4 historic places of Palma

Palma de Mallorca is a city that holds true wonders that make it a unique place. Monuments, buildings, shops and corners that undoubtedly fascinate visitors, but also the locals, even though they are part of their daily lives. A walk through Palma is like a journey through the city's history. Strolling through the streets and alleys, you can discover a piece of the past and the roots of the city and its inhabitants.

At Mon Port, we know some of these treasures, and today we would like to recommend 4 historical places in Palma that have become true landmarks of the city. Monuments that, on the one hand, have withstood the test of time and, on the other, reflect the evolution of the Mallorcan capital. Places that always surprise us, even if we know so much about them. Would you like to discover them? Here is our selection!

La Lonja

In this list of emblematic and historic places of Palma, La Lonja cannot be left out. This building, constructed between 1420 and 1452 by the architect Guillem Sagrera, is perhaps one of the most charming structures in the city. The impressive civil Gothic style, its height and the perfect balance between air, stone and elegance make La Lonja a majestic place that never fails to fascinate.

Its construction was necessary due to the great activity that prevailed in the port of Palma de Mallorca at the time. Since its completion, it served as a commercial exchange and meeting place for merchants (Colegio de Mercaderes). After the decline of Mallorcan maritime trade in the 17th century, La Lonja suffered such a deterioration that Romantic authors lamented the state of abandonment of a monument that symbolised the wealth and splendour of the island in its time. For several decades it was used as a simple warehouse (mainly for grain), a cannon foundry during the War of Independence and a hall for carnival dances. From the mid-19th century, at the instigation of numerous intellectuals, it was restored and converted into a centre for Fine Arts exhibitions. This function as a cultural centre has remained to this day, as exhibitions and eventsare occasionally held here.

In terms of architecture, the building has a rectangular floor plan covered with ribbed vaults. A space divided into twelve parts by six columns without a base or capital, rising up to the sky and forming a kind of stone palm tree.

La Lonja is located in the southern part of the old town, near the cathedral and the port of Palma. Admission is free and opening hours vary in high and low season. The visit can be combined with a tour of other emblematic sites, as well as shopping and enjoying the gastronomic offerings of the surrounding establishments.

The Cathedral

One cannot talk about places steeped in history in Palma and forget this imposing piece of living art. Palma de Mallorca Cathedral, known as La Seu, is one of the most admired and visited Gothic temples in the world, and the magnificent views, especially from its terraces, make it a unique place on the whole island.

Santiago Rusiñol once said about it: "I don't think you can admire a temple that achieves the highest beauty by simpler means".

It is not only one of the city's most popular gems, but also a historical site. It is in the Levantine Gothic style and was built between the 13th and 14th centuries after the conquest of the island by the Crown of Aragon in 1229. The complex is 120 m long, 40 m wideand 43.95 m high, has a floor area of 6,600 sqm and shows clear northern European influences.

The rose window has a diameter of 13.3 m and is thus almost as wide as the central nave and reaches up to the vault. With an area of 97.5 sqm, it is the largest Gothic rose window in the world (along with that of Strasbourg Cathedral, which has a diameter of more than 15 metres). Also known as the "Eye of Gothic", it is made of 1,236 crystals and is capable of flooding the interior of the cathedral with polychromy. Another of its peculiarities is the perfect Star of David formed by 24 equilateral triangles that its tracery draws on it.

Particularly beautiful is the Festival of Light, popularly called "Vuit de la Seu" or "Espectáculo del ocho" (Spectacle of the Eight), which takes place twice a year: on 11 November (Saint Martin's Day)and 2 February (Candlemas), symmetrical dates with respect to the winter solstice. It is a spectacle with an extraordinary effect of light and colour. From the early hours of the morning, the sun's rays filtered through the multicoloured glass of the main rose window fall on the walls of the cathedral and, after a journey of about an hour, are reflected directly under the opposite rose window of the main façade. At this moment, for a brief instant, one can contemplate the expected figure of eight (vuit in Mallorcan), made up of two rosettes, one of glass and the other of light.

Since its beginnings, La Seu has undergone numerous alterations, two of the most recent and best known being those of Gaudíand Barceló. At the beginning of the 20th century, the brilliant Catalan artist, displaying his creativity and ingenuity, was responsible for modifications such as: the relocation of the choir, the beautiful baldachin on the main altar, the creation of liturgical furniture and the inauguration of an electric lighting system.

Between 2001 and 2006, Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló renovated the Capilla del Santísimo, transforming this corner of the cathedral into a new tourist attraction. Barceló's work depicts the Eucharist through the multiplication of loaves and fishes, which allows him to show the marine fauna and the wedding at Cana around the risen Christ.

Palma Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the most historic and charming places, a building that combines the past and the present and is not to be missed during your visit to the city. The Palma Cathedral website has all the information you need about opening times, prices, visits, activities, concerts and other events

Can Forteza

Can Forteza is another must-see for art lovers. The goldsmith Lluís Forteza-Rey designed this building in 1909, merging Modernism with Art Nouveau as a synonym for cultural and artistic renewal. It is a five-storey building in which the style is not limited to the façade, as is the case with other similar buildings in Palma, but also extends to the interior.

It is located near emblematic places in Palma, such as the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza del Marqués del Palmer and the Plaza de Cort, and it is best reached after walking through some of the streets of the city centre.

The exterior of the building is characterised by its sculptural decoration on the tribunes and balconies, as well as its plant, animal and floral ornaments. Forteza-Rey gave the "trencadís" a form that only he mastered in Mallorca. "Trencadís" stands for the art of forming mosaics with fragments of ceramic tiles, marble or glass shards of different sizes. It is also known as pique assiette, broken tile mosaics, bits and pieces, memoryware, and shardware.

Inside, the decoration of the foyer stands out, where the ceiling is another example of trencadís. There is also a Gaudí-style parabolic arch, the wrought-iron banister of the staircase and a stained-glass window decorated with floral motifs.

Can Forteza is an invitation to continue our journey and discover other modernist buildings in the city (Gran Hotel, Can Casasayas, Forn des Teatre, Casa de las Medias...)

Casal Solleric

Last but not least, we would like to introduce you to the Casal Solleric Palace. It is a stately building from the second half of the 18th century that belonged to the Marquis of Solleric.

It was built in the Mallorcan architectural tradition and preserves some decorative solutions from the Italian and French Baroque. The three-storey building stands out for its magnificent patio, the true heart of Casal Solleric.

In 1932 it was declared an art historical monument and in 1975 the city of Palma acquired the building to transform it into an exhibition centre, one of the most famous in the city. The exhibitions have mainly revolved around contemporary art and have featured artists such as Joan Miró and Robert Motherwell. Other types of exhibitions of Mallorcan artists have also been held.

The Casal Solleric can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday all year round, and admission is free.

We at MON PORT hope that these recommendations of 4 historic places in Palma have served as an incentive for you to explore each of the city's historic sites one by one.

And remember that these are just a few examples. There are hundreds of buildings and places in the city where history is alive. Part of the charm and magic of Mallorca is that you discover them little by little.

• Share in: