Page 83 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

M ALL ORC A  81

of Llucmajor, in which he was
killed fighting the army of
Pedro of Aragón. Today, the
former palace is occupied
by an order of nuns that is
known as the monges del
palau (sisters of the palace).
Adjacent to the former royal
residence stands the biggest
parish church on the island,
Santa Maria de Sineu. This
Gothic structure was built in
1248 and remodelled in the
16th century. The church has
an important collection of
Medieval ceramics that can
be viewed in the adjacent
rectory on Wednesdays. In Monumental church in Petra, towering over the neighbourhood
front of the church, in Plaça
de Sant Marcos, stands a statue g Petra interesting museum, opened in
of a winged lion – the symbol 50 km (31 miles) east of Palma. 1955. The exhibition is devoted
of St Mark the Apostle, the * 2,900. @ ( Wed. _ Santa to his life and work and includes
patron saint of the town. Pràxedes (21 Jul), Festa de Bunyols wooden models of the nine
In the neighbouring Sa (30 Oct). ∑ visitpetramallorca.com American missions established
Plaça square are two by Serra, as well as a range of
excellent restaurants This small town is the memorabilia. At the end of the
serving traditional birthplace of Junipero street in which the Serra family
Mallorcan cuisine: the Serra. Aged 54, the house stands, on the outskirts
Celler Ca’n Font and Franciscan monk of town, is the 17th-century
the Celler Es Grop. travelled to America monastery of Sant Bernat,
At one time, the and Mexico, and after which has a statue of Serra
Inca–Artà railway a series of arduous standing in front of it. The
line passed through journeys on foot, Majolica panels down a side
the town. Now, the founded missions in street next to the monastery are
former station build- California. The old a gift from grateful Californians
ing, dating from 1879, houses lining the and pay tribute to the famous
houses a restaurant. Stained-glass window in labyrinth of narrow monk’s many achievements.
Wednesday’s market Santa Maria de Sineu alleys have changed
is one of the biggest little since Serra’s time Environs
agricultural fairs in here. The town makes the most Some 7 km (4 miles) west lies
Mallorca and sells local of its famous son and all places the small town of Sant Joan.
produce and livestock. associated with Junipero Serra Its 13th-century parish church,
are well marked. These include remodelled in the 15th and
Environs Casa Natal Fray Junipero Serra, 18th centuries, acquired its
About 4 km (2 miles) north, a humble building in Carrer present form in the 1930s.
near the road to Llubia, are the Barracar Alt, where Serra was If there is time, head for the
ruins of a Talayotic structure. born. Next to this is a small but Santuari de la Mare de Déu de
la Consolació, standing on the
outskirts of town. Built during
Junipero Serra the Reconquest period and
Junipero Serra was born in Petra in 1713 restored in 1966, it is now a
and played an important role in the history place of pilgrimage.
of the Spanish colonization of North Ariany, 4 km (2 miles) to
America. In 1749, he left on a mission to the north, is a small agricultural
Mexico, and later travelled to California, town. Famous during the days of
where he established nine missions and Jaume I, it became the region’s
sought to convert the native Indians to capital in 1982. Its houses are
Christianity. Some of Serra’s missions dwarfed by the high tower of
prospered after his death and became the Neo-Romanesque church.
the cities of San Diego, Santa Barbara,
Los Angeles and San Francisco. He died E Museu y Casa Natal Fray
in 1784 and was beatified in 1988.
Junipero Serra
Statue of Junipero Serra in Palma C/Barracar Alt 6–8. Tel 971 561 149.
Open by appointment only.

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