In the midst of the massive set-up that is the fortress-like Palau de l’Almudaina in Palma de Mallorca there is a tower which used to serve for matters of vigilance and also doubled as a dungeon, I imagine. The tower is known as the Torre del Ángel, also celebrated as Torre de Homenaje. The torre is adorned by a large sculpture cast in bronze representing Archangel Gabriel and probably acting as a lightning rod as well. The sculpture is the work of the artist Francisco Campedroni from Perpignan (France) and was created nearly 700 years ago in 1312, on the orders Rey Sancho, sovereign of the Regne de Mallorca. The Kingdom of Mallorca included all the Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Cabrera and Dragonera. The king was also, if you want to know, lord of the counties of Roussillon and Cerdanya and the territories Jaime I kept in Occitania: the signory of Montpellier, the viscountcy of Carlat in Auvergne, and the barony of Aumelas, contiguous to Montpellier. Thus, the angel’s artist’s hometown was part of Rey Sancho’s empire; in fact, Perpignan was the kingdom’s capital city. A rather large castle was situated there upon which the remodeling of the Almudaina Palace was fashioned.

The Torre del Ángel is said to be one of the original towers of an earlier Muslim fortress, later extended and also, lowered.

Mallorca suffered an earthquake in 1851 which caused considerable damage to some parts of the Cathedral and some elements of the Palau de l’Almudaina and, in particular, to the Torre del Ángel. These damages were later repaired, the Angel Tower was restored and the sculpture was mended.

The photo (top) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 2nd, 2010. The time was 10:19:51. The photo (bottom) was taken from the Internet. My thanks go to naturayeducacion.com and the photographer.

Muchas gracias.