Palma Cathedral (La Seu)

Palma Cathedral, known locally as La Seu, is the defining landmark of Palma on the island of Mallorca in Spain's Balearic Islands. It rises on the Plaça de la Seu in the Old Town, directly above the Parc de la Mar and its artificial lake, and its honey-coloured limestone walls dominate the seafront skyline. Construction began in 1229 after the Catalan conquest of the island and continued until 1601, which gives the building a layered character that is largely Catalan Gothic. Inside, the nave is lined with some of the tallest Gothic columns in Europe, and the east end holds one of the largest rose windows in Gothic architecture. On a clear morning the window throws a wash of coloured light across the stone floor, which is the moment most visitors time their visit for. Between 1904 and 1914 the architect Antoni Gaudí worked on the interior, and his reworking of the sanctuary is among the most discussed features. The Museum of Sacred Art, included in the general ticket, displays religious paintings, reliquaries and liturgical objects. A typical visit takes one to one and a half hours, and weekday mornings are generally calmer than midday, when cruise-ship and tour groups arrive. The cathedral is a working church, so sightseeing is restricted on Sundays and public holidays, and sections can close during services. For photographs, the classic angle is from the far edge of the Parc de la Mar lake, where the cathedral reflects in the water at sunrise or sunset. The terraces and roof tours, sold as a separate or combined ticket, add views over the bay and close-up looks at the buttresses. Modest dress with covered shoulders and knees is expected. Official opening hours and ticket options are published at catedraldemallorca.org and change by season.