The family plot that became sa Placeta

Plaça Gomila serves as a compact hub for Palma's nightlife, filled with bars and clubs that draw international crowds. The square was once defined by a very different kind of gathering.

In the late 19th century, the surrounding El Terreno neighborhood functioned almost like a small village inside the city limits. It was a place of distinct social layers, containing a parish, small schools like La Immaculada, and a variety of housing ranging from old chalets to modest buildings. This area was a home for many different types of residents, from Mallorcan families to foreigners. The neighborhood maintained a unique character for decades, housing notable figures such as the painter Santiago Russiñol.

In the late 1800s, the family of en Pau Gomila built a house there to spend their holidays. The Gomila family decided to cede a space of their plot to the Ajuntament de Palma so that their children and other children could play and spend their time. This new space was named “sa Placeta”. After some years, the Gomila family moved to Santiago de Cuba and their house eventually became the old Tito's community hall. For a few years, La Placeta survived, configured with stone benches between columns. Today, nothing remains of this.

By the beginning of the 1990s, the area faced a period of significant decay. The social composition of El Terreno and the surrounding streets changed as well, with a large percentage of immigrants, mainly from South America, moving into the area. This shift transformed the neighborhood's identity.

Today, the square is undergoing a new chapter. In 2021, a rehabilitation project began for Plaça Gomila and its surroundings, designed by the architecture studio GRAS-Reynés with the signature of MVRDV. Visitors today find a paved pedestrian space that continues to pulse with activity, even as the city works to redefine its physical form.

Sources: Wikimedia Commons, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikipedia