Bars & Restaurants
(near Felanitx, at 00:40:23) Twenty-eight years ago today, I orchestrated an exciting photo event in Los Angeles, California, in collaboration with one Red Saunders. Together, we edited the book that […]
History
It is Martes y Trece today, the Spanish equivalent of Friday the Thirteenth. You may not feel superstitious enough as to indulge in any prevention of ill fate. But you […]
Customs & Traditions
The larger pueblos of Mallorca all seem to have at least two massive big churches, the principal one being the Església Parroquial (Parish Church) and the second one, often as […]
Architecture
I don’t know if you have noticed that churches, temples and mosques often share the same location, with centuries between them, often with one being built over the previous edifice. […]
Customs & Traditions
The Mallorcan folks are really quite clever people. They certainly were some time ago, let’s say, a hundred years ago. Then, school education was a matter of the upper class […]
Customs & Traditions
The patron saint of the village of Algaïda, Sant Honorat (Saint Honorat), is celebrated every year on January 16th. Yesterday, the saint was honoured with a special church service during […]
Customs & Traditions
Today, Spain celebrates the Festividad de Los Reyes Magos. The Three Kings, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, arrived last night to pay reverence to the recently born baby Jesus, and to […]
Architecture
The chapel of Santa Ana in the village of Muro was the first parish church in that pueblo, possibly dating from the 14th century. Once Muro’s population had grown beyond […]
Architecture
The Església de Jesús-Maria in Sineu was built between 1793 and 1812, replacing an earlier temple dating from 1667. The church formed part of the convent of the Orde dels Mínims […]
Customs & Traditions
Last night, Mallorca celebrated Nit Sant (Christmas Eve). A special church service is held on the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) called Matines de Nadal. These masses are probably the most […]
Architecture
I am very sorry if this blog entry happens to be an annual rerun but, there you go. We are coming up for another Winter Solstice the day after tomorrow (December […]
Customs & Traditions
It’s this time of the year again. Belén time, Betlem time, time of Nativity scenes. I have a number of personal favourites, as every year. In Palma, I would suggest […]
Architecture
The Oratori de Sant Josep in Sineu is a charming old chapel. Until now, I had never managed to get a look inside as the oratory had always seemed closed. […]
Mallorca
Spain is celebrating another public holiday today, that of the Immaculate Conception. Fittingly, the Orquestra Simfònica de Balears “Ciutat de Palma” will hold a concert in Palma’s La Seu Cathedral […]
Architecture
In Mallorca, and in particular in the island capital Palma, one continuously encounters relics and historical monuments indicative of wrongdoing, bloodshed, skirmish, conflict, struggle, defeat, massacre, annihilation and general misdemeanour. Often, these […]
Mallorca
Spain is a country largely influenced by the Catholic church. The impact of religion here may be somewhat diminished when compared to, say, fifty or a hundred years ago, but […]