La Seu – Cathedral of Santa Maria

This magnificent building in Palma de Mallorca is the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, more commonly known as La Seu (meaning “The See” or “The Episcopal Seat”). It is one of the most iconic landmarks of Mallorca.

🏰 History of La Seu

The history of La Seu is deeply intertwined with the conquest of the island by King James I of Aragon and the Christian Reconquista:

A Royal Promise (13th Century): The story begins in 1229 when King James I was sailing to conquer Mallorca from the Moors. Caught in a severe storm, he vowed to the Virgin Mary that if he survived and successfully conquered the island, he would build a magnificent church in her honor.

Foundation on Sacred Ground: Upon conquering Palma in 1229, he fulfilled his vow by laying the foundation stone on the site of the former main city mosque, which itself was built on the Roman city walls. The mosque was initially consecrated for Christian worship before construction began.

Construction: The actual construction of the current Gothic cathedral began in the early 14th century, under the reign of James I’s son, James II. It took centuries to build, with work spanning over 400 years and incorporating various architectural influences from Gothic to Renaissance. It was largely completed in 1601.

Architectural Highlights:

It is considered one of the great examples of Catalan Gothic style.

The nave is extraordinarily high, about 44 meters, making it one of the tallest Gothic naves in the world.

It features an enormous rose window at the back, one of the largest extant Gothic rose windows.

Antoni Gaudí’s Intervention (20th Century): In the early 20th century, the famous Catalan Modernist architect Antoni Gaudí undertook a restoration project. His changes included moving the choir, creating an impressive altar canopy, and introducing various decorative and lighting elements, though he left the project unfinished in 1914 after a dispute.

Modern Art: In recent times, the Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló created a striking polychrome ceramic mural in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.
The cathedral stands proudly by the sea, a powerful symbol of the island’s history, the might of its Christian conquerors, and a beautiful example of Gothic architecture.

WE&P by: EZorrillaMc&Co.