Live a fairytale day in Bellver Castle

In a magic place as Mallorca, there’s a place as beautiful as the ones from fairy tales with a stunning landscape and amazing history. If anything defines this castle it’s the location because is also the origin of its name – ‘Bellver’ meaning ‘Beautiful view’. The Mallorca Bellver Castle is a fairy tale outline that stands on a pedestal of pine trees who awaits visitors unwaveringly to marvel at its beauty. If you’re curious to find out more about this place you have to know that the Bellver Castle is located 3 km from Palma’s city centre and 112.6 m above sea level, dominating the bay and a large part of the island of Mallorca.

Looking up at this castle so perfectly maintained, is hard to believe that it has been standing for almost 700 years. Begun by Jaume II in 1300 and built by Pere Salva, the architect of the Almudaina Palace is unique among Spanish castles being entirely round. The castle consists of three semi-circular towers and another tower about 7 metres away from the main body. The construction is set around a central courtyard and has two levels: the ground floor with round arches and flat ceilings and the upper floor with lancet arches covered with a cross vault in pure Gothic style.

When it comes of its history, as well as serving as a royal residence, over the centuries the castle has been used as a refuge during the plague, a military fortress during the 16th century Germania rebellion and later on as a prison, it’s walls guarding many an untold story of torture, pain and death. And, of course, no tale of grief and wonderment would be complete without the Knights Templar and their secret conspiracies. The Knights were rewarded with positions of great power by the King after taking part in the Christian invasion of Mallorca.

They supposedly met in secret tunnels which ran below the castle as far as the Cathedral. Nowadays, the Mallorca Bellver Castle is home to the City History Museum which apart from giving a thorough history of Palma from 123BC to the present day, also holds an impressive collection of classical sculptures acquired by cardinal Despuig in the late 18th century when he lived in Rome. It also houses the chapel of Saint Marc, patron saint of the castle. Beside of all of this things, this place offers a superb viewpoint over Palma and the surrounding area so is worth a visit. Is well preserved and the architecture is interesting especially the inner courtyard and cloisters. Getting there is an adventure that you live once in your life. 🙂