Customs & Traditions
Right now the centre island pueblo of Petra is in the midst of celebrating the village patron saint, Santa Praxedis. The saint’s day will be tomorrow (July 21st), but festivities […]
Architecture
Gaspar Bennàssar i Moner was probably the most influential town architect in Palma ever. He was appointed municipal architect in 1901 and worked for Cort (city hall) until his untimely […]
Automobiles
This is the rear window of the horse-drawn carriage that I showed you last August (Carriages before Hispano-Suiza). I had an opportunity to revisit Ca’n Vivot in Palma recently where […]
History
During the middle of the 9th century, Mallorca had agreed a pact of non-agression with the Islamic leaders of al-Andaluz in the southern part of mainland Spain. However, Mallorca appears […]
Art & Artists
A large scale mobile sculpture by American artist Alexander Calder (1898-1976) is on permanent exhibition in Palma’s Jardins de s’Hort del Rei, just below the Palau de l’Almudaina in Passeig […]
Architecture
Ca’n Vivot is located in Carrer Can Savellà, in Palma’s old town. The building was also known as Ca’n Sureda during its time; it dates from the 14th century, but […]
Customs & Traditions
The caper (Capparis spinosa) is one of the most characteristic plants of the Balearic islands. In its natural habitat this very useful plant lives in the walls of ancient city […]
Daily Life
The new airport in Palma de Mallorca was designed by local architect, Pere Nicolau Bonet, and inaugurated just over ten years ago. Right from the start, passengers complained about the […]
Architecture
The Plaça Porta de Santa Catalina in Palma de Mallorca is a nice and quiet square just as one gets to the Baluard de Sant Pere, now the seat of […]
Animals
It would appear that the once-a-year bullfights in Felanitx, on the occasion of the annual Sant Agustí festivities, will not be happening this year, or possibly ever again. The Felanitx […]
Architecture
One of the palatial houses on Carrer Sant Miquel in Palma’s old town affords the most beautiful and peaceful little garden setting. This is an oasis of peace and quiet […]
Gardens
One of the nicest flowers that I know has to be the Hibiscus. The plant grows as a bush or as a small evergreen tree. There are some 200 varieties […]
Daily Life
The quioscos de prensa in Mallorca’s capital city Palma have disappeared. Actually, the press kiosks are still there, but they have been closed down. There were about fifteen newspaper stalls […]
Customs & Traditions
I’m always amazed when small Mallorcan pueblos pride themselves of more than one Catholic church. Petra for instance has two very formidable churches, the església de Sant Bernardí de Sena […]
Architecture
There must be hundreds of kilometers of drystone walls on the island of Mallorca. The technique of drystone building uses nothing but the stone and the tools to hammer and […]
Customs & Traditions
Porreres is one of my favourite pueblos on the island. Around this time of the year Porreres is in the news because of its apricot harvest. In the past, the […]