In Palma de Mallorca, there are many tourist attractions that attract visitors from all over the world, year after year. Its dreamlike landscapes and beautiful architecture are its main attractions, the most impressive of which is the cathedral of Palma de Mallorca.
Undoubtedly, it’s the most outstanding artistic and historical heritage of the Balearic Islands. Popularly known by the locals as "La Seu", the cathedral of Palma de Mallorca was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931.
The Levantine Gothic style of La Seu is due to the fact that its construction began at the height of this artistic movement. The construction of the Cathedral of Mallorca began in 1229, by order of King Jaime I, who wanted to build a sanctuary dedicated to St. Mary. The construction of Mallorca Cathedral wasn’t completed until 1601, and it underwent major renovations and restorations, one of which was carried out by Antoni Gaudí himself, who was in charge of creating several areas of the cathedral.
The Palma de Mallorca Cathedral, or Catedral-Basílica de Santa María, as it was named by King Jamie I, has an extraordinary exterior façade, and, as it’s located on the shores of the bay of Palma, it’s a perfect place to take photos. You can also climb up to its terrace to appreciate Palma de Mallorca from another perspective.
However, the greatest attraction of the Cathedral of Mallorca is its enormous rose window, 13 metres in diameter, which makes it one of the largest Gothic rose windows in the world, and has given it its own special nickname: "the eye of the Gothic".
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What better way to visit this emblematic place than with a guided tour? There are many options for guided tours in Mallorca Cathedral, and it all depends on the visitors' individual tastes. For example, a guided tour of the Cathedral together with a tour of the Museum of Sacred Art, which includes the reforms of Gaudí and Miquel Barceló, is one of the most popular tours of all.
With your entrance tickets to Palma de Mallorca Cathedral, you can also include a guided tour of the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament, which features a huge ceramic mural by Miquel Barceló. This guided tour explains the artist's creative process, how and why he carried out this work of art, and many other secrets hidden in the chapel.
To purchase your tickets, we recommend you use the official website of the Palma de Mallorca Cathedral. On the website, you can buy a maximum of 6 tickets per purchase. The tickets include the guided tours of the cathedral that are listed on the website's calendar. The tours offered are given by specialists, whether they deal with Gothic art, the funerary world, the restoration of the artists, or the history of the cathedral.
The price of these tickets, including the guided tour of the cathedral is 8 euros per person, and 7 euros for the over 65s. There’s also a special discount for students, as long as they can prove their status. For residents of the Balearic Islands and citizens of the diocese of Mallorca, admission is completely free.
Just like other religious institutions that are open to tourists, the Palma de Mallorca Cathedral has special opening hours for tourist visits. The Cathedral's opening hours for tourists are from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 2.15 pm. However, these opening hours vary during festivities, as, at these times, the Cathedral is only open to those who are part of the congregation from 10 am to 3 pm.
If you are interested in attending the Cathedral as a member of the congregation, the opening hours for worship are Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 9.45 am, on Saturdays from 8.30 am to 9.30 am and 6.30 pm to 7.45 pm, and on Sundays and public holidays from 9.30 am to 12.45 pm and from 6.30 pm to 7.45 pm.
An experience not to be missed, in addition to taking one of the guided tours, is to attend mass. Mass is held in the Cathedral of Mallorca from Monday to Friday at 9.00, Saturdays at 9.00 and 19.00, and on Sundays and holidays it has several schedules available: 9.55, 10.30, 12.00 and 19.00. In some masses, you can hear laudes (praise songs) being chanted at the celebration, an unforgettable experience! During the most important festivities such as Christmas or New Year, these hours are modified.
The island of Mallorca isn’t all about beaches and natural landscapes, it’s also a very historical place. Spend a few days on your next visit to the island to learn more about the historical, architectural, and cultural heritage of the island, especially in our capital Palma de Mallorca.