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THE PLA DE PALMA AND
PONENT ITINERARY
MARRATXI
The Church of Sant Marçal On one's left, just
at the entrance to Sa Cabaneta, on the road from Palma, stands
the church of Sant Marçal, which was built in the
18th century. Consequently it is Baroque in style except
for the towers which are a later addition. Sant Marçal
is greatly venerated and one of the largest pilgrimages in
the whole of Majorca takes place here on June 30th every
year. Tel. 971 602 024
PALMA
Monastery of Sant Bernat de la Real This was built
in the 13th century, soon after the Catalan conquest. The
Monastery belongs to the Order of the Missionaries of the
Sacred Heart. Every August 19th there is a well supported
pilgrimage from Plaça de Cort in Palma to the monastery.
This is the feast day of Sant Bernat, who, according to tradition, "apaga" (turns
off) the summer.
The Castell de Bellver's circular ground-plan is unique in Spain |
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BELLVER CASTLE The location of this unique
castle on what used to be called Puig de la Mesquita
is the reason for its proper name: Castrum de Pulcro
Viso, of the beautiful view, of Bellver. Its construction
at the beginning of the 14th century was due to the
wishes of King Jaume II himself, the first monarch
of the Kingdom of Majorca. It was, in fact, conceived
of as a royal residence, in addition to its role of
defensive fortification and watchtower over Palma Bay.
There is no doubt that the characteristic that most
distinguishes the castle is its circular shape, almost
unheard of in military architecture at that time. The
most famous of its towers is the Keep (del Homenaje)
which is 33.37 metres high and inside which there is
a notorious dungeon. In it General Luis de Lacy was
held prisoner before his trial for his part in the
liberal conspiracy of 1827. The erudite Gaspar Melchor
de Jovellanos was also held there for six years. The
castle is open to visitors in all day, but only on
Sundays is entrance free. It is also free on Saturday
mornings but only for those usually resident in Palma.
Opening hours: from October to March - from 8 am to 7.15 pm. from
April to September - from 8 am to 8 pm.
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CALVIÀ
Oratory de la Mare de Déu de Portals A cave
in Portals Vells was until this oratory was built, the
place where the figure of the Mare de Déu de Portals
was worshipped; popular tradition has it that the figure
had been left in the cave by some Genoese mariners after
they survived a great storm. The building was constructed
in 1863. Tel 971 675 613
Chapel de la Pedra Sagrada The way to this chapel
is along a lane off to the right of the Palma to Andratx
road just after the turning off to Cala Figuera. Its main
attraction is that one can still see the rock that was
used as an altar for the Catalan troops at a Mass held
soon after they disembarked in Majorca. The oratory was
built in 1929, 700 years after the landing.
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