Things to do in Palma de Mallorca

About Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca serves as the capital of the Balearic Islands, defined by its massive Gothic sandstone skyline dominated by the Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca. Positioned on the southern coast of Mallorca, the city acts as a Mediterranean crossroads, featuring the historic Royal Palace of La Almudaina and the unique circular architecture of Castillo de Bellver. Beyond its historical core, the city offers accessible coastal experiences like Cala Major and specialized cultural institutions including the Train Sóller Station (Palma de Mallorca). Its urban layout preserves layers of Roman, Moorish, and Christian history within a densely packed maritime district.

Good to know

1. 1

   Palma's cathedral is one of the few in the world to feature a light-filled interior redesigned by Antoni Gaudí, including his unconventional crown of thorns installation.

2. 2

   The city's underground geography includes a vast network of medieval water cisterns and tunnels, many of which remain hidden beneath the modern street grid.

3. 3

   Palma was historically a major center for cartography, with the 14th-century 'Majorcan Cartographic School' producing the most accurate maps in the medieval world.

4. 4

   The city walls, which once entirely enclosed Palma, were demolished in 1902 to allow for urban expansion, though parts of the Ses Voltes bastion survive.

5. 5

   Mallorca maintains its own distinct dialect of Catalan, known as Mallorquí, which features unique vocabulary and phonetic variations compared to mainland variants.