12 reasons to visit Palma Cathedral
Palma’s cathedral, known as La Seu among Mallorcans, is the result of a promise that was fulfilled. King James I built it in homage to Saint Mary after entrusting himself to her in the middle of a shipwreck. The monarch was saved and, upon his return, decided to honour his faith by ordering the construction of a cathedral which was once reflected on the sea’s surface.
As is usually the case with this type of building, the construction of Palma de Mallorca’s Cathedral took several centuries, thus becoming a faithful account of time, cast in stone.
There are many reasons to visit the basilica cathedral of Santa Maria de Mallorca, but here are the most important:
1. Admire the architectural details of a Gothic cathedral that is unique in the world.
The cathedral of Palma de Mallorca was built in 1229, which is why it is architecturally considered a Gothic temple, although its main doorway was completed in 1601 and belongs to the late Renaissance period. History, art and its times have shaped it into a place of worship with its own character, whose architecture is a reflection of the life that was unfolding around it.
With a surface area of 6,600 square metres (approximately 64583 square feet), a floor plan with three naves and 16 chapels, almost all of them with Baroque altarpieces, Palma Cathedral also has seven Rose windows and 87 windows in total.
2. Take a tour of the rooftops and enjoy the views of Palma.
Palma de Mallorca’s cathedral rooftops deserve a separate mention - and a great deal of fascination. From the heights of Palma cathedral, you can get a bird's eye view of the city. They also lead to such special places as the bell tower.
Guided tours or free visits to the rooftops are organised for people over 8 years of age - those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult - which also include access to Palma de Mallorca Cathedral.
3. Find pieces by some of the most important artists of the last few centuries
Mallorca Cathedral and Gaudí brought their personalities together in 1904, when the Catalan artist was commissioned to carry out a refurbishment that lasted until 1914. The church provided him with inspiration and he, faithful to his way of understanding architecture, was able to see the energy that pulsed beneath its foundations.
Gaudí enlarged the high altar and installed a baldachin or ornamental roof, removed the Gothic main altarpiece, illuminated the rooms with new windows and created numerous pieces of furniture. Since then, the Cathedral of Mallorca is also the Cathedral of Mallorca according to Gaudí.
4. Discover the relics in the Mallorca Cathedral museum
As well as exhibiting various collections of paintings, sculptures, gold and silver work and other sumptuary arts, in the museum of the Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria de Mallorca you will also find valuable religious relics. As if this were not enough, its three rooms - the Gothic Chapterhouse, the Baroque Chapterhouse and the Sacristy of the Vermells (the reds, in English)- will delight architecture lovers.
5. Attend the magical event offered by the Rose window of the cathedral
Twice a year - on 11th November and 2nd February - the rose window of Palma de Mallorca Cathedral delights its visitors with a beautiful spectacle of light and colour where the larger rose window is projected onto the west façade, below the smaller rose window, creating a perfect shape of an 8.
This is possible thanks to an optical effect that occurs during the early morning hours, where the 1,236 crystals of the Rose window of the Palma cathedral are reflected on the opposite wall, just below its smaller brother.
6. Delight yourself with a plan for the whole family that will delight both girls and boys.
Palma de Mallorca Cathedral is a place for everyone. The entrance to the Cathedral of Mallorca allows easy access for pushchairs . Moreover, educational visits are organised to the Cathedral-Basilica of Santa Maria de Mallorca throughout the year.
Its gargoyles in the shape of fantastic animals and its vibrantly coloured stained glass windows will awaken the imagination of children, giving them an unforgettable experience. What better plan for a family than staying in a hotel in Palma de Mallorca?
7. Allow yourself to be embraced by the alternative spirituality of Miquel Barceló.
Miquel Barceló's stamp on Palma Cathedral is unmistakable. In 2007, the artist remodelled the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. Three ceramic frescoes depicting the sea, Humanity and Earth, several stained-glass windows and various pieces of furniture express his peculiar way of understanding the mystical realm.
And although Miquel Barceló's contribution to Mallorca Cathedral lacks no controversy, it was undoubtedly key to enriching and expanding the Seu's living legend.
8. Contemplate the façade of the cathedral reflected in a pond.
The city has grown and the cathedral-basilica of Santa Maria de Mallorca no longer looks out to sea. However, a majestic lake surrounded by green areas opens up before its feet, mirroring it and giving its exterior a touch of fantasy.
For those staying in hotels in Mallorca this summer, strolling around the area and stopping to admire the scenery can be the perfect plan. Palma de Mallorca and its cathedral can brighten up any walking tour.
9. Or, as the painter Santiago Rusiñol wrote, walk in to "see its soul".
In 1912, Santiago Rusiñol dedicated a book to Mallorca entitled L’illa de la calma (The Island of Calm). Referring to Mallorca Cathedral from the inside, to its essence, he wrote: "On the outside you will see its armour, but enter and you will see its soul".
Indeed, the entrance to Mallorca Cathedral is a must, because when it comes to describing the aesthetic amazement that Mallorca Cathedral provokes in its visitors, both its interior and its framework count.
10. Learning the names of its nine bells
N'Eloi, Na Bàrbara, N'Antònia, Sa Nova, Na Mitja, Na Tèrcia, Na Matines, Na Prima and Na Picarol. These are the names - from the largest to the smallest - of the nine bells of the basilica cathedral of Santa Maria de Mallorca.
In addition to their own name, in the Middle Ages the vocal cords of cathedrals also had a specific language, which was crucial for communication with the people when there were no other means of communication. This is why the cathedral of Santa María de Palma de Mallorca was always more than just a liturgical centre.
11. Let yourself be impressed by its main organ
The main organ in the cathedral of Santa María de Palma de Mallorca was installed in 1477 to replace the previous one, which was a century older. It has four 56-note keyboards and a 30-note pedal.
Music has always been important in the basilica cathedral of Santa Maria de Mallorca. This has been proven in its annals. In order not to lose this legacy, every season since the year 2000, the Organ Festival has been held in this Mallorcan temple.
12. Visiting a temple within a temple
There is more to Palma de Mallorca Cathedral and its interior than meets the eye. The cathedral's Royal Chapel is located at the end of the presbytery, and is also a temple in itself. James II built it in 1306 to be buried there. The remains of James III also rest in the mausoleum. Both tombs were added in 1950 by the sculptor Frederic Marés.
The display of beauty that leads from the exterior of Palma cathedral to its interior can be discovered in layers, through the unexplored superimpositions of a masterpiece forged by several hands and throughout several periods.
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