Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
was completed in 1669. It was tacked onto, and faces, a late Gothic chapel completed
around 1600 for the members of Sa Llotja.
Església de Santa Creu
CHURCH
(Carrer de Sant Llorenç 4; Mass)
Work on this Gothic church began in 1335. The main
entrance (Carrer de Santa Creu 7) is a baroque addition. What makes it interesting is the
Cripta de Sant Llorenç (Crypt of St Lawrence), an early-Gothic place of worship dating
possibly to the late 13th century. Some paintings by Rafel Mòger and Francesc Comes
are scattered about the interior.
Passeig Marítim & Western Palma
Castell de Bellver
CASTLE
(
www.cultura.palma.es
;
Carrer de Camilo José Cela 17; adult/child €4/2, Sun free; 8.30am-1pm
Mon, to 8pm Tue-Sat, 10am-6pm Sun)
Straddling a wooded hillside, the Castell de Bellver is
a 14th-century circular castle (with a unique round tower), the only one of its kind in
Spain. Jaume II ordered the castle built atop a hill known as Puig de Sa Mesquida in
1300 and it was largely complete 10 years later. The best part of a visit is to mosey
around the castle and enjoy the spectacular views over the woods to Palma, the Badia de
Palma and out to sea.
The castle was conceived above all as a royal residence but seems to have been a
white elephant, as only King Sanç (in 1314) and Aragón's Joan I (in 1395) moved in for
any amount of time. In 1717 it became a prison. Climb to the roof and check out the pris-
oners' graffiti etched into the stonework.
The ground-floor
Museu d'Història de la Ciutat
(City History Museum) consists of
some explanatory panels and a modest collection of pottery. Upstairs you can visit a
series of largely empty chambers, including the one-time kitchen. These are kept closed
on Sundays, when admission is free.
About the nearest you can get to the castle by bus (3, 46 or 50) is Plaça de Gomila,
from where you'll have to hoof it about 15 minutes (1km) up a steep hill. Instead, com-
bine it with the Palma City Sightseeing open-top bus, which climbs to the castle as part
of its circuit of the city.
