The 14th-century Gothic circular castle of Bellver

Perched atop a hill in Palma de Mallorca, Bellver Castle is a 14th-century Gothic-style fortress. Built for King James II of Majorca, this unique circular structure features encircling walls and an internal courtyard that reveal clear Islamic influences, including double arches characteristic of Moorish architecture. Constructed from rock from the hill where it sits, the castle originally served as a residence for the Kings of Majorca after the conquest of the region from the Almohad Caliphate.

The castle has a history marked by conflict, having successfully resisted two sieges during the Middle Ages - the first in 1343 during Peter IV of Aragon's campaign and the second in 1391 during an anti-Semitic peasant revolt. It only fell into enemy hands once, in 1521, following an assault during the second Revolt of the Brotherhoods. While it began as a royal palace, it was long used as a military prison from the 18th to the mid-20th century, housing various political prisoners and supporters of different historical factions.

The castle was usually governed by a Lord Warden. In 1408, the lordship of Bellver was given to the Charterhouse of Jesus of Nazareth in Valldemossa. In 1459, Charles of Viana arrived to take possession of the island and the castle, even though the King did not grant him the lordship or the castle itself. Today, the site is under civilian control and serves as the seat for Palma's History Museum, remaining one of the island's main tourist attractions.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons