Plaza Mayor, Palma

Square in Palma

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Martin Furtschegger

Plaça Major in Palma de Mallorca looks like a classic Mediterranean square, all tiled paving, arcades and sunlit façades, but its story is much darker and more complex. The open space you see today stands where the old convent of San Felipe Neri once rose, a building that housed the fearsome Court of the Holy Office of the Inquisition and its prison, so notorious that locals called it the Black House. Its demolition in 1823 cleared the way for a new kind of civic space, and the large rectangular square that followed has slowly evolved into one of the best places to visit in Palma de Mallorca if you want to feel the city's pulse.

Construction of the Main Square began about a decade after the convent came down and continued in fits and starts into the 20th century, eventually creating the arcaded rectangle you see today, with three- and four-storey buildings wrapped around a traffic-free, tile-paved plaza. Underground parking, shops and galleries were added below, while at street level restaurants, cafés, art galleries and street performers turned the space into a stage for everyday life. These days, between the artisan market stalls, buskers and the constant chatter from terrace tables, Plaça Major is a great place to visit on a walking tour of Palma de Mallorca, especially if you like to mix people-watching with a bit of history.

History and Significance of the Plaça Major
Things to See and Do in the Plaça Major
How to Get to the Plaça Major
Practical Tips on Visiting the Plaça Major
Where to Stay close to the Plaça Major
Is the Plaça Major Worth Visiting
FAQs for Visiting Plaça Major
Nearby Attractions to the Plaça Major

History and Significance of the Plaça Major

Before Plaça Major existed, this site was dominated by the convent of San Felipe Neri, headquarters of the Inquisition tribunal in Palma. The court and its prison inspired deep fear, and the building's reputation for atrocities earned it the nickname Casa Negra, the Black House. In 1820, just days after the final disappearance of the court, the complex was looted and its documents burned, an act that symbolically wiped away much of the written record of what had taken place within its walls.

By 1823, the convent and associated structures were demolished, opening up a rare expanse of space in the compact medieval city. About ten years later, construction of a new Main Square began on the cleared site. The project moved forward intermittently throughout the 19th century and into the 20th, eventually producing a grand, regular plaza in the tradition of Iberian main squares, but with its own Mallorcan character. The transformation from Inquisition compound to civic gathering place marks a profound shift in how power and community are expressed in the city’s built environment.

Today, Plaça Major is framed by arcaded buildings of three and four storeys, their arches sheltering shops, cafés and galleries. The square sits near the churches of San Miguel and Santa Eulàlia, and within easy reach of the Town Hall and the Main Theatre, tying it firmly into Palma's administrative and cultural core. Radiating out from the plaza, streets such as San Miguel, Jaime II, Colon and Sindicato lead towards the edges of the city, making Plaça Major not just a symbolic centre but also a practical crossroads for locals and visitors alike.

Things to See and Do in the Plaça Major

The simple act of crossing the square is an experience in itself. With no motor traffic allowed, you can wander at your own pace across the tiled surface, listening to musicians, watching children chase pigeons and taking in the rhythm of café terraces lining the arcades. The symmetrical façades, rows of balconies and repeating arches create a pleasing sense of order, while the life of the city spills across the open space in a way that feels constantly changing.

An artisan market is held here on a weekly basis, when stalls pop up selling handicrafts, jewellery, art and local products. It is a good opportunity to find something made on the island and to talk directly to makers about their work. Even on non-market days, the surrounding arcades hide small galleries, shops and eateries, so it is worth taking time to walk the perimeter and duck in wherever catches your eye.

Plaça Major also works well as a base for exploring. From each corner, a different street leads you towards another part of Palma: up Carrer de Sant Miquel towards shopping and the Church of San Miguel, along Jaime II towards other old-town squares, or down side lanes that eventually connect with the cathedral and the seafront. Whether you linger over coffee, sketch the façades from a bench or simply cut through on your way to somewhere else, the square has a way of pulling you into the city's everyday life.

How to Get to the Plaça Major

Most visitors arrive in Palma 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 on Booking.com. From the airport, airport buses and taxis run regularly into the city centre, from where you can easily walk into the old town and up to Plaça Major.

If you are staying elsewhere on the island, regional trains connect towns like Inca, Sa Pobla and Manacor with Palma’s Estació Intermodal near Plaça d’Espanya.Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio. From the station it is a short and straightforward walk into the historic centre; follow streets such as San Miguel directly towards the square.

