🏛️ La Palma de Gaudí – Discover Antoni Gaudí’s Architectural Legacy in Palma
Think Gaudí, think Barcelona? Think again. Mallorca has its own fascinating chapter in the story of one of the world’s most celebrated architects.
From 27 October 2026 to 26 February 2027, the Arxiu Municipal de Palma (Can Bordils) presents La Palma de Gaudí, a free documentary and photographic exhibition exploring the relationship between the legendary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and the city of Palma.
Organised as part of Gaudí Year 2026, marking the centenary of the architect’s death, the exhibition takes visitors back to the Palma of the early 20th century, when the city was undergoing significant architectural and urban transformation.
And while most people know about Gaudí’s work at Palma Cathedral, there’s much more to discover.
⛪ Beyond La Seu: Gaudí’s Mallorca Connection
Between 1902 and 1914, Antoni Gaudí travelled repeatedly to Mallorca to work on the restoration and renovation of Palma Cathedral (La Seu), commissioned by Bishop Pere Joan Campins.
His interventions at the Cathedral remain among the island’s most celebrated architectural landmarks, but his relationship with Mallorca extended beyond this famous Gothic building.
During his visits, Gaudí explored the island and became acquainted with prominent figures from Mallorca’s cultural and intellectual circles, including poet Miquel Costa i Llobera and philologist Antoni Maria Alcover.
Through original archival documents, historical photographs and period accounts, the exhibition explores the places Gaudí visited, the people he encountered and the city he experienced more than a century ago.
🎨 Modernisme in Palma: A City in Transformation
At the beginning of the 20th century, Palma was undergoing a period of architectural change, with local architects navigating between traditional historicist styles and the emerging ideas of Modernisme.
La Palma de Gaudí explores how the architect’s creative vision coincided with this transformation and may have influenced the work of other architects on the island.
The exhibition highlights several buildings connected to Palma’s architectural history, including:
🏛️ Casa Balet (Villa Alegre) – A now-lost building in Son Armadans, dating from 1903, where a possible design intervention by Gaudí has been suggested.
🏛️ Sanitari Balear – Built in 1908, reflecting the architectural developments of the period.
🏛️ Gran Hotel – Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, another leading figure of Catalan Modernisme.
These examples help illustrate the creative exchanges and architectural influences that shaped Palma during Gaudí’s time on the island.
📖 Discover Palma Through Its Archives
Curated by Martí Rotger Lebrón, the exhibition offers a fascinating look at Palma’s past through documents, photographs and historical records preserved by the city’s Municipal Archive.
The setting itself is worth a visit: Can Bordils, a historic mansion in Palma’s old town that now houses the Arxiu Municipal and its collection of documentary heritage.
Rather than focusing solely on Gaudí’s architectural projects, the exhibition invites visitors to discover the broader cultural environment in which he worked and how the city evolved during those years.
A lovely opportunity for architecture enthusiasts, history lovers and anyone curious about the stories hidden behind Palma’s beautiful façades.
📍 Good to Know
📅 Exhibition Dates: 27 October 2026 – 26 February 2027
🕤 Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 09:30–13:30
📍 Location: Arxiu Municipal de Palma (Can Bordils), Carrer de l’Almudaina 9, Palma
🎟️ Admission: Free
🏛️ Exhibition: La Palma de Gaudí
🎨 What to Expect: Original archival documents, historical photographs and insights into Palma’s architectural transformation between 1902 and 1914
👤 Curator: Martí Rotger Lebrón
🎂 Part of: Gaudí Year 2026 – Centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death
Our tip: Combine your visit with a stroll through Palma’s old town and a stop at La Seu to see Gaudí’s architectural legacy in person. Once you start looking for Modernist details around Palma, you’ll begin noticing them everywhere.
A little architectural history, a little local discovery. Very Mallorca. ❤️