Mallorca :: Comparisson reports

"Continuing on Carrer de la Seu, consisting of five stairs, each with twelve steps, irregular landings which, at times, are ramps, we reach Carrer del Palau, which ends on one end at Plaça la Catedral and the other in Plaça de Cort. It’s one of the broadest streets in Palma, and its buildings are all modern. The houses on the left were built on the lot occupied by the old Sant Domingo convent and form a portico with forty-two arches. To the right is the elegant bank, made entirely of quality stone and with a luxurious patio.

On the same Carrer del Palau and before entering Plaça de Cort is the old Casa de Cort which once served as a prison and is today the Provincial Council. Its patio is spacious and lacks all ornamentation. The Town Hall is the main building on Plaça de Cort. The latter represents the intersection of the city’s most important streets. On one side it joins with Placeta de les Copinyes, on another with Carrer de la Cadena, and, in front of the Town Hall is Carrer d’Odon Colom.

Carrer de la Cadena street is short and lined with new houses. It leads to the irregularly-shaped Plaça Santa Eulàlia. The latter measures 170 paces long and is where the church with the same name can be found.

   

If we assume that this district is limited by Carrer d’en Morey, we will find that the latter is cut by a large number of transversal streets. The first one we find is Carrer de l’Almudaina, which, where it nearly begins, is the Porta de l’Almudaina gateway, a vestige of the Moorish fortification. There are a series of palaces on this street: to the right, number 11, belongs to the Villalongas and has two beautiful Renaissance windows on the mezzanine floor bearing coats of arms above the lintel and well-carved small columns on the doorposts.

The large, broad leaves of some plane trees provide shade for the patio. On the very simple staircase, a bas-relief indicates the year 1554. Immediately after this house is another one with a large eave belonging to the Truyols family. A few steps farther, on the left is the Oleos house, number 8. It has a wide patio and a precious old staircase with 10 panels embellished with circular rosettes. The top part of the stairs is protected by an old coffered ceiling. The arch in the hallway has a very characteristic capital with a bell wheel. In the patio are two Gothic windows, and, in the middle of two others, is a large Renaissance-style window.

Continuing down, we return to Carrer del Palau which ends at Carrer de Sant Sebastià and its modern homes. Forming an angle, already on Carrer de Sant Roc street is the house belonging to Mr. Llompart. It has two arches, a well and a coffered ceiling above the stairs. To the left, the house at number 9 has an eave which protrudes a lot. The patio is small with the typical ceiling. On the corner of Sant Roc and Estudi General streets is the building belonging to the old Estudi General. Above the latter’s simple, rounded portal is a relief with Roman genii surrounding the old university’s coat of arms with garlands.

Carrer de l’Estudi General ends on Carrer de l’Almudaina, not far from the arch of the same name. If you enter Carrer de Zanglada at this point, to the right you find a large house belonging to the Comasemas. It has a hallway with arches and great coffered ceiling. To the left is another, simpler house which belongs to the young Tortella brothers. We can see a new staircase which reproduces exactly another old one placed exactly in the same spot of the one it is going to substitute.

At the end of Carrer de Sant Pere Nolasc, almost parallel to Carrer del Palau, is Carrer de Miramar. It does not have any notable buildings, only one large house on the left, which belonged to the aunt of the Conrados. You can see the beautiful coffered ceiling which only protects a modern staircase. Between Miramar and Portella streets, the latter leading to the gateway of the same name, is the house belonging to the Jordàs. The diminished arches in its hallway are supported on octagonal columns with griffons holding shields. In front of this house, Carrer d’en Morey begins. Before taking this street, we head down Carrer de la Portella. To the right is a fairly simple house belonging to the Count of Espanya, and, to the left, the house belonging to the Formiguera family, with a large balcony made of stone and an eave with sculpted beams. A half-point portal leads to a hallway decorated with octagonal columns. The house is separated from the wall by a small garden, though it has a very notable tower on this side. To the right, in the small sloped plaza in front of  Portella is the house belonging to the Marquis de la Torre. It’s a robust construction, with one of its walls forming an escarpment. It’s decorated with large balconies and iron handrails overlooking the wall. A half-point door takes you to a simple patio which is where the modern, though very beautiful staircase is found, leading you to the upper floors. Inside, the house has large rooms with very tall ceilings. Many of the walls are decorated with paintings. This mansion and that belonging to the Formiguera family are the best situated in all of Palma. Returning to Carrer d’en Morey street, the first house we find on the left is number 24, belonging to the Barberis. It has three beautiful pointed arch windows and a series of small octagonal columns on which the eave stands. It’s interesting to note that two Gothic gargoyles still exist on the main facade.

   

   

In front is the beautiful house belonging to the Count of Ayamans, number 35. The hallway is very interesting and has to be considered amongst the most beautiful in Palma. The capitals on the arches in the hallway feature sculpted angels holding shields with stars. To the right, under one of the patio arches we see a fairly tall and very beautiful Gothic window. To the left of the equally Gothic staircase and supported by a cut arch is the ceiling covering the stairs, decorated with fine craftsmanship and a landing sustained by four columns decorated with magnificent Renaissance sculptures.

   

Returning to the right side of the street and attached to the already described Count of Ayamans’ house is number 33, belonging to the Oleza family. At the top, the arches for the attic and eave are notable. On the first floor are three magnificent windows which are similar in design, though different in terms of details, with a Renaissance detail over the lintel. We can see one of these windows in the accompanying drawing as well as another etching which reproduces one of the very elegant, Renaissance-style windows on the mezzanine floor. You access the marvelous patio through a simple, half-point door. To the right and left are the small Renaissance doors for the mezzanine floor. Rounded columns with pseudo-Ionic capitals support the diminished arches, forming a beautiful patio. The staircase splits. To the left is the picturesque parapet of a well. Back on the street and turning left, we see a house with ogee-arch windows in the attic, an eave and a window with a beautiful design as reproduced in our etching. The house still has a Gothic window on the mezzanine floor. On a wreath, two angels hold a ribbon around a crown which in turn surrounds a coat of arms. On the other side, two small men stretch a wreath which covers the entire top part of the window."

   

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.