You've just arrived at the Passeig del Born, meaning the Born Promenade in English. It was laid out in the early 19th century on the former Riera torrent. It may remind you of Madrid’s Paseo del Prado, which is no surprise as it was in fact designed by an architect from the capital, Isidro Gonzalez Velasquez. Then, at the beginning of the 20th century, Palma’s city council decided to give the city a more European look, transforming the street into a wide tree-lined boulevard. Now pedestrianised, the Born promenade is guarded by four sphinxes, with two at each end. A popular meeting and leisurely spot for locals, it takes its name from the knight tournaments that were once held here during the Middle Ages. At the time, the torrent still divided the city into two—with the lower town home to commoners and artisans, and the upper town occupied by the nobility, bourgeoisie, and clergy. For entertainment, friendly tournaments were organized. Two knights would charge at each other from opposite sides of the stream, aiming to knock their opponent into the water. Since the goal wasn’t to kill, they used wooden balls on the tips of their lances for safety. The word "Born" specifically refers to a place where tournaments and jousts were held, so the name has stuck ever since.