For the last ten years or even longer, Can Marquès in Palma’s Dalt Vila (upper old town) was open to the public as a Casa/Museu. Now, its doors are closed lock, stock and barrel and have been for the last few months. I have no information as to why and whither, but, it is all a great shame. Not many of Palma’s old Manor Houses are accessible to us mere mortals as a museum or otherwise; now, there are even less. Parts of Can Marquès go back to the 14th century. The large Casa Senyorial combines elements of Gothic, Baroque and even Roman styles, merged with a later addition of Modernismo elements. The courtyard originally dated from the 17th century but was changed in the Modernist manner after 1906, when a Senyor Marquès bought the property who had made his money in coffee.
On the Planta Noble (first floor), one could visit the Majordomo‘s office, the reception hall, a ball room, the living room, the bedroom of the lady of the house, the kitchen, the pantry, the dining room and the nursery, allowing us to imagine how the Butifarrós (the landed gentry or wealthy bourgeoisie) had lived during the early 20th century, with fixtures, fittings and furniture from the period all perfectly preserved.
Let’s hope that one day Can Marquès will open up once again for our curiosity.
The photo (top) was chosen from my archive. It was taken in Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: June 22nd, 2004. The time was 12:32:41. The photo (bottom) was borrowed from the Internet, courtesy of canmarquescontemporaneo.net.
Muchas gracias.
