The Gothic cathedral is probably the most famous sight and landmark of the Majorcan capital Palma de Mallorca. It is also the most important religious building on the island.
The monument right by the sea was built over several centuries and is still one of the largest sacred buildings in Spain. The Roman Catholic cathedral is more commonly referred to as La Seu, which comes from Catalan and means bishop’s seat.
During the summer, many civic and private events take place in the Cathedral of Santa Maria. These include concerts, for example, and it is often the backdrop for films and television. The adjacent Parc de la Mar is also a popular venue for public events, open-air cinema and festivals.
History of the Cathedral
The island of Mayurga, today’s Mallorca, was under the rule of the Arabs for centuries, more precisely from the year 902 AD, after they conquered the island. They tolerated the Christian communities, which were ruled by bishops from Catalonia. In 1229, King Jaume I reconquered the island. A year later, he ordered the start of construction of the cathedral, which was then built on the foundations of the Medina Mayurqa mosque. As a result, the cathedral is not oriented towards Jerusalem as usual, but towards Mecca.
The construction work on the cathedral was not completed until many hundred years later, in 1601. After that, there was always renovation and restoration work. It is the resting place of the two Mallorcan kings Jaume II and Jaume III, who were buried in the Capella Trinidad, which is not open to the public.
But what is so special about the cathedral?
The church in Palma is impressive in many ways. It is 110m long, 33m wide and the nave is 44m high, the largest of its kind in Europe. La Seu was built along the Roman walls, once built to protect the city, so that the sea routes to and from the island could be observed in the best possible way.
The basic shape is rectangular, there is the Trinity Chapel with the main and secondary sacristies in the head, and the King’s Chapel parallel in front. Various side chapels lie between buttresses.
The building became known by the nickname “Cathedral of Light“. This has its origin in the colourful play of light inside, which is created by the special construction of the windows. There are a total of 61 unique stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments in the side aisles, while the 5 large rose windows in the nave impress with their mosaic. The two main rose windows, the smaller one above the main portal on the west side and the larger one with a diameter of over 12.50 metres and more than 1,200 coloured glass fragments on the east side, produce a special light spectacle for which a visit is definitely worthwhile.
There is a main tower with 9 bells from 5 centuries. Four of the bells were cast in 1312. The bell called N’Aloi, weighing 4.6 tonnes and two metres in diameter, is the largest moveable bell in Spain. The bell tower houses a museum with sacred art treasures from different eras.
Architectural Styles – a Colourful Mix
Due to the long construction period, the building in Palma de Mallorca combines architectural styles of several epochs under one roof.
The side portals on the side facing the sea contain Gothic elements from the 13th century, the alms portal on the opposite side from the late Gothic period.
The Gothic style was then replaced by the Renaissance style in the 16th century.
The three chapels “St. Sebastian”, “Immaculate Conception” and “Corpus Christi” contain Baroque design elements, the baptistery dates from the Classicist period.
On the instructions of Bishop Campins, the Spanish artist Antoni Gaudí carried out restoration and decoration work at the beginning of the 20th century, leaving his mark to this day. For example, the choir room was integrated into the royal chapel and the bishop’s chair was renewed. The impressive illuminated canopy in the shape of a crown of thorns, which is located directly above the altar, is probably the most striking change. Gaudí also created a cavity under the choir seating to serve as a natural resonance chamber. This was only rediscovered 100 years later during renovation work.
Fiesta de la Luz – The Light Spectacle of the Magic Eight
A great spectacle takes place twice a year, on 02.02 and 11.11..
On these days, from 08.00, the light of the morning sun falls at a precise angle on the main Gothic rosette on the east front of the cathedral. In this way, all 1236 coloured glass stones of the mosaic are projected like a kaleidoscope onto the opposite wall and appear directly below the rosette of the entrance portal. Together, the two coloured discs form the well-known and magical eight of light, also called the “Light Play of Eight”. The phenomenon lasts for about half an hour, but is an unforgettable event that attracts thousands of visitors to Palma Cathedral every year.
Visiting the Cathedral
If you want to see the impressive play of colours and the monumental construction of the landmark for yourself, a visit with a guided tour is the best way to combine beautiful photo opportunities with interesting facts.
Admission is free for residents, tourists only pay a small amount, about 9€ depending on the tour. The cathedral is open to visitors every day except Sunday. Depending on the season, it is open from 10am to 3pm or 6pm.
- Tickets for the tour of the interior of La Seu Cathedral are available here: https://catedraldemallorca.entradasdemuseos.com/
