Most of Palma's defensive walls were destroyed in the late 19th century to allow the overcrowded city to expand. Only a section of the Renaissance sea wall, the Dalt Murada (begun in 1562, finished in 1801), remains impressively intact. The adjoining Parc de la Mar is an appealing place for a breezy drink at a terrace cafe in summer and is one of the best vantage points for photographing the cathedral in all its glory.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.25 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…
21.66 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…
0.18 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…
29.55 MILES
The 688-hectare Parc Natural de S’Albufera, west of the Ma12 between Port d’Alcúdia and Ca’n Picafort, is prime birdwatching territory, with 303 recorded…
Santuari de la Mare de Déu des Puig
28.78 MILES
South of Pollença, off the Ma2200, one of Mallorca's most tortuous roads bucks and weaves up 1.5km of gasp-out-loud hairpin bends to this 14th-century…
0.27 MILES
This house, palatial by any definition, was one of several residences of the phenomenally wealthy March family. Sculptures by 20th-century greats,…
0.56 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…
0.44 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…
Nearby Palma de Mallorca attractions
0.05 MILES
This imposing residence was built in 1696, on the site of a 15th-century predecessor. Reminiscent of a fortress, it's now the headquarters of the Academic…
0.05 MILES
These baths, dating from the 10th to 12th centuries, are the single most important remaining monument to the Muslim domination of the island, although all…
0.07 MILES
Built in neo-Gothic style around a cobbled pati, this mansion sits on the site of a 16th-century predecessor.
0.07 MILES
The 'Poor Clares' were one of the first orders to establish a presence in Palma, following the Reconquesta of 1229. The land on which the convent stands…
0.08 MILES
This excellent city museum is housed in a rambling ensemble of 17th-century mansions on Carrer de la Portella. It showcases a collection of archaeological…
0.11 MILES
You can't see past the arched double doors of this imposing residence, but its lines and dimensions are impressive.
0.12 MILES
Located in the Palau Episcopal (Bishop’s Residence; a mainly Gothic ensemble dating to the 13th century), the Museu Diocesà, behind the cathedral to the…