One of the outstanding historic buildings in Palma’s Avenidas is a place commonly known as the Instituto. After the demolition of Palma’s city walls and the subsequent extension of the city’s boundaries around 1909, this building complex was constructed between 1912 and 1916 to house the former Instituto Balear, an educational institution founded in 1836. Actually, it is considered the first centre for education in all of Spain where the Bachillerato could be taken, a qualification similar to the French Bachiller. For almost one hundred years, the Instituto was the only place for higher education in all of Mallorca, soon being chosen by Palma’s liberal citizens and bourgeoisie to send their children to study. After 1936, the Instituto was renamed as Instituto Ramon Llull. The school for Secondary Education is now called IES Ramon Llull, IES standing for Instituto Educació Secundària. It is still considered to be one of the better schools in Mallorca, though it now has some competition.
The building is situated between Sa Riera, the torrente, and the Plaza del Instituto, commonly known as Plaza del Tubo, in reference to a controversial sculpture which was placed there in 1983. Apart from the secondary school, the building complex accommodates in its wing nearest to Sa Riera parts of the Universidad de las Illes Balears (UIB). The wing leading away from the Avenidas, in Plaza del Tubo, houses one of the Bibliotecas Municipales de Palma, as well as, further back, the Escola d’Arts Aplicades i Oficis Artístics (Centre for Applied Arts).
The statue on the reproduction of a postcard (below) is one representing Ramon Llull. This statue has long since been moved to a solitary place in the schoolyard, away from the public eye. I think that is rather a shame.
The photo (top) was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: October 14th, 2010. The time was 14:49:34. The photo (bottom) was borrowed from the Internet, courtesy of nosolohd.com and Mike Blueberry.
Muchas gracias.
The Mallorca Photo Blog 
Hello (: We are students from 2nd Bachillerato in IES Ramon Llull and couldn’t help but find your post extremely endearing and interesting. We are amazed by the history of our school and how its ancient walls have seen so many faces, held so many classes and opened so many minds.
Keep working and best wishes from
Clara Isaurralde and Javi Chacartegui
2nd Bt E
Good morning. We are students of second of bachillerat. We are in english class and we have to leave a comment about your article. we think that the last photography is very interesting because we can see our high school very time ago.
you are so funny
Hi! I like your comment about the IES Ramon Llull because is very interesting and because I’m a student of IES Ramon Llull.
Good afternoon.We are Lisseth and Laura and we are students of this institute, IES Ramon Llull.
We comment this photo because it like us.
We are students of second of bachillerato. We are in English lesson and we find this blog. We think this is very interesting because the School has soffered many changes in the history. The pictures are so good. The oldest photo is interesting for us because we see every day this statue in the playground. We like the blog and we hope see anothers news.
Hi! I am a student of that high school too. And I think than the article’s very interesting. This center was the first one offering bachillerato classes in our island. And Many people was in this classes and they’re now since many years ago.
Hello! I am not student of Ramon Llull, but I can see that bones are required to write your professors here xD
Many times did not think that some day achieved to study in this institute. Many friends, I have spoken wonders of the and that’s why I have decided. I know that it will not be easy approve baccalaureate, but there are to try, you strive to the maximum. My first day was a day full of nerves since it was not known to anyone, and also new teachers, but the truth I have not had any problem and is an institute very quiet.
Hello! I’m the one in the first comment of the entry. I just noticed that you can see our class in the first picture!! (the little window at the top right corner of the picture)
I just found it funny
Keep it up!