We can still observe the Torre del Palau, the lone survivor of a royal estate established by King James II of Mallorca in 1311. While this site once served as a primary seat of monarchical authority, history eventually shifted its purpose. For many years, the surrounding structures functioned as a prison, marking a somber chapter in the building's long life.
Significant changes occurred in 1480 when Ferdinand the Catholic transferred the palace to his secretary, Joan Ballester. This marked the start of a long era of fragmentation as the property was partitioned and sold to various private owners. By the 1950s, the architecture remained largely whole, but industrial needs began to reshape the local landscape. A factory for pearls was eventually built directly over the grounds, resulting in the demolition of most of the original palace.
Today, we find the keep known as the Torre del Palau standing alone within the courtyard of a residential complex. The structure transitioned into municipal property in 1991 and has since received several restoration efforts. Following a project in 2000, plans emerged in 2011 to repurpose the space as a tourism office, inviting us to wonder what more this structure might reveal.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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