Palma (formerly known as Palma de Mallorca) is the island’s only true city and is the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It has a population of approximately 400 thousand and is the 12th largest urban area of Spain. Almost half the population of Mallorca live in Palma. Its airport, Son Sant Joan, serves over 22 million passengers each year and it is where the Spanish Royal Family tend to spend their summer holidays.
Palma is a city of modern hotel chains and upmarket shops, yet still retains much of its original architecture in the Old Town – a maze of streets and picturesque squares hinting towards an Arab past. With the exception of a few streets and squares which allow traffic, the streets in the Old Town are narrow and quiet and boast a diverse range of buildings. The majority of buildings are private houses, some of which are open to the public as discreet museums or galleries. La Seu, its restored cathedral is the city’s most prominent attraction. Although construction began in 1229, it was not finished until 1601 and architect Antoni Gaudí was drafted in during a restoration project in 1901. The Parc de la Mar lies just south of the cathedral. The Old Town is also home to the Town Hall and Arab Baths, one of the few remnants of Palma’s Moorish past. The city’s beach Playa de Palma, is ten minutes from the city centre.
Football is the most important sport on the island, with the majority of fans supporting Real Mallorca. The city also holds a number of watersports and cycling tournaments.
In recent years Palma has increasingly attracted a cosmopolitan crowd, many of whom are choosing to buy in the city instead of other areas of the island. Some have even labeled Palma the ‘new Barcelona’, albeit a smaller version. Indeed the city is undergoing a similar transformation - new stylish hotels, fashionable shops, restaurants and bars are appearing and the opening of the Es Baluard Art Museum has helped assert the city as a cultural capital.
For buyers interested in purchasing property in Palma Old Town, the area offers many good investment opportunities, as prices have fallen since the boom years. Crime is low and it is safe and clean.
“ You can find some truly spectacular Renaissance houses of historical interest with inner courtyards and patios which have been stylishly converted into luxury apartments or single residences, many of which have sea views” says Rafael Calparsoro of the Lucas Fox Mallorca Office “The Old Town is quiet, cut off from traffic and you are within walking distance to the beaches, yacht club and harbour as well as some great restaurants and bars”
Here are some of our favourite Palma properties in the Old Town:
4-bedroom, 4-bathroom manor house in the heart of the Cathedral district. High quality renovation. Large roof terrace with stunning views of the Old Town and the sea.
Magnificent penthouse apartment with spectacular views, lovingly restored just a few years ago. Combining original features with stunning modern touches