A Tour Around Palma
Any tour of Palma starts with the dominating Cathedral of Palma (Sa Seu) rising above the city, just above the yacht filled bay.
This elegant Gothic temple is harmonious with its surroundings, in spite of its huge size. The cathedral was ordered by King Jaime I, who had it built on top of the old mosque of the Medina of Mayurqa. It boasts enourmous vaults, however, the features that attracts the most attention are a great rose window and a unique wrought iron baldachin, by Catalan master Antonio Gaudí.
Across from Sa Seu is the Palace of L'Almudaina. A former Arab palace and later residence of the Majorcan monarchs, the building is presently a museum. The fact that it resembles an Arab fortress contrasts with the ornate flamboyant Gothic Chapel of Santa Ana, located inside.
Sa Llotja (the fish market) is located in the nearby Passeig Sagrera. This ancient exchange, which is presently an exhibition hall, is one of the best examples of civil Gothic architecture in Spain. Its spiral columns and orgive vaults are impressive for a non-religious building. Next to the Exchange is the Consolat de Mar (The Sea Consulate), whose Renaissance arches house the Autonomous Government. Following Passeig Sagrera Avenue you come to the Es Baluard Museum of Modern Art. Its collection comprises works representative of the most significant international trends from the end of the 19th century to the present day. Here you can see works by artists such as Cézanne, Gauguin, Picasso, Tàpies, Kiefer and Barceló, amongst others.
Our journey continues through Passeig des Born. It is one of the main arteries of the city, dividing the monumental historic quarter from the fishing, popular districts of Sant Joan and Puig de Sant Pere. If you take Unió street, from the square Plaça Rei Joan Carles, our next stop would be the Caixa Foundation. The old Grand Hotel, a modernist building, now houses an important cultural center. Across the street, in El Forn des Teatre bakery, a peculiar Art Deco building, you can try the delicious "ensaimadas" (a flaky, spiral-shaped bun) and the famous "gató" (almond cake), the best of the whole city.
Further down you will find Plaça Major, a square with great modernist influence. From this point on, the great avenues and boulevards that make up the new suburbs of Palma de Majorca unfold. Returning to the coast from Plaça Major, you can go across the historic quarter and visit Plaça de Cort, the City Hall, the Palace of Vivot and the church of Santa Eulàlia.
The City Hall, also known as "Cort", is a Baroque structure built on top of an old sixteenth-century hospital. Santa Eulalia church—the first Christian structure erected in Palma— is a great example of the Catalan Gothic period. Other mansions in the area include the neo-Mudejar Can Corbella, Can Forteza Rey and the Modernist building "El Águila".
You may also wish to walk through the old Jewish quarter and the district of Sa Calatrava. Along this journey you will see the Gothic temple of Sant Francesc and, at the heart of "Call" (the Jewish quarter), the Baroque church of Montisió, which sits on top of an old synagogue. Reaching the Promenade, you will see the Arab public baths, a reminder of the rule of the Caliphate of Cordoba over these lands. In this area you can also visit the Museum of Majorca. This ancient palatial-residence houses a magnificent collection that includes prehistoric, Roman, Muslim and medieval artefacts.
Two kilometers away from Palma's city center is the Castle of Bellver. The castle is located on top of the wooded hill that dominates the bay. Its unusual, circular floor plan and the delicate arches inside lend it an ornamental, rather that defensive, appearance. The precinct is the current home of the Municipal Museum of History.
Our Charter Yachts
Throughout your tour of Palma, you'll never be far from the hundreds of yachts in the port. Boatbookings.com has a complete selection of charter yachts from Palma, and can find the right one for you. The links below will take you directly to the type of boat you're looking for:
Palma Motor Boats: Bareboat | Crewed
Palma Monohull Sailboats: Bareboat | Crewed
Palma Catamarans: Bareboat | Crewed
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The impressive Palma Cathedral
The Cathedral Entry
Inside the Cathedral
Touring the Old City of Palma |
