant appearance almost makes forget that it was originally constructed to defend Mallorca's inhabitants from their enemies. In its interior there is a museum with a valuable collection of pieces of classical antiquity.