Palma

Monumental Palma

Palma unfolds its charms both during the day and at night. The seafront exudes history through buildings as emblematic as the Almudaina palace and the cathedral, still protected by the city’s medieval walls.

CIUTAT DE MALLORCA 

Palma is a monumental city which has lived facing the sea from the moment it was conceived, and as a result diverse cultures have arrived here and left their mark, above all the Arabs –who called the city Madina Mayurqa (Ciutat de Mallorca)– and then Christians, who conquered the island in 1229. The historic city centre still retains its medieval layout, and the best way of seeing it is by setting off from the imposing cathedral of Mallorca, known as La Seu, the finest vantage point there is overlooking the magnificent Bay of Palma. 

Below the ancient city wall lie ses Voltes, a former military enclosure which has been turned into a space for exhibitions and performances, and the parc de la Mar, an extremely popular green lung frequented by local people. Next to the church stands the Almudaina Palace, once an Arab palace but later Christianised and renovated, delimited on the sea side by the wall that used to protect the city.

At its feet the gardens of Hort del Rei stretch out, with water features, benches where one can sit and enjoy the atmosphere and Joan Miró. These gardens connect to the central passeig des Born, a boulevard presided over by two stone sphinxes and flanked by trees, and a lively shopping area which leads up to the street of avinguda de Jaume III, where you will find boutiques selling the top brands in clothes and accessories and a department store. 

In the nearby plaça de Weyler stands the Gran Hotel, one of the most important examples there are of Modernism, now converted into an exhibition space. Beside the Teatre Principal some steps lead up to the plaça Major, a large square with porticoes where shopping streets like Sant Miquel, Sindicat and Colón converge. This latter road connects to plaça de Cort, the administrative heart of the city, presided over by the city hall and the seat of the Consell de Mallorca, or island council, a good example of the Mallorcan Neo-Gothic style. The surrounding area contains the church of Sant Francesc –a Gothic jewel with a cloister where the remains of the erudite Mallorcan Ramon Llull repose–, the Arab Baths, the Museum of Mallorca, the Parliament of the Balearic Islands and the Palacio March. 

The best idea is to wander aimlessly through the narrow, shaded streets of this part of town, where you are forced to look upwards to contemplate the austere yet imposing palaces constructed by Mallorca’s ancient nobles and bourgeoisie. One singular feature of these buildings are their patios (courtyards), interior spaces with Gothic or Renaissance traits, flights of steps and large windows where one can still breathe in a stately atmosphere. 

The city’s seafront can be explored on foot or by bike down the long passeig Marítim promenade which leads to the seafaring districts of es Molinar and es Portitxol. Beside the Real Club Náutico de Palma yacht club stands La Llotja, a Gothic building which has been turned into an exhibition hall, surrounded by a lively district full of bars and restaurants. 

Check here the information related to the opening hours and entrance prices of the main visits of interest.

THE CITY OF CULINARY DELIGHTS 

Markets, bars, bakeries and restaurants make Palma a city of culinary delights. Traditional, international and avant-garde cuisine is enhanced by the city’s markets, where fresh produce arrives daily from the land and sea of Mallorca. 

To get to know Palma, you have to visit its markets, the city’s gastronomical culture spaces par excellence. The most emblematic ones are those of l’Olivar and Santa Catalina. They are also a good place in which to have an aperitif or eat drinking in the local atmosphere. 

Palma is rich in ancient bakeries, some of which have a tradition going back more than a hundred years. They still make panades (savoury pies), cocarrois –shaped like pasties and filled with vegetables such as cauliflower and chard, raisins and pine nuts– and all kinds of savoury cocas, just as they did in the olden days. In the sweets section the ensaïmada shines out, along with the apricot coca and crespells, little cookies shaped like hearts or stars. 

The area around La Llotja is one of the districts with the highest density of restaurants and cocktail bars in the city. And the district of Santa Catalina –formerly a fishermen’s quarter– has also become a cosmopolitan place with a proliferation of small establishments serving avantgarde, exotic and international cuisine. Traditional dishes can be sampled above all in cellers, old wine cellars where satiating Mallorcan recipes are prepared, like tumbet –a summer dish made of aubergine, potato and red pepper– or sopes, a wise way of using up dry bread by combining it with seasonal vegetables. One of Mallorca’s simplest and most everyday dishes is pa amb oli, bread smeared with tomato, olive oil and salt, accompanied by local cheeses and cold cuts, bitter olives and a good red wine.

THE GREAT BAY OF PALMA 

The city lives facing the sea, and residents of Palma frequent its urban beaches, which have all kinds of services and are surrounded by a host of restaurants, bars and beach clubs. Those furthest from the city centre can be accessed by bus or private vehicle.