It is probably safe to assume that you will have visited the Palau de l’Almudaina in Palma, formerly a Moorish fortified palace dating back to the 10th century and the days of the Omeya Emirate of Córdoba. Sadly, not much remains of the original fortress building, what with several interfering rebuilds, conversions and reforms over the last eight hundred years, including substantial alterations during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Whilst on the palace premises it is worth paying a visit to the splendid little Capilla de Santa Ana, also known as Capilla del Rey, leading off the Patio de Armas, with its famous Léon de l’Almudaina fountain. This attractive chapel dates back to the beginning of the 14th century and is ascribed to Ponç Descoll. The portal of this Gothic chapel is fashioned in marble from the Pyrenees and was built in the Romanesque style typical of Catalunya. The beautiful archivolt is one of the few examples of that period in Mallorca. The palace chapel also conserves some much venerated relics of Santa Praxedis, originating from Rome, located beneath an altarpiece dating back to 1465 which was painted by the Mallorcan artist Rafael Mojer.

There is also the Capilla de la Reina, otherwise known as Capilla de San Jaime, albeit of much lesser splendour. I might reserve that for another blog entry, perhaps some other time. It all depends on how long I can keep going.

The Palau de l’Almudaina is considered part of the Spanish Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage) and is run under the guardianship of Museos de España. Entry admission is 3.20 €, except on Wednesdays when visits are free for residents of the European Union, subject to documentation. Children under the age of 5 are free; children between 5 and 16 as well as students are admitted for a charge of 2.70 €.

The photos were taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: January 27th, 2010. The time was 13:46:43 and 13:12:07, respectively.