‘Palma is the main city on the island of Mallorca and it has plenty to offer visitors looking for culture, as well as sun. These are 5 must-see sights in Palma…’
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| the magnificent Palma Cathedral |
La Seu Cathedral
This Gothic Roman Catholic gem sits in the centre of Palma’s historic old town and has taken pride of place since the early 1600s. It looks out over the Mediterranean sea and the popular Parque de la Mar.
Gaudi was famously asked to assist with restoration project but resigned his position after a fallout and before many of his ideas were put into place.
Parque de la Mar
This public space is popular with Palma tourists and locals alike and was created from reclaimed land on the coast in front of La Seu. The park features a huge fountain and artificial sea lake, as well as cafes, bars and an auditorium.
In the summer, the space is used to events and concerts, as well as an open-air cinema projecting movies to a floating screen on the lake.
Passeig del Born
If you’re prone to a bit of shopping, or just want to chill out in Palma’s exclusive boutique-lined street, then the city’s head ‘Golden Mile’ is a must see. With names such as Prada, Vuitton, Hugo Boss and Zara, you can certainly flex your credit card here. There are also many neighbourhood cafes and bars in which to enjoy a coffee or something stronger.
This Palma landmark was once renamed in honour of General Franco, but the change didn’t take and it remained as ‘the Born’.
Basilica de Sant Francesc
This 13th Century Franciscan monastery and basilica stands in the square of the same name. It’s a huge sandstone structure, housing the remains of Ramon Llull, who was a Spanish mystic. Llull met a messy (and painful) death when he was stoned for trying to convert Muslims. That’ll teach him, I suppose.
Anyway, the church is magnificent and the cloisters and tree-lined courtyard are so pretty. You need a ticket to enter, but you can pick one up there. If you have time to see the structure lit up at night, it’s well worth the trip back after closing.
Palau de l’Almudaina
This impressive Palace sits opposite the Palma Cathedral. It has Moorish and Gothic influences and is now the military headquarters. Although no longer used as a palace, the King still uses the building to host formal gatherings.
Clearly, it’s not a bad spot. If it takes your fancy, you can visit the Royal Apartments while you’re there. You know, just to see how they compare to your own apartment at home. There’s also a restaurant and coffee shop on site for weary travellers.
Do you have any other must-see sights in Palma to add to the list?
