Palma de Mallorca information

The Balearic capital's name in Mallorqui Ciutat signifies simply 'city', which hints at its importance in the minds of the islanders. Almost two thirds of the permanent population of Mallorca live in Palma, and a glance at the map shows how the island's road system radiates from the city.
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The romantic way to arrive would be from the sea at dawn or sunset. If you can't contrive to sail in on a sleek car ferry or a yacht, at least try to take a boat trip in the bay so that you see Palma from its best angle. Dominating the centre is the great Gothic cathedral, with the ancient Almudaina Palace beneath. To the east is Platja de Palma, a long line of sandy beaches that stretch through Ca'n Pastille to S' Arenal; to the west, the elegant promenade of modern Palma where luxury hotels look out over a forest of masts in the yacht harbor. Crowning the wooded slopes above it are the white towers of Bellver Castle.

On shore, there's plenty to see, starting with the old part of the city (Centre Historic on direction signs). On the waterfront, fishermen who still sail from Palma layout their nets. Palm trees drop dates on the bayside boulevard it's something of a racetrack for local drivers. Parts of the old city walls facing the sea still stand; the rest were long ago levelled into a girdle of avenues.

Avenue site of jousting tournaments. Now, it's lined with park benches and cafes where businessmen meet over coffee and tourists rest their feet. At the top of Es Born, Avenged del Rei Jaume III imitates the architectural style of a century ago, although it's actually much more recent. Here, expensive shops reflect the sophistication of a city made rich by the tourist trade.

The Palau Almudaina was once the palace of the Moorish rulers. After the Recon quest it was remodeled for use by the kings of Mallorca. Part of it is open to visitors, and a short tour takes in the superb stone vaulted 13th century throne room, divided into two storey’s in the 16th century you'll see that the window was cut off in the process. In the heavily restored royal offices, which are used by the present king and queen, traces of early paintwork survive on ceilings and frescoed walls. In the palace courtyard, dominated by the west front of the cathedral, the royal chapel of Santa Ana has a rare Romanesque doorway from the 14th century.
The massive Gothic cathedral (La Seu) was begun in 1230, after the Christians recaptured the island from the Moors, and stands on the site of the former main mosque.

Building was slow and sporadic, affected by wars and finance, and it was 160 I before the great work was completed. Closely packed buttresses facing seaward create an extraordinary effect of power and beauty, too, when they blaze like gold in the setting sun. They had defensive value, as there was always the threat of bombardment from the bay. If you walk round to that side you'll see the remarkable Mirador entrance. The north door of the cathedral, near the 13thcentury bell tower, is only open in the early morning and early evening. At other times, you have to go in through the nearby Cathedral Museum, which is a treasure store of old manuscripts, relics of saints and portable altars. A colossal carved stone Renaissance doorway leads on to the oval New Chapter House.

In the spacious cathedral itself, there are just 14 unusually slim columns supporting a soaring roof. The windows are fewer and smaller than is usual in north European churches. When the sun shines, however, the stained glass some pictorial, most gaudy and geometric lets in brilliant rainbows of sunlight. The Crown of Thorns canopy over the high altar was added by Catalan architect An-toni Gaudf the at the beginning of the 20th century.

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