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Belver Castle is another masterpiece of Gothic art, a well-preserved royal fortress.
Origin and features of Belver Castle
The history of Belver Castle begins in the fourteenth century (1300 – 1311), when the Aragonese King Jaime II decided to build his summer residence in the picturesque area of hilly Mallorca. For its construction, most of the stone was extracted from a cave quarry on the same mountain, which caused cracks in the building. The harder stone was brought from Portals Wells and Santanyi.
It is located at an altitude of 140 meters within the city limits of Palma and is the only medieval Gothic-style building in Spain with an unusual round shape (it is considered the most unique among Spanish castles). The Belver is built on a high hill, offering an enchanting view of the bay of Palma, the Tramuntana Mountains and a magnificent panorama of the city.
On the castle grounds, three large wide cylindrical towers surround the central courtyard, connected by an archway with the tallest tower standing alone. The courtyard itself is on two levels. You can wander around the first and second floor, then go up to the roof and look down on the courtyard from above. The architecture of the castle has different styles. Walking around all the corners of Belvera you will notice this. The second tier offers one of the best panoramas in Palma. By the way, “belver” means “beautiful view” in Catalan.
From prison to history museum
Originally, the castle had residential and defensive functions. The castle was then used as a prison for almost six centuries (until 1915). The widow and sons of Jaime III spent most of their lives in its walls. The Belvera is now home to the Palma Historical Museum, which traces the city’s development through cultural monuments. It houses a rich collection of ceramics from the Talayot, Roman, Arab and Spanish periods, as well as an interesting collection of archaeological finds and classical figures.
Belver Castle opening hours and how to get there
The museum is open to visitors every day. There is a fee to enter the castle, which is 4 euros per person. There is a 50% discount for pensioners. Catch the good news – every Sunday the entrance to the Belver Castle is free for absolutely everyone. But you should remember that on this day the castle works on a reduced schedule from 10.00 to 15.00. On other days – from 10.00 to 19.00.
You can get to the castle by car by booking a transfer or cab, or take the bus to Plaza Gomila and walk up through the pine forest above Carrer de Bellver, passing the chapel on the way.
