Museum of Mallorca

The museum was founded in 1961 and is co-managed by the State, the Govern de les Illes Balears and the Consell de Mallorca. Its route combines archaeology, art, history and decorative arts, with a special focus on pieces linked to Mallorca.

It is not only a painting museum. Above all, it is a place to understand the island’s evolution through its archaeological remains, religious objects, works of art, documents and everyday items.

What is the Museum of Mallorca?

The Museum of Mallorca is a public institution dedicated to preserving, studying and sharing the history and cultural heritage of the island. Its main site is the Casa de la Gran Cristiana, a 16th-century town palace on Carrer de la Portella, in Palma’s old town. The building was formed from several old houses and keeps the atmosphere of a Mallorcan manor house.

The museum was founded in 1961 and is co-managed by the State, the Govern de les Illes Balears and the Consell de Mallorca. Its route combines archaeology, art, history and decorative arts, with a special focus on pieces linked to Mallorca.

What to see at the Museum of Mallorca

The collection is organised to show different stages of Mallorcan history. The exact layout of the rooms can vary because of conservation work, loans or exhibition changes.

Prehistory and archaeology

The archaeology section helps you understand the cultures that inhabited Mallorca before the Romans arrived. The route can include material related to the first prehistoric communities, the Talayotic culture, indigenous settlements, the Punic and Mediterranean presence, the Roman period, Islamic Mallorca and the Christian conquest.

These pieces show how housing, religion, economy, pottery, tools and burial practices changed over the centuries.

Roman Mallorca

Romanisation transformed the island profoundly. The museum keeps objects that help explain urban organisation, commercial activity and domestic life during the Roman period. The material includes pottery, architectural elements, everyday objects, decorative pieces and remains linked to the old Mallorcan cities.

To go deeper into the Roman period, you should also visit the Museu Monogràfic de Pollentia in Alcúdia, one of the Museum of Mallorca’s satellite sites.

Medieval art

Medieval art is one of the most important parts of the museum. The collection includes works linked to Mallorca’s Christian tradition and to the island’s artistic development after the 1229 conquest. Visitors can find Gothic painting, medieval sculpture, altarpieces, religious imagery, liturgical art, objects linked to worship and decorative arts.

This section is especially interesting for anyone who wants to understand Palma’s importance as an artistic and commercial centre of the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages.

Painting and sculpture

The museum keeps works that trace the evolution of art in Mallorca from the late Middle Ages to the modern and contemporary centuries. The route can show the transition between Gothic painting, the Renaissance, the Baroque, academism and later trends. The selection on display can change, so it is best to check the current programme.

Decorative arts

The decorative arts show aspects of domestic, religious and social life in Mallorca. This section can include furniture, pottery, everyday objects, gold and silversmith pieces, textiles, religious decoration and objects linked to manor houses.

It is useful for anyone who wants to learn not only about the great artists, but also about how the island’s different societies lived and what objects they used.

The Casa de la Gran Cristiana

The building deserves special attention. The museum’s site keeps the character of a town-palace in Palma’s old town and adds historical value to the visit. The tour lets you see the structure of an old manor house, patios and distribution spaces, traditional architectural elements and different construction phases.

The museum is interesting precisely because the pieces are not in an isolated modern room, but inside a building with its own history.

The three sites of the Museum of Mallorca

The Museum of Mallorca has one main site and two satellite sites.

The Palma site is the most suitable for a first visit to the institution. Muro and Alcúdia work as complements for anyone who wants to go deeper into Mallorcan ethnology or the island’s Roman past.

Do I need to book?

Booking is usually not needed for an ordinary individual visit. Groups, educational visits and special activities may require arranging the visit in advance.

• Organised groups.
• Schools.
• Guided tours.
• Family activities.
• Researchers.
• Enquiries about documentary holdings.
• Temporary exhibitions with limited capacity.

The museum’s official page should be the reference for bookings, arranged visits and special activities.

Booking is not needed for an ordinary individual visit. Groups, educational visits and special activities may require arranging the visit in advance.

How long does the visit take?

A visit to the Museum of Mallorca usually lasts 60 to 90 minutes.

An hour can be enough for an overview. If you want to read the panels, linger over the medieval pieces and look at the building, it is better to allow an hour and a half.

For a cultural route through Palma, a practical combination would be the Museum of Mallorca, the Arab Baths, Mallorca Cathedral, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and Parc de la Mar.

Is the Museum of Mallorca worth visiting?

Yes, especially for anyone who wants to know Mallorca beyond its beaches and landscapes. The museum is worth it for these reasons:

1. It has a low entry price.
2. It keeps pieces from different periods of the island.
3. It is right in Palma’s old town.
4. The site occupies a historic town-palace.
5. It helps you understand the Roman, Islamic, medieval and Christian influence in Mallorca.
6. It can be visited in just over an hour.
7. It is easy to combine with other monuments in the centre.

It is not the best museum for anyone looking for contemporary art, large installations or a very interactive experience. Its route is more historical and heritage-based.

Who is it recommended for?

• Travellers interested in the history of Mallorca.
• People keen on archaeology.
• Families looking for a short cultural visit.
• Lovers of medieval art.
• Visitors who want to discover local heritage.
• Tourists looking for a rainy-day activity.
• People who have already visited the Cathedral and want to complete the historical route.

Who may find it less appealing?

It is not the best museum for anyone looking for contemporary art, large installations or a very interactive experience.

Its route is more historical and heritage-based. Some pieces need context to be appreciated, so the visit can be more interesting if you use the explanatory panels or take a guided tour.

Recommended half-day route

A historical route through Palma could be organised like this:

1. Mallorca Cathedral.
2. Royal Palace of La Almudaina.
3. Museum of Mallorca.
4. Arab Baths.
5. Palma city wall.
6. Parc de la Mar.

An alternative is to start at the museum and end at the Cathedral. This option is practical on Wednesdays and Thursdays, when the Museum of Mallorca stays open until 19:00.

Tips for the visit

• Choose Wednesday or Thursday if you want to make the most of the afternoon opening.
• Don’t leave the visit to the last minute on Sunday: it closes at 14:00.
• Bring documentation if you are going to request a reduced or free rate.
• Book in advance if you are going in a group.
• Combine the museum with the Cathedral, the Arab Baths and La Almudaina.
• Spend a few minutes looking at the town-palace, not just the display cases.
• Check whether any room is closed for conservation or installation.
• If you are interested in Roman archaeology, plan another visit to Pollentia in Alcúdia.
• To discover traditional Mallorca, add the Ethnological Section in Muro.
• Check the official opening hours before going on holidays or in the low season.