MALLORCA, Spain – The Royal Palace of La Almudaina, one of Mallorca’s most cherished historical landmarks, has closed to the public for extensive renovation works that will transform the visitor experience. The palace, which stands majestically alongside Palma’s iconic cathedral, La Seu, will remain shut from 12 January to 1 June 2026, with a full reopening anticipated in time for the summer season.
Managed by Patrimonio Nacional, Spain’s institution responsible for the conservation of national cultural heritage, the project aims to modernise facilities while enhancing the palace’s historical narrative. Funded by approximately €2.33 million from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, the works encompass renewed lighting throughout the building, a redesigned visitor centre, and a comprehensive reorganisation of the museum displays.
Improved tour
Visitors returning after the renovations will encounter a markedly improved tour, structured chronologically to illustrate the palace’s rich evolution across epochs. Interactive and audiovisual elements will bring the history to life, while several rooms previously inaccessible to the public—including the throne room—will open for the first time.
The new route will begin at the grand Portal Mayor, proceeding through the Patio de Armas into a fully accessible visitor centre offering ticket sales, information services, and a museum shop. On the ground floor, themed rooms will explore the Roman, Muslim, and Christian periods, alongside the distinctive history of the medieval Kingdom of Mallorca. The upper floor will focus on the Bourbon era and the nineteenth-century visits of Spanish monarchs.
Roman origins
The palace’s origins trace back to Roman times, with substantial remnants of the twelfth- and thirteenth-century Arab alcazaba still visible. Its present form largely dates to the early fourteenth century, when King Jaume II commissioned its construction as the seat of the independent Kingdom of Mallorca. Over the centuries it has served variously as a royal court, viceregal residence, and administrative centre.
Official royal residence
To this day, La Almudaina remains the official residence of the Spanish monarch during stays on the island—a tradition that underscores its enduring royal significance. In 2025 the palace welcomed some 249,000 visitors, and the forthcoming enhancements are expected to attract even greater numbers in the years ahead.
These ambitious works promise to secure the palace’s place as one of the Balearic Islands’ foremost cultural treasures while offering future generations a deeper and more engaging connection to its extraordinary past.
Source: Bild.de
