Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Best Places to Stay
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Palma's Patios
Few experiences in Palma beat simply milling around the backstreets of the city's old
quarter, which spreads east of the cathedral. Iron gates conceal the city's
patis
(patios),
the grand courtyards where nobles once received guests and horse-drawn coaches
clattered to a halt. Patios were the intersection of public and private life, and as such they
were showpieces - polished until they gleamed and filled with flowers and plants.
There are around 150 patrician houses with patios in Palma today, though most can
only be observed from a distance. They vary in style from Gothic to Renaissance,
baroque to Modernista, but most have the same defining features: graceful arches and
Ionic columns, sweeping staircases with wrought-iron balustrades, and a well or cistern.
Our walking tour (
Click here
)
passes some of our favourites. For a closer look, join one
of the guided tours run by Mallorca Rutes (
Click here
)
.
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To Market
Palma's produce markets are a great way to get under the skin of the city as you mosey
around the fresh-produce stands. There's all you need to assemble your own picnic, from
cheeses and cold meats to fruit and veg. The most engrossing is the central Mercat de
l'Olivar (
Click here
)
, where you'll find everything from plump olives to never-heard-of
legumes, melons as big as footballs, strings of
sobrassada
(paprika-flavoured cured pork
