Adventure Hunt Palma

Palma FAQ

About Palma

ORIGINES

Palma has been an important settlement for more than 2,000 years. The Romans founded the city in 123 BC following their conquest of Mallorca, although the area had been inhabited long before their arrival. Its position beside a large natural bay made it an important port and trading centre.

The city changed considerably during the centuries that followed. Under Muslim rule from the 10th century, Palma, then known as Madina Mayurqa, became one of the main cities of the western Mediterranean. In 1229, King James I of Aragon conquered Mallorca and the city became part of the Christian Kingdom of Mallorca. Churches, palaces and civic buildings gradually replaced or incorporated earlier structures, creating much of the historic centre that can be explored today.

THE OLD TOWN

Palma’s old town developed around the Cathedral and the former royal palace beside the waterfront. From here, a network of narrow streets spreads inland towards squares including Plaça de Cort and Plaça Major. Parts of the city still follow street patterns established during the medieval period.

For centuries Palma was enclosed by substantial defensive walls. These were gradually demolished during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the city expanded. Inside the former walls are churches, convents, courtyards, merchant houses and public buildings from different periods of Palma’s history. Walking through the centre today, Roman, Islamic, medieval and later influences can all be found within a relatively small area.

HIGHLIGHTS OF PALMA

All of the highlights mentioned below are on the Adventure Hunt – Palma Highlights route. Below is a little background on each of these highlights.

PALMA CATHEDRAL

Palma Cathedral, commonly known as La Seu, dominates the waterfront and is one of the city’s best-known landmarks. Construction began in the 13th century following the Christian conquest of Mallorca and continued for several centuries. The building is particularly known for its large rose window and its position overlooking the Parc de la Mar. Antoni Gaudí was also involved in alterations to the interior during the early 20th century.

PLAÇA DE CORT

Plaça de Cort has long been at the centre of civic life in Palma. The square is home to Palma Town Hall, a 17th-century building with a distinctive façade and projecting wooden roof. In the centre of the square stands an old olive tree which was moved here in 1989 and has become a well-known Palma landmark.

PLAÇA MAJOR

Plaça Major occupies the site of the former headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition in Mallorca. The present square was developed during the 19th century following the demolition of the earlier buildings. Today it is one of the main public spaces in the old town and provides a link between several of Palma’s busiest pedestrian streets.

MERCAT DE L’OLIVAR

Mercat de l’Olivar opened in 1951 and remains one of Palma’s main food markets. Located close to Plaça d’Espanya, its stalls sell fish, meat, fruit, vegetables and other local produce. It provides a contrast to the older monuments on the route and is still very much part of everyday life in the centre of Palma.

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