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Activities and Places to see in MallorcaOur "Must See" Sights in PalmaLe Seu - PalmaAccording to legend, as King Jaine I was preparing to recapture Mallorca from the Moors in 1229 a fierce storm threatened to destroy his fleet. The King then made a vow that if he survived this ordeal he would build Le Seu. He managed to survive the storm and expelled the Moors. In keeping with his promise, he established Le Seu in Palma. It was some time in the making, having been started in 1230 and finishing nearly 400 years later. Today this Gothic building, with its flying buttresses, is one of the most imposing buildings in Palma. Made from golden sandstone it is 121 metres long and 55 metres wide. The central aisle is surrounded by two rows of pillars behind which are the double arched flying buttresses. The vast interior is distinguished by its massive proportions, with the vault of the central aisle rising to 44 metres. The two outer aisles are each flanked by numerous alcoves. To the rear of the building is the King's place - nearly as large as Le Seu itself. The original main facade was unfortunately damaged by an earthquake in 1851, though it has since been reconstructed. The finest of the building’s doors is the Portal del Mirador – a great example of Spanish Gothic design. Another good example of Gothic design is the ornate walnut woodwork. The tombs of Kings Jaume II and Jaume III, two notable medieval Mallorcan kings are also here. You’ll also find the memorials to Palma's more famous dignitaries. Also worth a visit is the Treasury room with its display of precious 18th century silver. In the last century, Antoni Gaudí was asked to make a few improvements to Le Seu, the most notable of which was the addition of a massive wrought-iron chandelier. Le Seu is open Monday to Friday 10am – 5:15pm and Saturdays 10am to 2:15pm. Closing times may vary depending on the time of year. The entrance cost is €4.50. Bellver CastleSet on top of a hill some three kilometres from Palma is the majestic Bellver Castle. Built in 1300 by King Jaume II, the Castle started life a royal residence. In 1395 King Juan 1 of Aragon fled the plague on the mainland and moved his court to Bellver Castle. Later on in the 1500s it was used as a refuge for nobles escaping a revolt in Palma. For the past 300 years or more it has been used a prison, housing Napoleonic and civil war prisoners. The circular form of Bellver Castle is very unusual for a medieval building. There is also a marked difference between the austere defensive exterior of the Castle (with its moat added in the 16th century) and its genteel interior (with its wonderful central courtyard). Today, Bellver Castle is home to the Palma History Museum and the Despuig Collection of Classical Sculpture. Open April to September, Monday through Saturday 8:30am – 8:30pm (Sunday 10am – 6:30pm) and October to March, Monday through Saturday 8:30am – 7pm (Sunday 10am – 5pm). The entrance cost is €2, though it is free on Sundays when the museums are closed. Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs)On the edge of the old town, near the Portella gate on C/ Can Serra are the Arab Baths - one of the few remaining examples of Moorish architecture on Mallorca. The Banys Àrabs date back to the 11th century and it is thought that they may have been part of a Muslim nobleman’s home. The architecture of the bath room is somewhat eclectic, leading to speculation that some of the building may have been taken from other sources, possibly Roman. The square room has 12 arched columns encircling the area. The room has a double floor. The top layer has several small holes through which hot water and steam would have passed. Unfortunately, the cold bath room no longer exists. The Arab Baths (C/ Can Serra 7) are open from 9:30am to 8pm from April to November and from 9:30am to 7pm December to March. The entrance cost is €1.5. Es Baluard - The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of PalmaSituated next to the ramparts of the wall enclosing the San Pere quarter of Palma’s old town is the recently opened Es Baluard museum. Built of white concrete to a modern design, the museum blends well with the ancient walls of the old town to create a symbiotic relationship between the old and the new. Es Baluard houses a fine collection of painting, drawings and sculptures from some of Spain’s best known modern artists including Picasso, Miró, Tàpies and Barceló. Your trip to the museum ends with an exhibition room housed in the restored remains of a medieval water tank. There is a gift/bookshop at the museum and a bar/cafeteria. The museum is wheelchair accessible. It is open October to May, Tuesday to Sunday 10am -8pm. From June to September it is open daily 10am to midnight. Tickets cost €6, with some discounts available. Es Baluard, Plaça Porta Santa Catalina 10, 07012 Palma, Mallorca. Museum of MallorcaHoused in the Palace is the Museum of Mallorca. The museum has been recently refurbished and has an excellent collection of around 200 Mallorcan works of art. Some of the most noteworthy items on display are Saint George Renedos by Pere Niçard (15th century) and several works of art by Antoni Guadí. These were designed to decorate the buildings of the town. There are some other notable works, too. The museum is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 2pm and costs €3. Museum of Mallorca, C/ Calders 2, 07012, Palma, Mallorca A good guide to hotels in Palma to assist you when you are planning any visits to Mallorca. |
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