Palma City Info

Things to do

Palma de Majorca, Balearic Islands » Entertainment » Attractions

Palma (Palma de Mallorca) offers plenty of tourist attractions, catering to every kind of traveller. Discover the heritage of the city through the cathedrals, castle ruins, museums and galleries. On the other hand, fantastic cave formations, nature parks, golden beaches and botanical gardens put a modern twist on Palma's ancient past. Here are some of the most visited attractions to get you started.

Top 10 Landmarks of Palma de Mallorca


Cathedral of Santa Maria (Cathedral La Seu)   

More commonly referred to as La Seu, the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma is a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral built on a pre-existing Arab mosque site. King James I of Aragon began the construction of La Seu in 1229 and completed it in 1601. The length of La Seu is 121m; the width is 55m, while its nave is 44m tall. Though the cathedral is designed in the Catalan Gothic style, it shows off Northern European influences as well.


Bellver Castle (Castell de Bellver)

One of the few circular castles in Europe, Bellver Castle was built in the 14th century for King James II. This Gothic-style castle was used as a military prison from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. It houses the City History Museum, which features unique artefacts from archaeological excavations, municipal art collections and the Despuig Classical Sculpture Collection. In addition to exhibition halls, Bellver Castle hosts a wide variety of cultural and leisure activities.

 

Arab Baths (Banys Arabs)

A small tourist attraction near the Convent of the Cathedral, Banys Arabs (Arab Baths), shows the influence of the Moorish occupation in Palma, who called it Medina Mayurqa. A fascinating historical site, the roof and columns of this bathing chamber are wisely preserved. Its graceful colonnade and proportionate architecture have attracted many architects and history lovers. Banys Arabs show what heights the Arab culture and architecture had reached during the Middle Ages.

 

Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano)

The collection of arts in the Diocesan Museum highlights masterpieces from La Seu Cathedral and other churches and monasteries in the city. The museum is spread across three different levels and has a residential area for monks.

 

Town Hall (Ajuntament de Palma) 

Palma's charming Town Hall dates back to the 17th century. According to history, it was built in 1515 but burned down in 1842. The records of centuries of Canarian history and the island's public archives were also destroyed. Today, it is a famous rendezvous spot for visitors.

 

Passeig des Born 

One can enjoy a beautiful view of the cathedral sitting at any of the cafes on this avenue. The bars and cafes on this street are famous for their delicious food and drinks. Not only that, the brand stores such as H&M, Massimo Dutti, and Zara are situated here and ready to serve your shopping hunger. People get attracted to Passeig des Born Avenue due to its beautiful and tranquil atmosphere.

 

Pueblo Español (C- del Poble Espanyol)

Pueblo Español, also known as C-del Poble Espanyol is an architectural museum that mirrors a village-like design. It unfolds some facsimiles of the classical works of Spanish architecture. This can be an excellent day-trip spot offering lots of entertainment options. You can stroll through the various artisans' shops, restaurants, and bars.

 

Placa Major (Plaza Mayor) 

Now a hub of the old town, Placa Major originally housed the offices of inquisition. The cobbled streets, old buildings, and the outdoor craft market are the main attractions of Placa Major. A vast range of good bars and restaurants can be found around the square. In addition to this, it also has many art galleries and hence is known as the "artists' quarter".

 

Plaçade Cort 

Plaza Cort, also called Placa de Cort, is a square in the centre of Palma, where the Town Council of Palma is situated. This old centre boasts an eye-catching Baroque styled facade made from numerous elements of 17th-century architecture. The Gothic church Iglesia de Santa Catalina near the square is also a popular tourist spot.

 

EsBaluard Contemporary Art Museum 

A modern art gallery and museum, EsBaluard is located on the old Palma's harbourside fortifications. The museum boasts a large and permanent display of works by modern Spanish artists. Also works by various artists from all over the world are also displayed here. It attracts art lovers and those keen to enjoy their sunset drinks in the spectacular views of the Palma harbour.

More Attractions of Palma de Mallorca

La Almudaina

Palau de l'Almudaina stands opposite the cathedral entrance. The Palace was originally a citadel built by the Moorish governors. It was converted into a palace at the beginning of the 14th century on the orders of King James II. Today, the Almudaina Palace houses the "Capitania General" or Harbour Office of the Balearic Islands.

Majorca Museum (Museo de Mallorca)

Museo de Mallorca is believed to be one of the best museums on the Balearic Islands. This famous museum, located near the La Seu Cathedral, displays a superb collection of prehistoric artefacts.

Church of Santa Eulalia

Located just northeast of the Town Hall is the 13th-century High Gothic church of Santa Eulalia. Access to this church is through Plaça de Santa Eulalia, one of the oldest squares in the city. It was the first church to be built after Jaume's arrival. The Jews of Palma were baptized here in 1435 after converting to Christianity to avoid being burnt at stake.


Photo Credit: Chixoy / CC BY SA-3.0

Cap de Formentor

Located on the North-Eastern coast of Mallorca, Cap de Formentor forms the eastern end of the Formentor peninsula. The natural landscape provides many incredible lookout points with stunning views. The prehistoric cave at Racó de Xot, the sandy beaches, weird rock formations and scary drives through the pine woods are some other attractions of this spectacular wild peninsula.

Cala Agulla

Cala Agulla is one of the most beautiful beaches in Palma. It is surrounded by pine trees and mountains. Tourists can enjoy swimming and marine sports in the clean blue water. The beach gets crowded during the summer season.

Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation ( Visit Site )

Fundacion Pilar y Joan Miro was formed in 1981 with a donation by Catalonian artist couple, Joan Miró and his wife Pilar Juncosa. Along with the artist's studios, it has a collection of paintings, drawings, graphic work and important documents by Miró. The museum also has more exhibits of other artists such as Canogar, Mompó, Sempere and Villalba. This is one of the major exhibition centres in Majorca.

Port de Soller

Port de Soller is a little village situated on Mallorca's harbour. Surrounded by the Tramuntana Mountains, this is a spectacular place to enjoy the calm and shallow beaches. Besides the weekly market, one will find quite a few al fresco restaurants and shops on the beach. The warm, sheltered bay is good for swimming, yachting and luxury cruising. In fact, it is the starting point for many boat trips that travel to Sa Calobra.

Cales de Mallorca

Situated on the east coast of Mallorca (or Majorca), Cales de Mallorca is a land of wonderful beaches. Located around 70km from Palma international airport, this is an excellent choice for a family holiday and the best place to explore the east coast of Majorca. Cales de Mallorca has three small sandy bays called Cala Antena, Cala Domingos Grans and Cala Domingos Petis with water sports and pedal boats.

Palau March ( Visit Site )

This museum displays a range of contemporary sculptures. Make sure to visit a 'book room', which features unique manuscripts and nautical maps dating back from the 15th-18th centuries.

Convento de San Francisco

This 13th-century Gothic convent houses one of the most important churches in Palma. San Francisco is located to the east of Santa Eulalia. It was built between 1281 and 1317.




Photo Credit: José Luis Filpo Cabana / CC BY 3.0