I don’t think that I can envisage many reasons why one should go to the pueblo of Lloseta unless one wants to buy cement or shoes. Or unless, many moons ago, one would have wanted to dig for coal. But, wait, there are a few more reasons, come to think of it. One good excuse to come to Lloseta would be the Palau d’Aiamans (Palacio de Ayamans, the Ayamans Palace), probably one of the most splendid private houses on the island, albeit a feudal, aristocratic one. Aristocracy in Lloseta, however, was synonymous for despotic autocracy for many centuries. During the 17th century, the then Conde de Ayamans and Lord of Lloseta is said to have run an oppressive reign of terror on his serfs and also, on his wife. The poor woman fled from the Conde‘s tyranny and sought shelter in a convent. But, the Count would not allow his wife to escape and went after her, storming the nuns’ cloister. Once seized, the wife was incarcerated at home until the unlucky woman was eventually murdered by some bandits.

The palace in Lloseta is famed for its extensive suites of rooms and for its splendid park-like gardens. The palace gardens used to be open to the public during weekends but, sadly this is not the case any longer. Except, once a year the Palau d’Ayamans is accessible to you and me and everybody else. This coming weekend, June 4th and 5th, Lloseta will hold its annual Fira de sa Sabata, the shoemakers’ fair, when the palace will be the centre point of the fair ground and access will be granted for two days only. You should not miss the opportunity.

The Conde de Ayamans also had a town palace in Palma, better known as Ca Gran Cristiana which now is the seat of the Museu de Mallorca.

The photo was taken in Lloseta, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: May 29th, 2011. The time was 15:20:50.