S'Hort del Rei (Royal Garden), Palma de Mallorca

The Royal Garden is a tranquil green space set beside the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, offering a quiet counterpoint to Palma’s most monumental landmarks. Its origins lie within the palace complex itself: in the 14th century, the Almudaina Palace contained royal gardens laid out in the Andalusian tradition. These gardens combined fruit trees, vegetables, medicinal herbs, ornamental plants, and flowers, arranged around water features to create a shaded, carefully balanced environment. Until 1847, the garden area was enclosed by walls, the seashore, and the gardener’s house.

Between 1847 and 1918, much of the original garden was redeveloped. Buildings rose along its edges, including the Alhambra Hotel, the Lyric Theatre, and various shops, newspaper offices, and shipping agencies. The space was later reclaimed and redesigned as a public garden.

Today, the Royal Garden features cypress trees, orange trees, shady arcades, fountains, and reflecting pools, including a large pond inhabited by black swans. An original Islamic arch spanning the pond survives as a rare reminder of the site’s medieval heritage. Several sculptures are scattered throughout the garden, the most notable being the bronze "Stone Slinger”.