Centre Maimó ben Faraig, Palma de Mallorca

Museum in Palma de Mallorca

Tucked into Palma's historic quarter, the Maimó ben Faraig Centre is a small but important space dedicated to remembering the island's Jewish past. From the outside, you see the Almudaina gate that gives its name to the street, but it is once you step inside that the story of medieval Jewish life in Palma begins to unfold, making this one of the top attractions in Palma de Mallorca for travellers who like to go beyond the obvious sights.

The atmosphere inside feels more like a calm research space than a formal museum, with fragments of ancient Roman walls, photographs and maps helping you picture where the old Jewish quarters lay and how they were woven into the fabric of the city. Because it also functions as an official municipal tourist information office, the centre is often visited on walking tours of Palma de Mallorca and is an excellent place to pick up both leaflets and context before exploring the surrounding streets.

History and Significance of the Maimó ben Faraig Centre
Things to See and Do in the Maimó ben Faraig Centre
How to Get to the Maimó ben Faraig Centre
Practical Tips on Visiting the Maimó ben Faraig Centre
Where to Stay close to the Maimó ben Faraig Centre
Is the Maimó ben Faraig Centre Worth Visiting?
FAQs for Visiting Maimó ben Faraig Centre
Nearby Attractions to the Maimó ben Faraig Centre

History and Significance of the Maimó ben Faraig Centre

The Maimó ben Faraig Centre sits in a part of Palma where layers of history overlap: Roman foundations, medieval streets and memories of the city's Jewish communities. Its name honours Maimó ben Faraig, symbolically tying the space to the people whose stories it helps to keep alive. By focusing on Jewish cultural heritage, the centre fills a gap in the usual tourist narrative, which often highlights cathedrals and palaces but pays less attention to the communities that once thrived in their shadow.

One of the most striking features of the centre is the chance to see the ancient Roman walls exposed inside. These remains hint at how the city was laid out long before medieval Palma took shape, and they help visitors imagine where the Jewish quarters once stood in relation to the fortifications and gates. Standing beside the stone, you get a sense of continuity between the Roman city, the Jewish neighbourhood and the modern old town outside.

As a dedicated cultural hub, the centre's mission is not just to display objects, but to promote awareness and understanding of Jewish history on Mallorca. Its permanent exhibition, with carefully selected photographs and maps, offers an accessible introduction to a complex story of settlement, coexistence, persecution and memory. That combination of scholarship, presentation and its dual role as a tourist information office makes the Maimó ben Faraig Centre quietly significant in the way Palma presents itself to curious visitors.

Things to See and Do in the Maimó ben Faraig Centre

As you enter the centre, take time to study the exposed Roman walls. They provide a tangible link to the earliest phases of the city and give you a physical anchor for imagining where the Jewish quarters once stood. The rough stone, changes in masonry and hints of former structures all reward a closer look, especially if you have just come from the more polished façades of palaces and churches nearby.

The permanent exhibition is compact but rich in detail. Photographs show historic streets and buildings associated with Jewish life, while maps trace the outline of the former Jewish quarter against today’s city plan so you can see where you are standing in relation to that past. Texts, captions and displays work together to explain how the community lived, traded and worshipped, and how its legacy lingers in place names and urban patterns even after people have long since gone.

Because the Maimó ben Faraig Centre also serves as a municipal tourist information office, it is a practical stop as well as a cultural one. You can pick up maps, ask for advice on routes through the old town or learn about other heritage sites to visit. This combination of information and interpretation makes it one of the best places to visit in Palma de Mallorca if you want your city wanderings to be grounded in a deeper understanding of where you are walking.

How to Get to the Maimó ben Faraig Centre

Most visitors arrive in Palma via Palma de Mallorca Airport, the island's main international gateway with frequent flights from Spain and across Europe. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Palma de Mallorca on Booking.com. From the airport, airport buses and taxis run regularly into the city centre, from where it is an easy walk into the historic quarter.

If you are staying elsewhere on the island, regional trains link towns such as Inca, Sa Pobla and Manacor with Palma's Estació Intermodal by Plaça d'Espanya.Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio. From there, follow signs and city maps towards the old town and the Almudaina gate area; the walk is straightforward and a pleasant introduction to Palma’s narrow streets and small squares.

