Mallorca

"The Town Hall building, called “Casa de Cort” in Mallorcan, is one of the city’s most beautiful. It’s located on an irregularly-shaped plaza where four streets meet. It dates from the 16^th  century. The facade dates from the late Renaissance. It’s made of stone from Santanyí, while the base is made of yellow marble from Binissalem. Its details can be easily appreciated in the accompanying drawing. In the center is a richly ornate platform bearing Palma’s coat of arms and a raised bench on two steps. The building is also home to a painting of Saint Sebastian which we will talk more about later. Two portals with lintels and Palma’s overlapping coat of arms open on either side of the platform. Towards the middle of the facade is a large balcony with a flagpole in the center. The central window is very tall, and on its sides are two series of three windows each with arches which open onto the balcony, just as the main window does.

One of the city’s most beautiful artistic treasures is the very prominent eave on Town Hall, made from the richly sculpted wood called “llenyam vermell” with 11 male and female figures emerging from lush foliage, corresponding to the beams supporting the eave. Upon entering the building, we come to a grand entryway with a beautiful coffered wood ceiling divided into 6 fields supported by 8 busts of angels which serve as corbels and Gothic ornamentation overlapping in the center. On the door is Palma’s coat of arms with the bars of Aragon and the castle. The same occurs with the two doors in the entryway. There is a third door between these featuring a golden coat of arms. The door to the right is a beautiful Renaissance-style portal bearing Palma’s coat of arms and angels in relief holding a wreath. There is also a very ancient inscription etched into the wall. There is also a diminished arch with capitals made to look like leaves, another beautiful one with plant motifs, and a third arch with grotesque sculpted figures. The two doors of this portal bear the city’s coat of arms among very beautiful golden Gothic decoration.

In the first room on the ground floor, accessed via a beautiful door, we can see 47 portraits of illustrious Mallorcans who lived until modern times; the paintings’ artistic value is not great. Amongst them are generals, bishops, a cardinal and some monks. On both sides of the entrance we find the images of Christ and the Virgin Mary. The latter, with her hands joined together, is atop clouds with her feet stepping on a crescent moon and a dragon. The painting of Christ is not bad. It has expression, though his figure has suffered some wear. A small staircase leads to the Great Room reserved for sessions. It too is adorned with portraits of illustrious Mallorcans, including the kings of Mallorca, as well as some nuns, priests and monks. There are a total of 26 paintings, all of which have been recently restored. Near the throne, over which is a portrait of the King, is another painting representing an almost life-size figure of Saint Sebastian. The painting is attributed to Van Dyck."

Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria. Las Baleares por la palabra y el grabado. Majorca: City of Palma. Ed. Sa Nostra, Caja de Baleares. Palma de Mallorca. 1982.