Sightseeing in Palma

Catedral o la Seu: From the outside, Palma’s 14th-century Gothic cathedral is undeniably impressive, with its uniform buttresses, the kaleidoscopic rose windows designed by Antoni Gaudí as part of an early 20th-century restoration, its pinnacles and the grand belfry hung with the giant N’Eloi bell. It weighs 11,000 lbs. All is reflected in the adjacent waters of the city’s Parc de Mar. Passing through the original 14th-century Gothic Portal del Mirador, the broad transept and apse open up, adorned with a mural by Miró, sculptures by Guinovart, and flanked by 18 chapels, of which the Capella de la Santíssima Trinitat is the oldest and most foot-worn home of the tombs of the Mallorcan Kings.

Palau de l’Almudaina: Today the official residence of the Spanish Royal family when on the island, this palace adjacent to the Catedral o la Seu was originally built as a fortress and residence of the Moorish Walis Caliphate that ruled the island during the 11th through the 13th centuries. By the 14th century, with the Moors vanquished, King Jaime II retrofitted the compound to serve as his palace. The Gothic and Renaissance interior details reflect the prevailing Christian tastes even as the Mudéjar exterior preserves the style of the palace’s founders.

Castell de Bellver: Housing the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat, this 14th-century Gothic edifice conforms to a unique circular floor plan bolstered by four watch towers and shot through by a two-tiered central courtyard from its vista-perfect hillside perch overlooking the city. The castle was commissioned by King Jaume II to serve as a summer residence, though for most of its history until as recently as 1910 it served as Mallorca’s main prison. Inside, a considerable trove of artifacts traces the island’s history.

Fundación Pilar y Joan Miró: Here aspiring artists find tutelage and inspiration, up-and-comers find space to display their creations in revolving exhibitions, and the man responsible for, at the least, the art center’s reputation enjoys a decent allotment of display space for his own works.

Museu de Mallorca: Island artifacts and etymological traceries are on exhibit in this 17th-century mansion.

Banys Arabs: Along with the palace of Almudaina, the 10th-century Arabic baths off Calle de Serra are all that survive to bear testimony to the centuries of Moorish rule that ended in the 13th century with the arrival of King Jaume I. Sadly, little of the baths have stood the test of time save for a sad grouping of arches, vaults and a few straggling columns.

Poble Espaynol: A tourist attraction, if not a tourist trap, Palma’s Spanish Village does make for an insightful tour of traditional Spanish peninsular architecture. Some sights to look out for are replicas of Granada’s Arabic baths and salons of the Alhambra palace, Sevilla’s Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold) and El Greco’s former residence in Toledo.

La Lonja (Sa Llotja): Back in the 15th century, while Palma flourished at the center of a highly profitable and influential Mediterranean sea trade, this Gothic edifice was created to serve as a merchant training center and employment office. Most spectacular are its fluted columns, which rise to the vaulted ceiling and splay out as ribs designed to emulate the fronds of six palm trees. The architect Guillermo Sagrera’s symbol- laden creation now serves as a seafaring museum. Next door, the 17th-century edifice of the Consolat de Mar preserves the mystique of the merchant trade tribunal first established in the 14th century to deal with, dispute, and delegate verdicts on maritime issues. Today the Renaissance edifice is occupied by the offices of the Majorcan Prime Minister and Balearic Government.