Mallorca :: Comparisson reports

Returning to our habitual starting point, Santa Eulàlia Church, we take Carrer d’en Fiol and pass by nearly all new houses with balconies. Heading towards Carrer de Socors, we find three nearly parallel streets. First is Carrer d’en Sans and then the very narrow Terra Santa. At house number 68, with its entryway supported on very old capitals, there is a small, beautiful Gothic portal on the right side, with a triple arch supported on griffons with delicate columns on the side featuring carved foliage. In the center, surrounded by a garland, is an ancient coat of arms with an angel. On the stone facade of house number 29 we see the remains of some old “coronelles” arched windows and some octagonal columns holding up the eave. In its simple patio we can also see what remains of an old “coronella” window with four arches. On the hallway arch are some angels holding up a coat of arms with a tower and a lion. The old but simple staircase rises up under an arch after opening a valuable little door. On house number 11, which also has an eave supported on octagonal columns, we can see an old Gothic staircase and a small and very interesting patio.

We then come to Carrer de la Corderia which starts just in front of the meat market. It’s a straight road, lined by an archway supported on rough square columns. The houses are new and inhabited by shoemakers, esparto grass rope-makers and lathe operators. The houses on the left are generally poorer, with rounded arch porticos, though some also have pointed arches. The galleries are divided into two where diverse work with esparto grass is carried out. At the end of the street on the right we come to the old cereals market called La Quartera.

Farther down is Carrer de la Farina which is a triangular plaza occupied by various ceramicists and pensions.

Lastly, we should mention Carrer de la Galera, which starts near the end of Carrer dels Hostals, and its exciting and fantastic balconies. Carrer del Corral is also very picturesque.

In the fairly poor houses at the end of Carrer del Sindicat, there are numerous weavers. At the end of the street we find Plaça de Sant Antoni. The plaza is fairly spacious and shaped like an elongated triangle with five archways supported on square pilasters. They are used, in part, by farmers staying at the nearby inns and pensions to leave their carts and, in part, by the masters of the cart workshops. Traffic is heavy in this plaza and, before the train existed, the noisy carriage towards Manacor left from here. On the right end of the plaza is Sant Antoni Church and a Gothic building with a lot of character in front.

Archiduque Luis Salvador de Austria. Las Baleares por la palabra y el grabado. Mallorca: Ciudad de Palma. Ed. Sa Nostra, Caja de Baleares. Palma de Mallorca. 1.982.