Hotels near Bellver Castle

Bellver Castle is one of only four circular medieval castles in Europe and the most distinctive piece of architecture in Palma after the cathedral. Completed in 1311 for King Jaume II of Mallorca, it sits 112 metres above sea level on a wooded hill and has served as a royal summer residence, a prison (the writer Jovellanos was held here from 1802 to 1808), and a mint.

The castle's circular plan with four towers and a deep moat is unusual for medieval Spain - the design borrowed from earlier French and Crusader fortresses. Inside, the two-storey courtyard with Gothic arches is the photographic highlight. The City History Museum on the ground floor covers Palma from Talayotic times to the 19th century, but the real draw is the 360-degree view from the rooftop terrace: Palma bay, the Cathedral, the Tramuntana foothills, and on clear days the cruise terminal.

Pro Tip: Sunday entry is free for residents of the Balearic Islands and very crowded - non-residents pay 4 EUR and avoid the queues. The walk up from Placa Gomila through the pinewoods takes 25 minutes if you want to skip the bus.