Can Casasayas, Palma de Mallorca
Historic Building in Palma de Mallorca
Right in the heart of Palma de Mallorca, the modernist itinerary leads you to one of the top attractions in Palma de Mallorca for architecture lovers: the twin façades of Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina. Commissioned by pastry-shop owner Josep Casasayas Casajuana, these two identical buildings face each other across Carrer de Santacília, their sinuous balconies and sculpted details turning an ordinary city corner into a showcase of early 20th century Art Nouveau style. Even if you are just passing through, it is hard not to stop and look up at the flowing forms and intricate metalwork.
The ground floors, with their prominent metal columns, feel robust and almost industrial, supporting upper storeys that ripple with undulating lines, parabolic window openings and richly worked balconies. Wooden window frames add warmth and craftsmanship, while subtle motifs of ferns, acanthus leaves and butterflies decorate capitals and wrought-iron elements. It is a textbook example of how modernist architects brought movement and organic shapes into urban streetscapes, and the pair is often visited on walking tours of Palma de Mallorca that focus on the city's golden age of architecture.
Table of Contents
- History and Significance of the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
- Things to See and Do in the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
- How to Get to the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
- Practical Tips on Visiting the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
- Where to Stay close to the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
- Is the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina Worth Visiting?
- FAQs for Visiting Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
- Nearby Attractions to the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
History and Significance of the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina were created at a time when modernist (Art Nouveau) architecture was reshaping cities across Europe, bringing in new materials and a fascination with natural forms. In Palma, pastry-shop owner Josep Casasayas Casajuana decided to invest in this fashionable style for his properties, commissioning two symmetrical buildings on either side of Carrer de Santacília. The first phase of the project was overseen by architect Francesc Roca, and the final stages were supervised by Guillem Reynés, both of whom played important roles in translating the flowing language of modernism into the local context.
From the start, the concept was about balance and dialogue. The two buildings mirror each other across the street, creating a kind of architectural conversation: you look at one façade, then the other, noticing how lines, balconies and windows echo and respond. This symmetry, combined with the richly modelled surfaces, makes the corner feel like a single, unified composition rather than just two separate properties.
Over time, the pair has become one of the most recognisable modernist ensembles in Palma. While they are still lived-in, functional buildings with commercial premises at street level, they also serve as open-air “exhibits” of Art Nouveau principles applied to everyday urban housing: structure clearly expressed, façades animated by movement and organic motifs, and craftsmanship visible in metal, stone and wood.
Things to See and Do in the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
A visit here is all about looking closely. Start at a distance where you can see both buildings at once, taking in how they frame the street with identical outlines. Notice the strong base on the ground floor, where metal columns support the weight above and large openings give space for shopfronts. This solid lower layer anchors the more playful upper levels, grounding the façades in the practical needs of a busy city.
Move closer and let your eyes follow the undulating lines that run up the buildings. The curves of the balconies and the soft waves of the rendered surfaces give the impression of movement, as if the façades were gently breathing. The windows, some of them set within parabolic arches, reinforce this sense of fluidity. Wooden frames and detailing around the openings add warmth and texture, preventing the façades from feeling too cold or mechanical.
Finally, zoom in on the decorative details. While the overall ornamentation is not excessive, motifs of ferns, acanthus leaves and butterflies appear on capitals and wrought-iron balcony elements, tying the architecture back to the natural world that so inspired Art Nouveau designers. Take your time to spot these details from different angles and heights, and do not forget to look across the street to see how a flourish on one building is echoed on its twin. This is one of those corners where a few extra minutes of looking make all the difference.
How to Get to the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
Most visitors to Palma arrive via Palma de Mallorca Airport, the island's main international gateway with frequent flights from across Spain and Europe. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Palma de Mallorca on Booking.com. From the airport, you can take a bus or taxi into the city centre and then walk into the historic and shopping districts, where Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina sit on a central street corner.
If you are travelling from elsewhere on Mallorca by public transport, regional trains will bring you into Palma's Estació Intermodal near Plaça d'Espanya, a major hub at the edge of the old town.Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio. From there it is an easy walk through the centre to reach the modernist buildings, or you can take a short bus ride and stroll the final few minutes.
By car, follow the main roads into Palma and park in one of the underground or multi-storey car parks near the old town and main shopping streets.If you are looking to rent a car in Spain I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you. Once parked, explore the area on foot: the twin façades are close to key squares and other central sights, so they are simple to include in a wider city walk.
