La Seu Cathedral

You’ve been admiring it since your arrival — you’re finally standing before the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Mary of Palma, built atop the old city walls of Palma. It goes by two names: the Cathedral of Light, for its 59 stained-glass windows and 5 rose windows; or La Seu, meaning “majestic” in Catalan. It is the largest place of worship on the island and the second longest in Spain, after the Seville Cathedral. It was built in 1229 after the city was conquered by James I of Aragon. He immediately ordered the demolition of the great mosque of Madina Mayurqa—the Arabic name for Palma—and replaced it by an imposing cathedral in Mediterranean Gothic style to honour the Virgin Mary. Legend has it that during his voyage to the island of Majorca, the king faced a violent storm and prayed to the Holy Virgin, promising her a magnificent building in her name if they made it through unharmed. Construction took over a century, with the cathedral being consecrated in 1346, though work continued until 1601. The final result, a colossal structure, is comparable to the greatest cathedrals in Europe. In 1851, an earthquake severely damaged the main portal, which was then restored, and between 1904 and 1914, the choir was redesigned by Antoni Gaudí himself—an intervention that, as you can imagine, left its mark. In 1931, the cathedral was declared a historic-artistic monument, and later a site of national interest. At the time of its construction, the cathedral stood right at the edge of the sea. As you can see, that is no longer the case since the land has been extended when the Parc del Mar and its artificial lake were created, allowing you to enjoy the surroundings a little more. If you’d like to explore the cathedral’s interior, you’ll unfortunately have to pay an entrance fee—but it’s really worth it as there’s so much to see inside. There are no fewer than 19 chapels and 8 aisles filled with artworks. Above the main altar, the massive rose window, made of 1 236 pieces of glass, is the largest Gothic rose window in the world and bathes the cathedral in magnificent colours. For those who enjoy rare phenomena, take note: twice a year, on the 2nd of February and the 11th of November—yes, choosing 2/2 and 11/11 is no coincidence—the morning sun shines through the rose window and reflects precisely onto the other rose window opposite, creating the illusion of a double rose. It’s known as the “spectacle of the 8”. Of course, the odds of being here exactly on one of those days are very slim, but if you’re thinking of returning off-season, it’s a good reason to visit again choosing your date wisely. Another gem here is the fresco made by Miquel Barceló, located in the Chapel of the Santísimo. A major figure in the neo-expressionist movement, he stirred controversy in the early 2000s by creating this 300m² relief fresco made of ceramics, depicting the biblical parable where bread and fish multiplied. You can also admire the sculptures made by Sagrera on the Mirador door, as well as Gaudí’s baldachin and ceramic wall, and the delicately sculpted tombs of Kings Jaume II and Jaume III in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. Your entrance ticket also grants access to the cathedral museum, tracing the history of Christianity. Finally, for an extra fee, you can truly soak in the view by climbing up to the terraces. From up there, 48 meters above sea level, you can admire Palma as you’ve never seen before!