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Mallorca Cathedral

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The monument

The cathedral in Palma de Mallorca is a clear example of the late Catalonian gothic style. Its privileged location, on a promontory on the island from where the sea is visible, gives it a unique Mediterranean character.

This building spans over eight centuries of history and is well known for Gaudi's renovations in 1904. Construction commenced in the 12th century - almost certainly replacing a former mosque -, and the definitive project was carried out two centuries later.

Although the artisans of this temple were the Mallorcan Jaume Mates and the famous master Guillem Sagrera, the construction of the south-facing façade of the building was directed by Pere Morey.

This part of the cathedral, which is called "El Mirador", is in a gothic style like the north-facing façade - also called "Almoina" - with impressive arches.

The main doorway, which was built in 1601, belongs to the late Renaissance, whereas the main façade, which was built in 1855 over the former one, is in the neo-Gothic style.

The building as a whole has a surface area of 6,000 square metres distributed in a three-nave layout. Each one of them is separated by tall, light columns, which contribute towards making Palma de Mallorca Cathedral the second highest Gothic cathedral in Europe.

Location

The island of Mallorca is part of what is known as the Balearic archipelago, along with Menorca, Ibiza, Cabrera and Formentera. It is located in the centre-west of the Mediterranean Sea, 240 kilometres from the coast of Valencia. Its total surface area is 3,640 square kilometres. The city of Palma de Mallorca, which measures 208 sq. kilometres, is the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands.

Palma de Mallorca cathedral is located in a privileged setting on the island, dominating the belvedere that overlooks Parc de la Mar and Palma Bay. The cathedral is accessed by crossing Palau Reial street and arriving at Plaza Almoina. From there, the architecture of this imposing building has a powerful influence on the landscape of the island and the city.

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The city and its history

The history of the city of Palma is closely linked to its condition as an island. Its privileged location in the Mediterranean made this city a favourite among those sailing this sea. Romans, Christians and Muslims left traces of their customs and made their own mark on the city of Palma.

The conquest of the city by Jaime I's troops caused Palma to undergo a total transformation: almost all of the streets of the old quarter were laid out and the most representative buildings of the city were built. The next urban planning process took place in the 19th century, when the walls of the city were demolished to extend the urbanised areas. The island's prosperity continued to increase, mostly fuelled by the tourism sector. The great number of visitors meant that the appearance of the island changed again in the second half of the 20th century.

The city today

The city of Palma de Mallorca has a population of around 320,000 inhabits, almost half of the island's population. Thanks to its beautiful landscapes and mild climate, the city has become one of the most important tourist centres in Europe. As well as benefiting from the peace and quiet, in Palma it is possible to practise all kinds of water sports, enjoy the island nightlife and avail of a wide-ranging cultural offering. All of these advantages have made this city's airport one of the busiest in Spain, and thousands of tourists come to enjoy this truly cosmopolitan city each year.

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