Palma Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Mary in the Spanish port of Palma, the capital of the Balearic island of Mallorca, is the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Mallorca. It is often simply referred to popularly La Seu, the Catalan term " the bishop's seat ".
After the liberation from the Moors reign of King James I began the construction on the site of a Muslim mosque, the foundation stone was laid 1230. Under James II, son of the Conqueror, was started from 1306 from the main apse forth the actual construction of the cathedral. It should also serve as a mausoleum for the Majorcan royal house; Jaume II and III. are buried here. The construction of the nave was completed in 1587, the main portal was ordained in 1601. Work on the main facade began in 1852 and the beginning of the 20th century were not terminated.
The cathedral is 109.50 meters long and 33 meters wide, the nave measures 75.50 meters in length and 19.50 meters in width. The two aisles are each 86 meters long and 10 meters wide. The 14 pillars on which rests the arch, 30 meters high, the main ship reaches 44 meters in height and the two aisles every 30 meters. The presbytery with the choir, also known as the Royal Chapel, has a size of 34 x 16 meters. Despite the lack of "real" towers of the Cathedral is one of the most important monuments of Gothic style.
The 1370 -built and 1599 glazed round window has a diameter of (probably) 12.55 meters and is often referred to as the " largest Gothic rose window of the world " due to the window area of 97.5 m². In addition to its size, it also falls by its location ( apse ) and the shape of the struts ( Star of David) from the frame. From the diameter ago it is however of the portal rosette of Strasbourg Cathedral (over 15 m) and probably also of the 1250 or 1260 built rosettes on the north and south side of Notre- Dame in Paris (each 12.90 m) exceeded. In the cathedral of Palma There are another five rosettes ( with tracery in the Franco-Flemish style ) and 60 artistically designed glass windows.
Since the Middle Ages, many architectural styles have left their mark in the cathedral. At the start of construction followed one Gothic style in its purest form, as it is known from Catalonia and southern France. An ornament richer development of this style can be found in the side entrance, which faces the sea. The charity portal on the opposite side already followed the aesthetic sensibilities of the late Gothic period. The Renaissance, with its typical for the Hispanic space Plateresque style and mannerism made their entry in the 16th century. In many altarpieces of the side chapels are also found baroque elements, for example in the chapels Corpus Christi, Immaculate Conception, St. Sebastian, St. Benedict or of St. Martin. Classicism is the defining style of the baptistery and the mausoleum of Count Romana.
Even the famous architect Antoni Gaudí contributed by its restoration and decoration works in the years 1904-1914 on the initiative of Bishop Campins his art in the style of Catalan Modernisme ( Art Nouveau direction) at. Gaudí took before even reaching structural changes: the choir was moved from the middle of the nave and incorporated into the Royal Chapel; the chair of the bishop was renewed and the faithful were clear view of the high altar.
As a contribution of the 21st century, the Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló was born in 1957 has redesigned the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in the right aisle, among other things, depends here his work on the Miraculous multiplication of bread and fish.
The great organ is the work of Mallorcan Tomás Gabriel from the late 18th century. It was last restored in 1993.
In two chapter houses and ground floor of the bell tower of the cathedral, the museum has been housed since 1932.
Gallery
Panoramic interior
Detail of West Front ( main entrance facade)
Rosette of the Eastern Front from the inside
Color play inside
Ceramics by Miquel Barceló
Panoramic description on fired tiles