Convent of Saint Francis (Palma de Mallorca)
Picture: Wikimedia Commons
The Convent of St. Francis in Palma de Mallorca is a monumental temple made up of the homonymous minor basilica, its cloister and a series of attached buildings begun at the end of 1281. Their construction lasted for several centuries due to continuous extensions, reforms and additions.
This immense architectural complex has interesting elements such as its vault (which took 100 years to complete), the beautiful Baroque-style façade renovated during the 17th century by the famous Navarrese architect Francisco Herrera García (which includes a beautifully decorated tympanum) and a spectacular rose window created by the glassmaker Pere Comas.
The central nave of the convent church has eight chapels on its sides, as well as an apse with attached chapels, completed between 1445 and 1670.
The cloister of the convent, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, has a trapezoidal shape located next to the church, creating a complex of enormous architectural and artistic beauty. Its fine colonnade and lobed arches stand out.
The northern gallery of the cloister is the oldest, while the southern gallery and the one attached to the church are more “recent”, dating from the 15th century. Its upper galleries date from the 16th century.
Like many architectural complexes of great relevance, the convent is profusely decorated with splendid works of art, including its richly decorated Baroque altarpiece, which includes a representation of St. Joseph on horseback facing the dragon, and the beautiful statue in the tomb of Ramón Llull, among many other works.
The monumentality of the Convent of St. Francis and its enormous heritage value made it worthy of being declared a National Monument in 1881.
This immense architectural complex has interesting elements such as its vault (which took 100 years to complete), the beautiful Baroque-style façade renovated during the 17th century by the famous Navarrese architect Francisco Herrera García (which includes a beautifully decorated tympanum) and a spectacular rose window created by the glassmaker Pere Comas.
The central nave of the convent church has eight chapels on its sides, as well as an apse with attached chapels, completed between 1445 and 1670.
The cloister of the convent, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, has a trapezoidal shape located next to the church, creating a complex of enormous architectural and artistic beauty. Its fine colonnade and lobed arches stand out.
The northern gallery of the cloister is the oldest, while the southern gallery and the one attached to the church are more “recent”, dating from the 15th century. Its upper galleries date from the 16th century.
Like many architectural complexes of great relevance, the convent is profusely decorated with splendid works of art, including its richly decorated Baroque altarpiece, which includes a representation of St. Joseph on horseback facing the dragon, and the beautiful statue in the tomb of Ramón Llull, among many other works.
The monumentality of the Convent of St. Francis and its enormous heritage value made it worthy of being declared a National Monument in 1881.
Location
What to see in Palma de Mallorca
