The most impressive Gothic cathedral in Spain after Barcelona's — La Seu in Palma, built over 400 years from 1229 to the early 20th century, partially redesigned by Antoni Gaudí (1904–14) who installed the wrought-iron canopy over the high altar, positioned directly on the waterfront above the sea so that the reflection in the moat creates the photograph that defines Mallorca, with 11 meters of stained glass in the Rose Window above the main portal.
Why It’s Worth Your Time
La Seu in Palma is the definitive Mallorcan monument — a Gothic cathedral of extraordinary scale (the third-highest nave in the world at 44 meters) positioned on the old city wall directly above the sea, so that from the harbor and promenade it rises dramatically from the water's edge. Construction began in 1229 under Jaume I of Aragon (replacing the mosque that had occupied the site since the Islamic period) and continued in various phases through the 16th century; Antoni Gaudí was commissioned in 1904 to redesign the presbytery and installed the wrought-iron canopy that now hangs above the altar — one of the few Gaudí works outside Catalonia. The Rose Window (11 meters in diameter, 1,236 panes of glass) is the largest and most complex surviving Gothic rose window in the world. The Museu de la Seu (Cathedral Museum) contains the treasury, including a silver reliquary from the 15th century. Entry: €8 (includes museum). Free on Sunday mornings before 1pm — when the cathedral is functioning as a church and tourists share the space with the actual congregation.
What Stands Out
- The most dramatically situated Gothic cathedral in Spain: positioned on the sea wall, reflected in the harbor moat
- Rose Window: 11 meters diameter, 1,236 panes, the largest Gothic rose window in the world
- Antoni Gaudí wrought-iron canopy over the high altar: the only Gaudí commission outside Catalonia worth a visit
- Third-highest Gothic nave in the world (44 meters): the scale that makes the interior as impressive as the exterior
- Free Sunday mornings before 1pm: the most atmospheric visit — morning light through the Rose Window with the congregation