For one reason or other, Mallorca is said to be the place with the second highest density of sundials anywhere in Europe, only exceeded by Cuneo in Italy. Perhaps it is all on account of the fine weather here on the island. Most sundials we know are two-dimensional and mounted vertically flat on the façade of a church tower, a farmhouse or any other building. But, as always, there are exceptions to the rule. There are Equatorial sundials, Horizontal sundials, Vertical sundials, Pocket sundials, Polar dials, Vertical declining dials, Reclining dials, Reclining-declining dials, Spherical sundials, Cylindrical, conical and other non-planar sundials (for more detailed information, please consult Wikipedia). It is quite a mind-boggling subject, but, rather fascinating indeed and utterly absorbing. To me, anyway.

A number of less common sundials in modern designs can be found along Palma’s Paseo Marítimo, such as the one shown here, found at the entrance of the Muelle Comercial, straight opposite the Cathedral. This one is a Cylindrical sundial with its gnomon lined-up parallel to the Earth axis.

Joan Serra Busquets is the big expert on sundials here on this island. He imparts a large amount of information complete with photos, bibliography, typology, references and an inventory of hundreds of sundials in Palma and in the pueblos on his website, Carpe Diem. Miguel Ángel García Arrando is the author of a 204-pages book on the subject of sundials in Mallorca (Los relojes de sol de Mallorca).

The photos were taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: September 22nd, 2011. The time was 16:50:46, 16:50:12 and 16:51:15, respectively.