What to see in Palma de Mallorca, itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including Cathedral of Santa Maria and Castello de Bellver.
Tourist information
Main city of the island of Majorca, located in the center of the bay of the same name, Palma de Mallorca is the capital of the Balearic Islands, as well as a renowned tourist resort, ideal for spending pleasant holidays by the sea.
In the historic center, through a network of cobbled lanes, it is possible to admire palaces, monasteries and beautiful noble residences.
Peeking beyond the wrought iron gates of the stately homes, you immediately notice the presence of remarkable stone stairs and graceful courtyards, called patis, while in the modern part, where there are the two adjacent squares Plaça Weyler and Plaça Mercat, the architecture of the buildings was affected by the influence of modernism.
Note the numerous local craft and souvenir shops that crowd the streets of this beautiful city, always in balance between tradition and modernity.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria dominates the waterfront, from its position which sees it located on top of the old citadel.
Built between 1300 and 1600 in Palma sandstone, on the site of an Arab mosque, the building is mostly Gothic, excluding the main facade, rebuilt after the 1851 earthquake, with some parts of the interior remodeled in the early twentieth century by the architect Antonio Gaudí.
Es Baluard is a museum of modern art and sculpture, where works by world-renowned artists are preserved, including Cézanne, Matisse, Dalì and Picasso.
The museum is located on the seafront, within the ancient Renaissance city walls, in the area of the San Pere bastion.
What see
The Royal Palace of Majorca was built on an ancient Arab alcazar in the early fourteenth century.
The Gothic and Moorish building, very beautiful both inside and outside, is still used today by the Spanish royal family.
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Passeig Maritim constitutes the promenade of Palma, an ideal place to take a walk admiring the beautiful sea, with a possible refreshment stop in one of the many bars and restaurants.
The Basilica of San Francesco, built in the thirteenth century and renovated in the seventeenth century, is presented in Mallorquin style on the outside, while inside it hides a typically Baroque style.
The adjacent Gothic-style cloister, containing a central fountain and citrus trees, is a true oasis of peace in the heart of the old town.
The Castello de Bellver, located on a hill about 3 kilometers from the historic center of Palma, offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city and the promenade.
The circular structure of the building combines the needs of a building with those of a defensive fortress.
Inside there is a local history museum.
The Museu Fundación Juan March Palma, housed in a seventeenth-century palace known as the Can Gallard des Canyar, is a museum of modern art which houses a permanent collection relating to the works of some of the greatest contemporary Spanish artists, including Pablo Picasso, Joan Mirò, Juan Gris and Salvador Dalí.
La Llotja, an imposing Gothic-style building designed by the architect Guillem Sagrera, is located on the seafront and is one of the most suggestive buildings in Palma de Mallorca.