Travelling by car, follow the main routes into Palma and use one of the central car parks on the edge of the old town, then continue on foot to the historic quarter and the street named after the Almudaina gate where the centre is located.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 you are in the area, everything is close together, so it is easy to combine the centre with nearby landmarks on the same walk.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Maimó ben Faraig Centre

Suggested tips: Treat the centre as both a cultural stop and an information point, starting here to gather context and maps before exploring the surrounding old town and former Jewish quarter on foot.
Best time to visit: Late morning or mid afternoon on weekdays tends to be quieter and gives you time to absorb the displays without feeling rushed.
Entrance fee: Entry is typically free; check locally for any special exhibitions or changes.
Opening hours: From Monday to Saturday: from 10 am to 3 pm
How long to spend: Around 30-60 minutes is usually enough to view the Roman walls, study the exhibition and speak with staff about routes and other sights.
Accessibility: The centre is generally designed for public access, but as it incorporates historic fabric, some areas may have steps or uneven floors; visitors with mobility needs should check on arrival.
Facilities: Expect basic visitor services such as information desks, brochures and possibly toilets; cafés and shops are easy to find in the surrounding streets.
Photography tip: Focus on details of the Roman walls and maps that overlay old and new street plans, and consider taking photos of the nearby Almudaina gate to link what you have learned indoors with the city outside.
Guided tours: Ask staff whether any themed Jewish heritage walks or guided visits are available; starting here with a guide can help you read the old town through a different lens.
Nearby food options: The historic quarter is full of cafés, bakeries and small restaurants, so you will have no problem finding a drink or snack before or after your visit.

Where to Stay close to the Maimó ben Faraig Centre

Staying in Palma's historic centre makes it easy to drop into the Maimó ben Faraig Centre as part of your explorations. A reliable, centrally located choice is Hotel Almudaina, which offers comfortable rooms within walking distance of the old quarter. For a more intimate, boutique feel in a historic setting, Boutique Hotel Posada Terra Santa places you in a restored mansion that mirrors the character of the surrounding streets. If you would like a stylish base close to both the old town and the seafront, Hotel Basilica is an excellent option, giving you easy access to the centre and other main sights.

Is the Maimó ben Faraig Centre Worth Visiting?

If you are at all curious about Mallorca's Jewish heritage or simply enjoy peeling back the layers of a city's past, the Maimó ben Faraig Centre is well worth visiting. It may be modest in size, but the combination of Roman walls, maps, photographs and knowledgeable staff gives you a clearer sense of how Jewish life once fitted into Palma's streets and how traces of that history remain today. As both a cultural centre and a tourist information office, it offers a thoughtful starting point for anyone who wants their time in Palma to be as much about understanding as it is about sightseeing.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

3.3 (12)

Centre Maimó Ben Faraig at Basilica de Sant Francesc, Carrer de l'Almudaina 9 in Palma is a small interpretation center and tourist information office focused on the city's Jewish quarters; visitors describe it as a compact, manageable museum presenting key milestones of Jewish culture in Palma, offering related books and materials, and staffed by helpful, knowledgeable personnel — though some have found the door closed on occasion.

Dani Rotstein

7 years ago

"Incredible small but important museum describing the history of the Jewish Quarter and its descendants of Mallorca."

Kirill Aronshtam

a year ago

"Just locked door and nothing else."

JoanJo SC

6 years ago

"Palma has a Jewish past largely unknown to its inhabitants, although in recent years, private and public initiatives have worked to change thissituation. As in other Spanish cities, the capital of Mallorca once had a CALL, a Jewish quarter, from which emerged illustrious figures of international renown, such as the cartographer Jefuda Cresques, whose statue can be seen in the nearby Plaza del Temple. This modest information and interpretation center meets the minimum requirements of presenting the milestones of Jewish culture in Palma from the Christian conquest of the island until the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in the 15th century. It also exhibits and sells books and other related materials...."

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FAQs for Visiting Maimó ben Faraig Centre

Most visitors find that 30-60 minutes is enough to see the exhibition, examine the Roman walls and gather information for further exploring.

Yes, it can be interesting for older children, especially if you use the maps and walls to tell the story of how cities change over time, but younger kids may appreciate a shorter visit.

Yes, the centre is one of Palma’s official municipal tourist information offices, so you can collect maps, ask questions and get advice on other places to visit in the city.

Nearby Attractions to the Maimó ben Faraig Centre

Royal Palace of La Almudaina: A historic royal residence overlooking the bay, blending medieval and earlier influences in a dramatic setting.
Palma Cathedral La Seu: The city's iconic Gothic cathedral, with a soaring nave and views across the waterfront.
Museu de Mallorca: The island's main museum housed in a historic mansion, covering archaeology, art and decorative objects from across Mallorca.
Arab Baths of Palma: A small but atmospheric remnant of the city's Islamic past, hidden in a quiet corner of the old town.
Plaça de Cort: A charming square dominated by the town hall, ideal for a short pause at a café between visits to nearby sights.

The Centre Maimó ben Faraig 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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