Page 526 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

524  SP AIN ’ S ISLANDS

Palma Cathedral

According to legend, when Jaime I of Aragón was caught in a
storm on his way to conquer Mallorca in 1229, he vowed that
if God led him to safety he would build a great church in his
honour. In the following years the old mosque of Medina
Mayurqa was torn down and architect Guillem Sagrera
(1380–1456) drew up plans for a new cathedral. The last
stone was added in 1587, and in subsequent years the
cathedral has been rebuilt, notably early last century when
parts of the interior were remodelled by Antoni Gaudí (see Bell Tower
pp144–5). Today Palma Cathedral, or Sa Seu, as Mallorcans This robust tower was built in
1389 and houses nine bells, the
call it, is one of the most breathtaking buildings in Spain, largest of which is known as
combining vast scale with typically Gothic elegance (see p28). N’Eloi, mean ing “praise”.

Entrance to
cathedral museum

Palma Cathedral
One of the best-sited cathedrals
anywhere, it is spectacularly poised
high on the sea wall, above what
was once Palma’s harbour.

KEY
1 Portal Major
2 19th-century tower
3 Flying buttresses
4 Cathedral Museum contains
one of the highlights of the
beautifully displayed collection in
the Old Chapterhouse, a 15th-
century reliquary of the True Cross
which is encrusted with jewels and
precious metals.
5 The Great Organ was built
with a Neo-Gothic case in 1795,
and restored in 1993 by
Gabriel Blancafort.
6 The Capella Reial, or Royal
Chapel, was redesigned by Antoni
Gaudí between 1904 and 1914.
7 Choir stalls
8 Portal del Mirador

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp574–5 and pp602–4

524-525_EW_Spain.indd 524 26/09/17 11:56 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 15th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm