Casco Antiguo: Palma’s old town on foot

What makes the old town special

The Arabs called the city Madina Mayurqa, and in 1229 Christians conquered the island. To this day the historic centre has a clearly medieval street plan. On the seafront, the old city wall protects the cathedral and the Almudaina, with Ses Voltes and the Parc de la Mar below.

The Spanish state declared the Casco Antiguo a conjunto histórico artístico by decree on 11 June 1964. The decree distinguishes three zones: the historic area itself, a protection zone for the city’s skyline and a zone for the surroundings of individual monuments.

Source: Fundació Mallorca Turisme: Palma, checked on 3 October 2026 · BOE No. 158 of 2 July 1964: Decreto 1842/1964, Casco antiguo de Palma as conjunto histórico artístico, checked on 3 October 2026

Cathedral and Almudaina

After the conquest of 1229, Jaume I had the old main mosque consecrated to the Virgin Mary and work begun on a new building. Today’s cathedral took shape from the time of Jaume II onwards and was completed in the 1630s. Antoni Gaudí adapted the interior to the liturgy between 1904 and 1915. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament was later designed by the painter Miquel Barceló.

The Palau de l’Almudaina stands where, according to Patrimonio Nacional, settlements have been documented since Roman times. Remains of the Arab fortress still shape its form. The present palace was built between 1305 and 1314 for Jaume II. Today it is the King’s official residence when visiting Mallorca.

• Cathedral: March to November Mon to Fri 10:00 to 17:15, December to February Mon to Fri 10:00 to 15:15, Sat 10:00 to 14:15, closed on Sundays. Public holidays 10:00 to 14:15, closed on some public holidays.
• Almudaina: October to March 10:00 to 18:00, April to September 10:00 to 20:00, box office and last entry one hour before closing, closed on Mondays. Standard ticket 7 euros according to Patrimonio Nacional.

Source: Catedral de Mallorca: Historia, checked on 3 October 2026 · Catedral de Mallorca: Horarios, checked on 3 October 2026 · Patrimonio Nacional: Palacio Real de La Almudaina, checked on 3 October 2026

Arab Baths and patios

According to the Ajuntament, the Banys Àrabs at Carrer de Serra 7 date from the 10th to 12th centuries. They are among the few surviving buildings from the Muslim period on the island. Older capitals were reused for the columns: Muslim, Byzantine and Roman. The baths sit in the garden of the former manor house Can Fontirroig. The city gives opening hours and admission on its portal Palma Virtual.

The patios are typical of the old town: inner courtyards of noble palaces with Gothic or Renaissance features, staircases and large windows. The city keeps a list with names and addresses on Palma Virtual. Palma’s tourism foundation names the Casal Balaguer as a well preserved, accessible patio; several more are on Carrer de Can Savellà.

Source: Ajuntament de Palma, Palma Virtual: Banys Àrabs, checked on 3 October 2026 · Fundació Mallorca Turisme: Palma, checked on 3 October 2026 · Ajuntament de Palma, Palma Virtual: Patis de Palma, checked on 3 October 2026 · Fundación Turismo Palma de Mallorca 365: Casco histórico, checked on 3 October 2026

Markets in the old town

Dates according to the Ajuntament (as of 22 September 2026). The craft markets only run seasonally, and the days of the week change with the city’s annual calendar.

• Mercat Ecològic, Plaça dels Patins: Tuesdays and Saturdays 8:00 to 14:00, certified organic producers only.
• Crafts on Plaça Major: February to November 10:00 to 14:00, on changing days of the week.
• Crafts in the Hort del Rei below the Almudaina: Easter to October 10:00 to 17:00, on changing days of the week.
• Mercat de l’Olivar on the edge of the old town: Mon to Sat 7:00 to 15:00.

Source: Ajuntament de Palma: Mercat Ecològic, checked on 22 September 2026 · Ajuntament de Palma: Mercado artesanal de la Plaça Major, checked on 22 September 2026 · Ajuntament de Palma: Mercado artesanal de l’Hort del Rei, checked on 22 September 2026 · Ajuntament de Palma: Mercado de l’Olivar, checked on 22 September 2026 · Ajuntament de Palma: Mercados temporales no artesanales (public holiday rule), checked on 3 October 2026

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