More of a fort than a castle, the Castell de Sant Carles is home to the Museu Històric Militar. Built between 1610 and 1612 on the site of an old lighthouse, it was later expanded to protect the seaward approach to Palma and serve as both barracks and prison. Inside, the display contains plenty of weaponry, uniforms, flags, battle dioramas and Mallorcan maps stretching back to medieval times.
Castell de Sant Carles
Palma de Mallorca
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.86 MILES
Originally an Islamic fort, this mighty construction opposite the cathedral was converted into a residence for the Mallorcan monarchs at the end of the…
23.51 MILES
Entered via a cloistered garden, the monastery is a huge complex, dating mostly from the 17th to 18th centuries. Off the imposing central courtyard rises…
1.86 MILES
Palma’s vast cathedral ('La Seu' in Catalan) is the city's major architectural landmark. Aside from its sheer scale, treasures and undoubted beauty, its…
1.9 MILES
This house, palatial by any definition, was one of several residences of the phenomenally wealthy March family. Sculptures by 20th-century greats,…
1.84 MILES
Built with flair and innovation into the shell of the Renaissance-era seaward walls, this contemporary art gallery is one of the finest on the island. Its…
2.24 MILES
The 17th-century Can Gallard del Canya, a 17th-century mansion overlaid with minor Modernist touches, now houses a small but significant collection of…
-
14.23 MILES
Casa Robert Graves is a fascinating tribute to the British writer and poet who moved to Deià in 1929 and had his house built here three years later. It's…
-
15.64 MILES
Perched at an improbable, almost comical angle on a gigantic fist of rock, Castell d'Alaró is one of the most rewarding castle climbs on the island. The…
Nearby Palma de Mallorca attractions
0.96 MILES
The Catalan artist Joan Miró lived and worked at this beautiful hilltop compound, now a major museum celebrating his life and work. Miró's friend, the…
1.16 MILES
Straddling a wooded hillside, the Castell de Bellver is a 14th-century circular castle (with a unique round tower), the only one of its kind in Spain…
1.69 MILES
Discovered in 1906, these caves are worth visiting, their chambers dripping with curlicued stalactites and studded with pinnacled stalagmites. You descend…
1.77 MILES
In 1984 the Parc de la Mar (with its artificial lake, fountain and green spaces) was opened. Head slightly east and you'll reach a children's playground.
1.77 MILES
The 'Consulate of the Sea' was founded in 1326 as a maritime tribunal, adjudicating disputes among merchants, sailors and captains. The present building –…
1.78 MILES
The gorgeous 15th-century sandstone Sa Llotja, opposite the waterfront, was built as a merchants’ stock exchange. Designed by the Mallorcan sculptor…
1.79 MILES
A grand arch dominated by the Palau de l'Almudaina, the Arc de sa Drassana is one of the city's few extant reminders of its Arab past. When the Riera, the…
1.84 MILES
Built with flair and innovation into the shell of the Renaissance-era seaward walls, this contemporary art gallery is one of the finest on the island. Its…