Mallorca has a rich history and a vibrant culture so it is no surprise that there are loads of museums and galleries to suit all tastes and interests. Many historic buildings now house museums that give you an amazing background about the history of the buildings and the period.

Palma de Mallorca is a city with a long history and as with any city with so much a history you will find many different museums.

One of the best is La Alumundania, a palace situated right next to Palma cathedral that use to belong to the local royalty, now however it gives a stunning look into medieval Mallorcean history. Many of the rooms remain decorated as they where when the palace was occupied.

Another royal abode that is now a museum is the castle Bellver. Looking over Palma from a hilltop Bellver was the first round castle in Europe. Bellver’s exhibits are constantly changing making it hard to say what it will be displaying at any time.

Another castle museum is found in the fort of Santa Carlos on the edge of the Porto Pi bay. This fort is now a military museum which displays military tools and lifestyle from the Napolionic area up to about the time of the Spanish civil war. It is a fascinating slice of history if a little out of the way.

Palma also has many fantastic art galleries with a varied outlook. One celebrated gallery is the Palau March a cultural centre and art gallery which has a collection of art for itself, as well as hosting many exhibits and holding a venue for classical concerts.

On the Paseo de Borne lies Casal Solleric, this gallery showcases the best in contemporary art and has many exhibits by world renown artists. Also in Palma near the plaza mayor is a small museum called El Fundacion Juan Miro. This museum is dedicated to displaying works of abstract art such as those of Dali, Picasso and the titular Miro, who is a native of Mallorca and a pride of Mallorca´s culture.

Outside of Palma in the mountains near Esporles lies La Granja (literally the farm), an old cistercian convent later converted into a palace, La Granja is preserved how it would look about 200 years ago. The long tour of the palace can be very informative and they also house a restaurant that servers traditional Catalonian delicacies.

For those who prefer science to art or history why not try the observatory and planetarium at Costix. The observatory is fully functioning and is contributing nightly to the quest to understand the universe and during day when it is not usable it is possible to hear exciting talks on astronomy and cosmology. The planetarium showcases the wonders of the universe in all their glory with a large display dome and a glorious presentation of the nights wonders.

Mallorca’s culture offers a lot and there should be an option for everyone. Many holiday makers neglect the history and culture of the place they visit and anyone who does is missing out.