Historical Buildings Walking Tour (Self Guided), Palma de Mallorca

Fervent devotees of the past will undoubtedly find Palma de Mallorca's old town quite alluring for a chance to get closer to the island's culture and discover firsthand the unspoiled Mallorca as it once was. Indeed, the historic center of the city is ideal for an acquaintance with the local heritage richly presented in the form of multiple historic buildings.

Some of them, like the medieval churches of Sant Nicolau, Sant Jaume, Santa Magdalena or Santa Catalina de Sena, are tucked away in the maze of quaint, narrow streets, while others, like the Palma Cathedral, also known as “La Seu”, an absolute must-see Gothic masterpiece, dominate the seafront (Paseo Marítimo). Each of these unique edifices is an epochal monument in its own right and can easily transport you back in time to experience how the people of Mallorca lived, worked and prayed centuries ago.

Amid the countless local castles, palaces, monasteries and churches to cast your eyes on, there are some truly not to miss ones, including:

La Llotja (The Market) – a cool piece of bourgeois Gothic architecture; constructed in the 1420s-40s;

Royal Palace of La Almudaina – a 14th-century "alcazar" fortress and the official summer residence of the Spanish Royal Family;

Banys àrabs (Arab Baths) – the trace of Muslim rule in what once was Medina Mayurka; dating possibly from the 10th century.

Convent of San Francisco – built in 1232, one of the best examples of medieval architecture in Palma de Mallorca;

Church of Santa Eulalia – a fabulous 13th-century place of worship, dedicated to the patron-saint of Barcelona;

Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) – a three-story building with a Baroque style facade, cheek and jowl with the Palace of the Council of Mallorca;

Gran Hotel – a modernist former hotel, built in 1903, designed by Master architect Lluis Domenech i Montaner.

Palma is a city that can be easily explored on foot. Its streets invite you to lose yourself and wander around on a gentle stroll, taking in the history, whether in company or alone, in an unhurried way. Just start exploring and allow yourself to be carried away with the help of our self-guided walking tour.