Sa Riera torrent

The Torrent of Sa Riera, in Palma

The Torrent of Sa Riera is the former watercourse that crossed Palma, today canalised. The Palma audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this witness of the history and the geography of the town, which took its source in the Serra de Tramuntana, on the west coast of the island.

The former torrent diverted from the town

You are here on the small bridge of the Santa Catalina gate, which allows to discover the canal that replaces the former torrent of Sa Riera. This watercourse took its source in the Serra de Tramuntana, the great mountain range that lines the whole west coast of Majorca. Formerly, the torrent crossed the town in its heart, following the path of the current Passeig del Born and the Rambla. But this proximity was dangerous: on several occasions, devastating floods carried away bridges and houses and made many victims. This is why, in the seventeenth century, it was decided to divert the torrent and to make it bypass the old town, where it still flows today, partly canalised. This operation profoundly marked the urbanism of Palma, freeing the old bed to make of it fine promenades. The canal and its bridge thus testify to the old struggle of the inhabitants against the caprices of the water and to the transformation of the town. A witness of the history and the geography of the town, the Torrent of Sa Riera is an interesting stop of the discovery of Palma.

What to see

Here you discover, from the small bridge of the Santa Catalina gate, the canal that replaces the former torrent of Sa Riera, which took its source in the Serra de Tramuntana and formerly crossed the heart of the town, where the Passeig del Born and the Rambla pass today, before being diverted in the seventeenth century after devastating floods. The Torrent of Sa Riera is a witness of the history of Palma. It is a stop to be discovered, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Torrent of Sa Riera is discovered from the bridge of the Santa Catalina gate, on the edges of the old town of Palma, reachable on foot. It is an open-air viewpoint, freely accessible. You discover it during a walk along the old ramparts.

Why was the torrent of Sa Riera diverted in Palma?

Because it formerly crossed the heart of the town, where the Passeig del Born and the Rambla pass today, and its devastating floods carried away bridges and houses making many victims; in the seventeenth century, it was diverted to make it bypass the old town, where it still flows, canalised.

Where is the Torrent of Sa Riera in Palma?

On the edges of the old town of Palma de Mallorca, near the Santa Catalina gate, in Spain.