The bastion museum
The sixteenth-century wall as vessel for white concrete.
Bengt Oberger — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Olaf Tausch — CC BY 3.0 · Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de — CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Antekbojar — CC0
Es Baluard is Palma's architectural intelligence: the Sant Pere bastion of the sixteenth-century sea wall turned into the island's modern and contemporary museum — pure white concrete within the old ramparts, the bastion's roofs a sculpture walk with the full bay-and-cathedral view. The collection turns on Mediterranean artists and the island's guests: Miró, Mallorcan by adoption, is its core, with Picasso, Magritte and Barceló ceramics — plus bold temporary shows. A well-measured one-hour museum fit for a holiday city. Enter from Santa Catalina square or by lift from the seafront promenade — and make the rampart roof your exit at sunset: the bay ignites as the boats come home.
The sixteenth-century wall as vessel for white concrete.
The island's holdings of its adopted son.
Plaça de la Porta de Santa Catalina 10, 07012 Palma
Sa LlotjaSa Llotja is Valencia's Lonja's sister and elder teacher: Mallorca's merchant ex4 minutes walk4.6
Royal Palace of La AlmudainaThe Almudaina — from the Arabic al-mudayna, the citadel — was the Muslim wali's 7 minutes walk4.6
Palma Cathedral (La Seu)La Seu is the Mediterranean's Gothic wonder: a cathedral rising straight from th8 minutes walk4.8
Can Forteza ReyA residential building in central old Palma, and the city's best-known modernist11 minutes walk4.7
Arab Baths of PalmaA small bath chamber in the old town of Palma, and the clearest thing to survive11 minutes walk3.4Roof, view and architecture alone repay the ticket for place-lovers — the art a skimmable bonus. Friday evening's free-pricing settles any hesitation.