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Access: Plaça Almoina.
Opening hours:
Summer: Monday-Friday, 10-18, Saturday, 10-14.
Winter: Monday-Friday, 10-15,
Saturday, 10-14.
Closed Sundays and holidays.
Construction
of the cathedral began with the apsidal chapel, also called
the Royal Chapel, because it holds the mortal remains of king
Jaume II. In this chapel there are also angels sculpted by
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When construction began at the end of the thirteenth century the
characteristics of the Catalan Gothic were already established.
A visit to the Seu's interior allows different stylistic readings,
and appreciation of the exceptional illumination through he stained
glass, especially the great rose window of the east face. The Museo
Capitular - which contains interesting works of Gothic painting
- and the Museo Catedralicio cannot be passed by, nor can the cloister
and the exterior portals, the Portal Major and the Porta del Mirador.
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Access:
Entry from the Carrer del Palau Reial, near the stairs of
the Wall.
Opening hours:
Winter: 10-14, 16-18.
Summer: 10-19.
Closed Sundays and holidays.
Tel: 971 727 145.
This
was the Muslim palace of the Banu Ganiya, at the edge of the
port. The building was converted into a palace at the beginning
of the 14th century on the orders of kings Jaume II and Sanç;
the architect was Pere Salva.
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We
can admire the beauty of the Gothic hall's ogival arches, the Capella
de Santa Anna, where there are little sculptures of angels who national
Goth- act as supports of the apse, and a sculpture of Saint Praxedis,
dated 1458. From the first period the Torre de l' Angel survives,
crowned by the angel weathervane created in 1311 by Antoni de Campredon,
a Rousillonese artist.
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Access:
Plaça Llonja, 5.
Opening hours: According to the exhibitions. Tel: 971 717
705.
The Llonja is an exceptional example of the Catalan civil Gothic.
It was begun in 1421 by Guillem Vilasclars and Miquel Sagrera, the
architect and sculptor being Guillem Sagrera, who from 1426 continued
the work and created the principal sculptural decorations, among
them the Virgin over the tympanum of the west portal and the Saint
John the Baptist in a niche of the corner of the right main façade.
Sagrera's most outstanding piece is the Defending Angel of the Merchandise,
which shows influences from the Burgundian Gothic, especially the
famed sculptor Claus Sluter.
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Situated
in Palma's Bellver Park, the castle is one of the most important
examples of Gothic civil architecture in Mallorca. Not far
from the centre of the city, the castle of the beautiful view
watches over the port. It was built by Jaume II at the beginning
of the 14th century, when other important monuments such as
the Cathedral and the Almudaina were also being consolidated.
It was conceived as a defensive redoubt and royal residence.
But it became most famous, or infamous, as a prison, from
the Middle Ages until the Civil War. Among many others, the
Enlightenment encyclopaedist Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos
was a prisoner here for six years, until April 1808
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Only
four months after Jovellanos got out, the young French physicist
François Arago had his adventure in the castle.
On one of the bulwarks the Liberal general Luis de Lacy was shot
in 1817. But what first calls attention about the castle is its
circular ground-plan, unique in Spain. The keep, which we can contemplate
from across the moat, is separated from the main body, and reached
by a small passage supported by a double pointed arch. It used to
be reached over a small drawbridge. Part of the castle's ground
floor is occupied by the Museu de la Ciutat, whose permanent exhibition
runs from prehistory to the Middle Ages. The collection of Cardinal
Despuig was one of its most recent acquisitions.
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Access:
From Inca the road to Lluc is perfectly indicated.
Meaning: Sacred forest.
Style: Baroque; the Mysteries of the Rosary are modemista
(Gaudí).
Dining and Lodging: Cells for 2, 4, or 6 can be rented.
(971 517 025).
Various restaurants and shops.
The
Black Virgin of Lluc is the most worshipped in Mallorca. Lluc
is the most powerful sanctuary on the island.