Practical Tips on Visiting the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
- Suggested tips: Plan your visit as part of a wider modernist walk, linking these façades with other nearby examples while you explore the shops and cafés of central Palma.
- Best time to visit: Late morning or late afternoon offers softer light that highlights the curves and shadows on the façades; evenings can also be atmospheric when shopfronts are lit.
- Entrance fee: Free – you are visiting the façades from the street, with no ticket required.
- Opening hours: Viewable at any time from the street; shop and café hours in the ground floors follow normal city trading schedules.
- How long to spend: Around 15-30 minutes is enough to study the façades from different angles and take photos, longer if you combine the visit with shopping or a café stop nearby.
- Accessibility: The surrounding streets are paved and relatively flat, making it easy to approach and view the buildings for most visitors, including those with reduced mobility.
- Facilities: There are no specific visitor facilities at the buildings themselves, but plenty of shops, cafés and restaurants nearby offer toilets, seating and refreshments.
- Photography tip: Stand back to include both buildings in a single frame, then move closer to capture the parabolic arches, ironwork and plant motifs; shooting at a slight upward angle emphasises the undulating lines.
- Guided tours: Many guided walks of Palma’s modernist and historic centre include a stop here, which can be helpful if you want deeper insight into the architects and the broader movement.
- Nearby food options: Take advantage of the surrounding cafés, pastry shops and bars to enjoy a coffee or snack while you admire the façades and watch city life flow past.
Where to Stay close to the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
Staying in central Palma puts you within a short stroll of these modernist façades and many of the city’s main sights. A convenient and comfortable base is Hotel Almudaina, which sits close to key shopping streets and makes it easy to explore on foot. For a more intimate atmosphere in the old town, Boutique Hotel Posada Terra Santa offers boutique charm within walking distance of the modernist buildings, the cathedral and the main squares. If you prefer a stylish stay with quick access both to the centre and the waterfront, Hotel Basilica gives you a comfortable base from which to wander out to Can Casasayas, Pension Menorquina and other nearby landmarks.
Is the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina Worth Visiting?
If you are interested in architecture, design or simply like noticing the details of a city's streets, Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina are definitely worth a stop. They will not take long to see, but their fluid lines, elegant ironwork and symmetrical layout capture the spirit of Palma's modernist period in a compact, very walkable corner. Combined with shopping, café-hopping and nearby historic sights, they add a distinctive visual highlight to any exploration of central Palma.
What Other Travellers Say...
Edifici Casasayas sits in a small, quiet plaza in central Palma at Costa de Can Santacília 8, where two matching Art Nouveau/Modernist apartment buildings face an ancient tree and are surrounded by cafés, bars, restaurants and shops; visitors say it’s a pretty spot for a quick photo stop, iced coffee or people-watching and note you can admire the façades from the square though the buildings themselves are not open for tours.
FAQs for Visiting Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
Nearby Attractions to the Can Casasayas and Pension Menorquina
- Plaça Major: Palma's main square, lined with arcades, cafés and shops, just a short walk away and ideal for people-watching.
- Palma Cathedral La Seu: The city's iconic Gothic cathedral on the seafront, reachable on foot through the old town streets.
- Royal Palace of La Almudaina: A historic fortified palace beside the cathedral, combining medieval architecture with sea views.
- Passeig del Born: A tree-lined central avenue of shops, cafés and bars, perfect for strolling and shopping before or after viewing the modernist façades.
- Palau March Museum: A nearby palace-museum with an important art collection and harbour views, adding another cultural stop to your city itinerary.
The Can Casasayas appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Palma de Mallorca!
Moira & Andy
Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!
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Planning Your Visit
Viewable at any time from the street; shop and café hours in the ground floors follow normal city trading schedules.
Free - you are visiting the façades from the street, with no ticket required.
Nearby Attractions
- Plaza de Cort (0.2) km
Square - Plaza Mayor (0.2) km
Square - Església de Santa Eulàlia (0.3) km
Church - Juan March Foundation Museum (0.3) km
Museum - Passeig del Born (0.3) km
Street - Palau March Museum (0.3) km
Historic Building and Museum - Centre Maimó ben Faraig (0.3) km
Museum - Church of Santa Magdalena (0.3) km
Church - Puerta de los Judios (0.4) km
City Gate - La Seu: the Cathedral of Palma (0.4) km
Cathedral
