By Cindy Brzostowski, to Museum Spotlight Europe (January 2022)
The largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, Mallorca (also spelled Majorca) has long been a popular tourist destination in the Mediterranean, attracting visitors from around the world with its beautiful beaches, stunning mountains, quaint villages, and vibrant city nightlife. With its international airport and well-developed tourism infrastructure, it’s easier than you might think to plan a holiday here.
As you plan your Mallorca vacation, don’t forget that amid the many outdoor and culinary adventures that await you, the place is also rich with history and art, which you can appreciate at one of the many museums around the island. From contemporary art displays to ethnographic exhibits, museum-goers of all sorts will find much to enjoy. To help you narrow things down, here are some of the best museums on Mallorca.
For Art
In the capital city of Palma, Es Baluard Museu d’Art Contemporani de Palma houses modern and contemporary art. The museum’s collection has over 780 works, including pieces by Joaquim Mir, Santiago Rusiñol, Hermen Anglada-Camarasa, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso. Aside from what’s on display, the museum is notable for its location in the bastion of Sant Pere, a section of the 16th-century wall that surrounded the city.
Another spot to see contemporary art in Palma is Museu Fundación Juan March. The museum sits inside a 17th-century manor house, and throughout, you’ll find pieces from Spanish artists of the 20th century. Some of these artists include Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Antoni Tàpies, and Juan Gris.
For more Miró, visit Fundació Miró Mallorca, which is centered on the works of the renowned Spanish artist who moved to Mallorca as an adult and was acclaimed for his associations with the surrealism movement. Miró donated his studios, and all the pieces inside, to the foundation, and the two ateliers are visitable areas of the museum’s complex.
CCA Andratx is yet another worthwhile stop for lovers of contemporary art. Located in the municipality of Andratx west of Palma, the gallery hosts three to four international exhibitions every year. CCCA Andratx is known for featuring an assortment of media from paintings and sculpture to photography and video art.
Moving away from the Palma area, Museum Sa Bassa Blanca is found in the northern part of the island, outside of Alcúdia. This institution has modern and contemporary art, and, interestingly, a notable collection of 16th to 19th-century children’s portraits from around Europe. When you want a break from the exhibits, you can check out the sculpture park, rose garden, or observatory.
For History & More
Royal Palace La Almudaina is one of the visual gems of Palma along with the neighboring Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca. Rebuilt in the 14th century from its Roman and Moorish origins, the palace is still used to this day when the Spanish royal family visits the island. Inside, you can view various collections of art, textiles, armory, furniture, technology, and more.
Sitting atop a hill outside of the Palma city center, Castell de Bellver was constructed in the 14th century as a fortified royal residence and was later used as a prison. These days, it’s where you’ll find the Museum Castell de Bellver, which has permanent exhibitions on Palma’s history. The building’s architecture is something to behold with its unique circular design, two-story courtyard, and 33-meter-tall tower. For free admission, swing by on a Sunday.
A Mallorca museum dedicated to a Polish composer and French writer? See it for yourself at Museu Chopin i George Sand in Valldemossa. Frédéric Chopin and George Sand (the pen name of Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin) visited Mallorca in 1838, staying in the La Cartuja de Valldemossa monastery. At this museum, you can see the rooms they occupied, Chopin’s piano, and more.
Another famous creative who made their way to the island was the British poet Robert Graves. Graves moved to the picturesque town of Deià, Mallorca in 1929 and remained there until his death. You can tour this former residence at La Casa de Robert Graves, which showcases original furniture, wall hangings, and light fixtures. Graves is also buried at the cemetery in the nearby Parròquia Sant Joan Baptista.
Son Marroig, the former mansion of Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria-Tuscany (also sometimes called Luis Salvador), offers one of the most photographed vistas on the island: a small, white marble temple perched among green mountains next to blue ocean that stretches to the horizon. There’s more to see than just the view from the mansion’s grounds though. There’s also a museum dedicated to the nobleman who was known for his research on the island’s flora and fauna.
At Casa Museo Els Calderers, you can learn what life was like on Mallorca centuries ago, specifically rural life. Situated between Sant Joan and Vilafranca de Bonany, the ethnographic museum is a historic estate that dates back to 1285. As you wander in and around the manor, you’ll see rooms with period detail and traditional farming tools. Don’t forget to try some of the sobrassada (a local raw, cured sausage) and wine too.
Born on Mallorca, tennis champion Rafael Nadal is one of the island’s pride and joys. At the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience in his hometown of Manacor, you can have a look at not just memorabilia from his career but also donated items from other top athletes. In addition to the showroom, the museum has an experience room with virtual reality simulators for tennis, Formula 1, mountain cycling, and more.
Museu d’Història de Manacor is just down the road from the Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience and offers visitors something entirely different. Over the years, the museum’s collection has grown from an archaeological collection donated in 1926 to include additional farming, cooking, and industrial artifacts. The permanent exhibition is divided between the prehistory, Roman period, late antiquity, and Islamic halls. Entrance is free so it’s worth popping in if you’re interested in archaeological and ethnographic exhibits.
Located in Central Palma, Museu de Mallorca may be on the smaller side but this state-owned museum is of note for its collection of archaeological artifacts, art, and altarpieces related to Mallorca’s history. Take time to appreciate the building itself, which is a 17th-century palace built on the foundation of Gothic structures.
Photo Credit: Boris Stroujko
