These small Moorish gardens are the S'Hort del Rei — the King's Gardens, as they are located at the foot of the Almudaina Palace. When Jaume II of Majorca ruled at the beginning of the 14th century, these gardens were filled with fruit trees and flowers, but also vegetables for the royal kitchen garden. In the 1960s, the city decided to restore and redesign the area surrounding the palace, entrusting the project to Majorcan architect Gabriel Alomar. He chose a historicist style — one that revives architectural elements from earlier eras to give them a more modern touch. You’re now in a peaceful green space featuring traditional Majorcan and Andalusian elements. You’ll notice sculptures from Miró, Subirachs, and Calder, along with the bronze statue of Es Foner the slinger. This statue, made in 1898, represents a Talaiotic man — the first known civilization on the Balearic Islands, known for their impressive slinging skills during the Punic Wars. If you’re wondering, a sling is an ancient weapon made of leather straps and a pouch used to hurl stones at enemies — not to be confused with a slingshot! You can spot one in the statue’s hand. It may not look like much, but these warriors defended themselves incredibly well with these slings. Some legends even say they could sink a boat from a distance! Just behind the slinger, through the old city wall, you’ll notice an arch above a small pond. That’s the Arc de sa Drassana, built in the 10th century and likely of Arab origin. It once led to a small private port for the palace, back when the sea still reached the entrance of the ancient Moorish city.