The Royal Palace of La Almudaina (or in Spanish, Palacio Real de La Almudaina) is located in Palma, Mallorca (or Majorca) in the Balearic Islands and serves as the official summer residence of the Spanish monarch and other members of the Spanish Royal Family (even though King Felipe and Queen Letizia prefer to spend their time with their daughters at Marivent Palace instead now). The structure cannot be missed as anyone enters the city, as it was strategically placed in this location centuries ago.
King James II of Majorca rebuilt this fortified palace (alcázar) in 1309, and it would serve as the residence of the Aragonese and Spanish monarchs. The Roman palace’s original construction (from a Muslim alcázar) began in 1298 and lasted until James II’s reign.
La Almundaina’s current formation goes back to the 14th century, and it has two distinct design styles. The first floor is medieval and has art from the 15th to the 20th centuries, and the upper floor is decorated with art, works, and furniture from the 17-19th centuries. This second floor serves the Royal Family during their official functions. However, the upper floor was not added until the first half of the 16th century on the orders of King Charles V.
It is built in a rectangular fashion with tall walls and square-based towers, the most famous being the Angel Tower that has Archangel Gabriel on the top of it. In total, it consists of eight areas: the main portal, Great Hall, King’s Palace, Angel Tower, Queen’s Palace, Patio del Brollador, St Anne’s Chapel, and Patio de Armas.
Patrimonio Nacional explains, “Remains of the Arab citadel, on which there are references from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, can still be traced in the form of the current castle.
“It was subject to important reforms by the architect Bennazar in the early twentieth century and restorations in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.”
When in Mallorca, people are allowed to tour the ancient palace for relatively cheap (between € 4 to € 7). Information about tours can be found here.