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According
to Robert Graves, the black virgins are related to the Egyptian
mother goddess Isis, symbol of wisdom. All black virgins are found
in geologically significant spots: Montserrat, Nuria, Rocamador.
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Access:
At the cross-roads whose right turn leads to the Port d'Alcúdia
we take a narrow alley whose sign reads "Mal Pas". After 5
km, there is an indication on the right to the Ermita de la
Victòria. Construction: 14th century, reformed around 1700.
Style: Fortified baroque.
Dining and Lodging: Restaurant (971 547 173), cells
under renovation.
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The
first hermit had the reputation of being an alchemist, so much so
that king Alfonso V of Catalonia (the Magnanimous) ordered a type
of water brought from the hermitage that "cured all illnesses
that were not fatal."
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At
the eastern end of Ca'n Picafort, on the beach of Son Bauló, walking
along the coast for about twenty minutes we come to the necropolis
of Son Real.
Excavated In the 60's, consisting of a group of tombs which reproduce
in miniature the shapes of talaiotic monuments -circular and square
talaiots and navetes-.
Beside it is s'lllot d'es Porros, an islet which at that time was
a peninsula, where the dead were buried in three enormous chambers
cut into the rock.
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Talaiotic
Settlement of Ses Païsses
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Easily
reached by taking the road towards Capdepera, and perfectly indicated.
This
typical talaiotic group is very handsome and has a wall in good
condition which is notable for its trilithic portal, and which is
a masterpiece among talaiotic constructions. The group has been
prepared for visits by the Ajuntament d'Artà
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Prehistoric
monument of Son Fornés
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This
prehistoric monument is beside the road that leaves Montuïri in
the direction of Pina. It is one of the best-known groups in Mallorca.
The excavation gives us an idea of the settlement. The first talaiot
is another of the island's larger specimens. It is formed by large
blocks and the door has a monolithic lintel. Inside is a very handsome
central column.
The second talaiot also has a central column. Around these are nine
dwellings, used from prehistoric until Roman times, There is an
exhibition of findings in the Molí d'en Fraret. (Montuïri).
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Access:
Following the road to Petra, just before entering the town,
on the left is the turn that leads to the Santuari de Bonany.
Meaning: "Good harvest" , that of 1609, after the whole island
had suffered a severe drought.
Construction date: Seventeenth century. Completely
redone between 1920 and 1925.
Style: Neo-baroque and neo-classical. Dining and Lodging:
You should bring your own food because there is no restaurant
service.
Festival: Romería on Easter Tuesday.
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The
Santuari de Bonany is called "the mountain cathedral" for its majesty.
Here Fra Juniper Serra preached his last sermon. |
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Sanctuary
of the pleta of Son Corró
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Exiting Costitx for Sencelles we see
perfectly the sanctuary of the pleta of Son Corró.
This
construction is famous because it was here, in 1894, that
the famous bronze heads of the Bulls of Costitx, masterpieces
of Mallorcan talaiotic art, were found. They were put up for
sale by their owner, but the Societat Arqueologica Lul.liana
was unable to raise the money to buy them.
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To
avoid their leaving Spain, their purchase by the National Archaeological
Museum was arranged, and they are now kept there.
In 1995 two more statues were found: a talaiotic warrior god and
a Roman hearth god (Lar).
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Sanctuary
of Nostra Senyora de Cura
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Access: From Sant Honorat, we keep going up to this
sanctuary, one of the bestknown.
Meaning: Dedicated to Our Lady of Protection.
Construction date: Fifteenth & twentieth centuries.
Dining and Lodging: Hostel (971 120 260), and restaurant
(971 120 300).
From
here we can contemplate an extensive panorama of the Pla de
Mallorca, and on very clear days, see Menorca and Eivissa.
This sanctuary had a school of grammar, built around 1530.
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At
the end of a path to the right we find the cave of the Blessed Ramon
Llull, to which the most illustrious Mallorcan withdrew to meditate
in 1273.
Among the thickets there is a mastic tree whose leaves appeared
inscribed with strange characters after a celestial manifestation
to Ramon Llull.
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