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Itinerary 3 Gothic
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The outstanding building of this period
Majorca is the Cathedral (la Seu), planned and designed
to be the setting for the coronations of the new royal
dynasty after the Catalan conquest in 1229. It was
constructed in two phases: the first lasted from 1311
to 1339 while the second began in the second third
of the 14th century and continued throughout the 15th
and 16th centuries, until it was finally consecrated
in 1601. However, reforms were carried out in the 19th
and 20th centuries, perhaps the most significant being
the work of the architect, Antoni Gaudi at the beginning
of the 20th century.
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La Seu de Mallorca (Palma Cathedral)
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| The most exceptional part of this huge
building, the Trinity Chapel, which is also the oldest
part, was designed to be the royal mausoleum and is situated
above the sacristy. Despite the grandeur of the building,
la Seu exudes lightness and harmony in its interior. |
La Seu de Mallorca (The Cathedral)
Address: Plaça de la Almoina. Opening
hours: From April to October: Monday to Friday - 10
am to 6 pm. Saturdays - from 10 am to 2 pm. From November
to March: Monday to Friday - 10 am to 3.15 pm. Saturdays
- from 10 to 2 pm. Sundays and public holidays - closed.
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| To speak about the Gothic era in Majorca
means to speak about Guillem Sagrera, architect and sculptor,
who was played an important part in the decoration of
the Mirador door of la Seu. However, one of the most
important projects in Sagrera's work in Majorca was the
construction, started in 1426, of Sa Llonja or Merchant's
Exchange, which remains one of the most satisfying of
the Gothic buildings on the island, although it was never
finished. It is enough just to glance at the light filled
interior. |
Sa Llotja, work of Guillem Sagrera, was built in a pure Gothic style |
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This has three main naves divided by
lines of spiralling columns, which at the top split
into slim ribs that merge into the fan vaulting; the
resulting structure is light and dynamic. Nowadays,
art exhibitions are held there from to time.
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Sa Llonja
Address: Plaça de Sa Llonja. Tel. 971
711 705
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Saturday - from
11 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Sundays - from 11 am to 2 pm. Mondays: closed.
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One should not miss out on the marvellous collection of
city parish churches built in the 15th century, such as Sant
Jaume, Santa Eulàlia, Sant Nicolau or Santa Creu.
The chapel-crypt of Sant Llorenç, built beneath the
apse, is the most interesting part of the church of Santa
Creu. The church has recently been refurbished as a centre
for exhibitions: it consists of firstly, the crypt of Sant
Llorenç, which contains a fine retable dating from
the 14th century and a figure of the Mare de Déu Morta
also from the 14th century, and secondly, an exhibition room
in the basement of the rectory, the chapels and the choir,
which are to be a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Baroque.
The plans include the conversion of the bell tower into an
exhibition room of Gothic art.
Parish Church of Santa Creu and Crypt of
Sant Llorenç
Address: Carrer de Sant Llorenç, s/n. Tel.
number to arrange guided visits 636 430 000
Opening hours: 11 am to 2 pm. Guided tour of the
area on the first Saturday of each month:
Meeting point - Plaça de la Reina at 10.15 am. Price: 6 Euro
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As far as painting is concerned, the well stocked collections that
exist in Majorca are of great importance. In the Museo de Mallorca
one can see examples of different styles that existed within the
Gothic mainstream on the island, such as the retable of Sant Bernat,
dating from the end of the 13th century, the retable of Santa Maria
de Gràcia by Frances Comes; the retable of Santa Margalida
by Joan Rosató; the panel of 'Les Tres Generacions' (Santa
Anna, Santa Maria and Jesus), by Pere Terrenchs, whose work also
includes the panel of Sant Gabriel; |
Interesting specimens of the successive stages of Gothic painting
are found
in the Museu de Mallorca
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the panel of Nostra Senyora de Bona
Mort by Rafael Mòger, member of an important
family of Majorcan painters of the 14th century.
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Museu de Mallorca
Address: C/ Portella, 5. Palma. Tel. 971 717
540
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Saturday - from
10 am to 7 pm. Sundays - from 10 am to 2 pm. Mondays
and Public holiday - closed
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| To conclude the section about Gothic art,
it would be remiss not to mention a work exhibited in
the Diocesan Museum: the central panel of the retablo
de Sant Jordi by Pere Niçart, painted in 1468
and an excellent example of international Gothic. This
is a work with much fine detail, in which the background
is highly significant since one can see an idealized
version of the city of Palma in what is one of the few
pictures of the city from the Gothic period. In the museum
as well, one can see the retable of La Passió de
Crist, the panel of the Coronació de la Verge
by Joan Daurer; the panel of Santa Gertrudis, by Joan
Rosató, who also painted the panel of the Nativitat
de Jesús. |
Pere Nisard's reredos of Saint George, in Flemishizing style,
is one of the most important works of Gothic painting in Mallorca
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Museu Diocesà
Address: C/ Calders, 2. Palma. Te l. 971 213
100
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday - from 10 am
to 1 pm and from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Saturday, Sunday
and Public holidays: closed
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