This past weekend, I visited Majorca, an island off the coast of Spain. The biggest city, Palma, absolutely blew me away with its beauty, sunshine, and complex history. While exploring the center of town, near a port of course, I was immediately struck by the sight of a gothic style cathedral overlooking the water and a palace that sat next to it. The Cathedral of Palma de Majorca, also known as Le Seu, is a Catholic Cathedral built after the Reconquista of Spain. The island was occupied by Moors, or Islamic peoples, until Spain decided to invade it in their mission to expel all Moors from Spanish territory. The palace next to the cathedral was was built by Muslim governors after the Arab conquest in 1309. It was converted to its now gothic style by James II and used as a place where monarchs had their court.  

     After sampling paella, a quintessential Spanish dish, I experienced the city at night and walked down small winding roads filled with modern art galleries. The next day, with the sun roasting me as a walked, I visited the Castell de Belver, which was built in the 1400’s. For defense purposes, it is situated on top of a hill overlooking the city and ocean. Inside, the various rooms had been turned into exhibits showcasing Roman statues, pottery, and other artifacts. The castle was built in a gothic style by King James II of Majorca as a home but was then used as a prison after the War of Spanish Succession.