Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Carrer de Mateu Enric Lladó)
One block east of the Església de Sant Jeroni, you strike a por-
tion of the 12th-century Arab city wall (with some heavy blocks from the Roman wall at
the base), beyond which is a park named after the city gate that once stood here: Porta
d'es Camp (Gate of the Countryside). The Muslims knew it as Bab al-Jadid (the New
Gate).
Església del Monti-Sion
CHURCH
(Carrer del Monti-Sion; 5.15-7pm)
The gaudy baroque facade of the Església del Monti-
Sion was converted from a Gothic synagogue. It got a serious baroque makeover, inside
and out, in the 16th to 17th centuries. Gothic giveaways include the ogive arches in front
of the chapels, the key vaulting in the ceiling and the long, low Catalan Gothic arch just
inside the entrance.
As you wander in, a priest sitting in a booth by the entry may flip a switch and light up
the curves-and-swirls baroque
retablo
at the back of the church.
Ajuntament
HISTORIC BUILDING
(Town Hall; Plaça de la Cort 1)
Dominating the square that has long been the heart of muni-
cipal power in Palma is the
ajuntament
. The baroque facade hides a longer history: the
town hall building grew out of a Gothic hospital raised here shortly after the island's con-
quest. On the top floor of the main facade sits En Figuera, as the town clock is affection-
ately known. The present mechanism dates to 1863 and was purchased in France, but a
clock has tolled the hours here for centuries.
You can generally enter the foyer only, in which you will see a Gothic entrance, a fine
sweeping staircase and, probably, half a dozen
gegants
(huge figures of kings, queens
and other characters that are paraded around town on people's shoulders during fiesta) in
storage.
Centre Cultural Contemporani Pelaires
CULTURAL CENTRE, GALLERY
(
www.pelaires.com
; Carrer de Can Verí 3; 10am-1.30pm & 4.45-8pm Tue-Fri, 10am-1.30pm Sat)
This private cultural centre is as interesting for its architecture as for its content (chan-
ging art exhibitions). The building, Can Verí, is a beautiful 17th-century town house that
was also used for a while as a convent. This narrow pedestrian lane is rather chichi, home
to galleries, antique shops and fashion boutiques.
