Mallorca is the largest of the four main Balearic Islands, south of France and 105 miles east of the Spanish coast. This was our first Spanish port.
The economy here runs on tourism, it's an especial favorite of Brits and Germans. Do my Harry Potter fans remember that Vernon and Petunia were dreaming of a vacation home in Mallorca after a big. business deal...that never materialized.
We saw what remains of several windmills as we drove through Palma. These were used from the 16th to the 19th centuries for grinding grain and pumping water. Of the hundreds there once were, none are in use today.
The sight that towers of everything in Valdemossa is the Carthusian Monastery tower. I know, you're wondering what is a Carthusian monk is. This is a monastic order that live a life of total withdrawal from the world, serving God by personal devotion and privation, apparently they don't even interact with one another. They were founded in 1084 and are still in existence today, however there are also Carthusian nuns now as well.
We had very little time to explore much of this town and none of the monastery, all of which sits in the Tramuntana Mountains and has been around for over two thousand years.
Part of the reason for our lack of time was the dearth of restrooms and the ensuing lines because of it. When I looked at this tiles on the walls outside the bathrooms I had to wonder if they were supposed to be doing the "I gotta go" dance.
The stone walls were pretty interesting here, many of them with small pebbles stuck in the mortar.
Another view of the monastery.
You can see where many feet have passed over these stones. It was the same way all throughout the town. Wouldn't want to be traversing them on a wet day.
Artsy photo on the left, a part of what used to be a palace that was in Valdemossa on the right.
We saw these tiles dedicated to Santa Catarina everywhere on buildings, stores or homes, it didn't matter, there were tiles. I had no idea why when I was there but I have since found out that she was a peasant girl born in the town in 1531, she became a nun in Palma and was renowned for her humility. In 1935 she canonized, becoming the Patron Saint of Valdemossa. All of these tiles send continual prayers up to her.
Door to the church that wasn't part of our tour. Can you tell I was a little frustrated?
I did find this pretty door there. Another of the claims to fame that Valdemossa has is that it was the home of Frederick Chopin between November 1838 and February 1839. With his stay having only been a few months it kind of seems overkill to have a Chopin Museum there.
Just part of the old town and another gateway leading to a view.
Looking out over the picturesque valley and mountains below. There are only a few thousand people who actually live here.
The name Valldemossa comes from the Moorish name for the town: Musa Valley. The Arabs were rulers of Mallorca for 300 years from the 10th century. They introduced irrigated terracing to the island, which allowed for the cultivation of the hilly landscape. You can see some of the terracing in this photo and the following one.
Grape vines abounded here.
Walls around the old city.
You can see more of the pebbles in the walls
in these photos. That's one way to beautify a homes.
Seriously contrasting stonework on these walls.
Did I mention that there were tons of the Santa Catarina tiles around town? I couldn't help taking photos of them as they were so sweet and lovely, as well as colorful.
Pretty pots on a wall and another beautiful door I couldn't resist.
Does the one on the right count as a door? Maybe that can be my flower photo for the post on the left. Anyway, after twenty minutes of actual wandering time we were on our way again.
Back in Palma we headed straight to the magnificent Mallorca Cathedral. This portion here used to be part of nearby fortifications.
There were a few steps and inclines to get up to the top. On the way we passed several of these horses and buggies.
Begun in 1230 and under construction for the next 400 years, the gothic architecture here is reminiscent of Notre Dame, except the buttresses are inside rather than outside. It has one of the world’s largest stained glass windows and is built on the site of a Moorish-era mosque.
When it was first built it was along the edge of the sea. It was a way to show how pious and powerful those living and worshipping here were at the same time.
One of the pretty features.
The interior is open and massive!
These are the two rose windows in the cathedral. Dont ask me which one is larger, I have no idea, I just know that the one on the left is one of the biggest in the world. They are just two of 61 stained glass windows in the church.
The main altar gets all lit up with Christmas lights during the day.
The ceiling gets its colors from light coming through the stained glass windows.
Here are a few of them, plus
another collection of glorious stained glass.
From the front of the chapel looking backwards.
Every small chapel in the building has its share of stained glass.
There is even a chapel here designed by Antonio Gaudi, of Sagrada Familia fame. It's definitely unique. I think you need more information to really appreciate it.
The creepiest part of the chapel were what looked like skulls piled in a corner of the Gaudi chapel.
More features inside the grounds.
All of this was under water when the church was being built.
The sea is now.a ways away from the front of the cathedral. And with that, we were whisked away to our bus and back to the port.
As we sailed away we had a lovely moon on the Med that night, just a small sliver that you can barely see if you look closely.
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