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Itinerary 1 The centre of Palma
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Route A
Can Mulet and Can Salas This first route starts
in the Avenida de Antoni Maura; number 56 is Can Mulet
(1903) work of the architect Gaspar Bennazar; it has recently
been restored. It is a work planted firmly in the Secessionist
current, a Modernism that tends to use straight lines and
be more austere, except for licence taken in ornamental
elements such as floral patterns carved in the stone and
the decoration of the glass in the windows. In Can Mulet
the doorway, with its panes of glass above, is an example
of the floral side of Modernism, as is the façade
and the design of the railings.
On the corner of Avenida de Antoni Maura and Paseo Sagrera stands Can
Salas, also designed by the architect Bennazar. Its interest stems
from the stone architectural ornamentation on the façade that
stretches right up to the crown.
This mirador on the Carrer Paraires is an example of the 'modernista'
tendency influenced by the Vienna Secession |
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The ornamental elements are handmade |
'Modernisme' combines utilitarian and ornamental elements. Neo-Arabic
ceramic details on the house at Carrer Sant Miquel, 58 in Palma
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Can Coll In the Paseo Sagrera, between the Avenida
de Antoni Maura and the Llonja, the building on the corner
adjoining number 3 is Can Coll (1906 - 1907). This building
was the joint work of the architects, Gaspar Bennazar and
Jaume Aleñar. It is not at present in a very good
state of preservation, but it has some very interesting features,
for example the roof garlands and the shape of the projecting
bow windows that frame the doorway of the building. There
are naturalistic decorative elements as part of the design
of the railings.
The former Círculo Mallorquín, reformed in 1913 by
Miquel Madorell i Rius in 'modernista' style
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The former Circulo Mallorquin The building
that formerly housed the Circulo Mallorquin in Calle
Conquistador is now the site of the Balearic Parliament.
The building was reformed in 1913 by Miquel Madorell
i Rius along Modernist lines. The alterations affected
the appearance of the original building, designed by
Antoni Sureda i Villalonga, since not only was it enlarged
with the addition of another floor, but also the decorative
concept of the façade was changed.
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| The Modernist ornamentations can be seen
mainly around the apertures, and the capitals and shafts
of the columns and for the most part is inspired by floral
motifs. |
Can Barcelo and the ex Crédito Balear Can
Barceló is at number 2, Calle Conquistador and is
noteworthy due to the floral motifs on the ceramic pieces
that can be seen through the glass of the bow windows. Further
on at number 12 Calle Palau Reial, there is a striking entrance
with a hall that a wood and glass partition separates from
the stair well, which is illuminated by an overhead skylight.
Number 17 used to be the seat of the Banco de Crédito. The windows
and balconies are framed by carvings in the stone of the façade.
Cathedral. Gaudí's alterations The
Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí was put in charge of
carrying out alterations to the interior of Palma Cathedral
at the behest of Bishop Campins, who wanted the space available
to be restructured so that the congregation would be able
to participate more in the Mass. New lighting in the nave
and the Royal Chapel, the chancel canopy, the choir, the
stained glass windows, the altar steps, the decoration of
the choir, the plans for the tombs of the Kings of Majorca,
the paintings in the choir and the windows are all aspects
of la Seu that were either designed or altered by Gaudí throughout
his ten years of work on the Cathedral.
Route B
The stained glass and other ornamentation of Can Corbella
foreshadow the presence of 'modernisme' in Palma
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Can Corbella This route starts in Plaza Cort.
On the corner of Calle Jaume II stands Can Corbella.
This building was constructed and designed by the Master
Builder Nicolas Lliteras towards the end of the 19th
century. It is considered to be pre-modernist partly
because of when it was built and partly its historicist
neo-Mudejar aesthetics. |
Casa de las Medias This building is at 11, Calle
Colom (presently the Joyeria Miró). The façade
is a small island but has great character, due to the overall
design of the building, which makes not only features of
the shop premises undulating in shape but also affects the
façade of the whole building, scattered with coloured
ceramic tiles from the La Roqueta factory.
LCan Forteza Rey's exterior decoration is prolific, with undulating
lines and anthropomorphic elements
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Can Forteza Rey This building is in Plaza Marquès
del Palmer, on the corner of the Calle Monges. It was
designed by Lluis Forteza Rey, a jeweller by trade and
admirer of Modernism, who designed jewellery in the Modernist
style. He is also thought to have been the architect
of the Casa de las Medias. |
El Águila This building is next to Can Forteza
Rey and is the work of Gaspar Bennazar and Jaume Aleñar,
designed for use as a department store. El Águila
includes Modernist features of the Viennese school. The main
motif of the building, with its round arch, the style of
the ornamentation and the crown of the whole structure bring
to mind the Underground station of Karlplatz in Vienna designed
by Otto Wagner.
Can Forteza This building is at 3, Calle Bossería.
On the ground floor there used to be a book shop and still
today, part of the Art Nouveau decoration has been conserved
by the new business. The building as a whole is austere.
The curved bow windows, the design of the railings and the
entranceway are of interest.
Forn de Teatre This is situated in Plaza Weyler,
number 9. Its decorative details and undulating forms are
very much in line with Art Nouveau.
The Gran Hotel is the historical reference of 'modernisme'
in Palma and of the Balearic tourist industry
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Gran Hotel The Gran Hotel is at 7, Plaza Weyler.
Nowadays it is the seat of the Fundació "la
Caixa" and a historic benchmark for Modernism in
Palma and the Balearic tourist industry. It was designed
by Lluis Doménech i Montaner, a noted Catalan
Modernist architect. The work was actually carried out
by Jaume Aleñar. The Catalan Modernist aspect
of the Gran Hotel is shown by features of naturalism
inspired by various flora and fauna. Ceramic tiles, glasswork,
wrought iron work, joinery, and carved stone were all
treated with formal generosity. Its recent refurbishment
restored the façade and altered the interior distribution
to make it suitable for the functions proper of a cultural
and exhibition centre. |
Can Casasayas In a side street off the Plaza Mercat
(previously plaza Santa Catalina Thomàs), practically
opposite the Gran Hotel stands Can Casasayas. These are really
two buildings designed by Francisco Roca Sima, one in 1908
and the other in 1909, the latter known as the Pensión
La Menorquina. Both buildings are notable for the geometrical
ornamental motifs and for the wavy surface of the facades,
which means that even the shutters have to be curved.
Forn Fondo The building of the Forn Fondo is at 15,
Calle Union. It has maintained some of its Modernist past,
with Art Nouveau tendencies in its shop signs and the details
of the façade, but the interiors have lost all architectural
interest.
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