Tuesday 12 March 2024

Castell de Bellver

Out and about today and the first stop is Bellver Castle.

It is on the top of a high hill, and after climbing many steps we arrived at a beautiful building. It is a very rare completely round castle, but it has all of the important castly details -

Ramparts and really thick walls

Arrow slits

Moat, although this one is dry

Giant door

Lots of steps

Etc, etc

It was built in the 1300's for King James ll of Mallorca, so it is very grand inside, but imposing from the outside.

The castle is surrounded by a pine forest, and we followed a path through it towards the coast.

Strangely, the paths in the woods didn't match my map, so to get on to a road we had to climb over a stone wall which surprised a few people, and then we were on our way again.

Next stop was the Joan Miro Foundation. Joan Miro was a famous Spanish sculptor and artist who lived on Mallorca. He died at the age of 90 in 1983, and his work can be described as Surrealism, with a bit of Fauvism, Cubism and Expressionism thrown in to the mix.

In a spectacular example of bad timing, the museum is closed from the exact day that we arrived in Mallorca and reopens the day after we leave because they are changing the art that is on display.

However, the café was still open and the walls were decorated with one of his giant eyes. Outside there is another piece of art above a pool.

There was also still some of his sculptures around, and some pieces are very entertaining.

Just a short walk away is a lovely garden with more sculptures, although personally I preferred the plants.

I picked up a brochure that attempted to explain the art, but I accidentally left it behind so I can't quote from it. This sculpture is something to do with birds, but for some reason has a large comb in it.

Finally, a quick visit to Cala Mayor beach. 

Gorgeous.



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