Travelling by car, you can follow the main roads into Palma and use the underground parking facilities near or beneath the square, or one of the multi-storey car parks around the edge of the old town, then continue on foot.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, you are within just a few minutes' walk of Plaça Major and many of the city's other central landmarks.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Plaça Major

Suggested tips: Plan to pass through the square several times at different times of day to feel how the atmosphere shifts from quiet early morning to lively evenings.
Best time to visit: Late morning for market browsing and coffee, or early evening when the light softens and the terraces fill with locals and visitors.
Entrance fee: Free – Plaça Major is an open public square.
Opening hours: Open and accessible at all hours, though shops and cafés follow their own schedules.
How long to spend: Allow at least 30-60 minutes to wander, sit with a drink and, if the artisan market is on, browse the stalls at a relaxed pace.
Accessibility: The square is flat, tiled and pedestrianised, making it generally easy to navigate for visitors with mobility needs, though surrounding streets may have some uneven paving.
Facilities: Numerous cafés, restaurants and shops line the square and nearby streets, and public facilities can be found in surrounding commercial galleries and shopping areas.
Photography tip: Capture the full rectangle from a corner to emphasise the arcades and symmetry, and look for candid shots of street performers and market stalls to bring the scene to life.
Guided tours: Many historic-centre walking tours include Plaça Major as a key stop, using it to explain the transformation from Inquisition seat to vibrant civic space.
Nearby food options: You will find plenty of choice right on the square and along streets like San Miguel and Sindicato, from traditional cafés to modern tapas bars and ice cream parlours.

Where to Stay close to the Plaça Major

Staying near Plaça Major puts you at the heart of Palma's social and shopping life, with the old town, main sights and transport links all within easy reach. A reliable central option is Hotel Almudaina, which offers comfortable rooms a short walk from the square and the main commercial avenues. For more character in a historic setting, Boutique Hotel Posada Terra Santa places you in a restored mansion tucked into the old streets just a few minutes away. If you prefer a stylish hotel close to both the historic core and the seafront, Hotel Basilica makes a great base for exploring the city while keeping Plaça Major within easy strolling distance.

Is the Plaça Major Worth Visiting

Plaça Major is absolutely worth visiting if you want to experience Palma as more than just a collection of monuments. The knowledge that it stands on the site of the former Inquisition convent adds depth, but what really makes it special today is the way locals use it: as a meeting point, a market ground, a stage for buskers and a place to linger over coffee. Whether you come for the history, the architecture, the people-watching or simply to rest your feet between sights, the square quickly becomes one of those spots you keep drifting back to during your stay.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.0 (20)

Plaza Mayor in central Palma is a pretty, lively city square located between the sea and the intermodal station; under its arcades you'll find a museum and several shops, and stairs from the square lead down toward the Teatro Principal and La Rambla.

Helena de Aboim

2 months ago

"Beautiful 🤩"

marco vitale

a month ago

"It's a large square in the heart of the city, halfway between the sea and the intermodal station. Under the arcades are a museum and several shops. Ibelieve there was once a shopping mall in the basement, now closed. Going down the stairs, you reach the Teatro Principal or La Rambla...."

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Voyages et rando ées

a month ago

"A relatively lively place"

FAQs for Visiting Plaça Major

Yes, the square itself is closed to motor traffic, making it an easy and pleasant place to stroll, sit and let children run around safely.

The artisan market is usually held weekly, often on selected days such as weekends or specific weekdays; check locally for current days and times during your visit.

There is underground parking associated with the square and nearby streets; follow local signs when driving into the centre, then take the lifts or stairs up into the plaza.

Nearby Attractions to the Plaça Major

Església de Santa Eulàlia: Palma's oldest parish church, closely linked to key moments in the island's medieval and early modern history.
Church of Sant Miquel: A historic church at the end of Carrer de Sant Miquel, easily reached on foot from the square.
Town Hall and Plaça de Cort: A charming square dominated by the city hall, just a short walk away and ideal for combining with Plaça Major on a city stroll.
Mercat de l'Olivar: A lively indoor market where you can sample local produce, tapas and seafood, located near Plaça d'Espanya and within walking distance of the square.
Palma Cathedral La Seu: The city's iconic Gothic cathedral overlooking the bay, reachable in a few minutes on foot through the old town streets leading down from Plaça Major.

The Plaza Mayor appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Palma!

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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