As an island of beaches and sunshine, Mallorca is not typically known for its culture and museums. However, if you head to Palma you will discover a definite cluster of museums, celebrating many different aspects of island life and its rich Balearic heritage.The Mallorca Museum is probably the best in the whole of the Balearic Islands and is located close to Mallorca Cathedral. Housed in the Palau Ayamans, a grand residence built almost 400 years ago, this notable museum opened in 1968 and has grown in stature ever since.
For modern art on the island, Palma's Museu d'Art Espanyol Contemporani won't disappoint, while the Museu Krekovic is filled with ethnographic art and is also to be found within Palma, standing alongside the Parc de Kristian Krekovic and close to the Carrer de Caracas. Located on the far northerly side of Mallorca, just a relatively short distance from the Parque Natural de la Albufera, is the Museu Municipal de Pollenca (Municipal Museum), where many ancient Catalan treasures await.
Museu de Mallorca (Mallorca Museum)
Address: Carrer de sa Portella 5, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Tel: +34 971 717 540
With a large number of collections on display and several thousand exhibits, highlights at the Museu de Mallorca include some fascinating prehistoric artefacts that were discovered during archaeological digs. Also of note here is a collection of Moorish ceramics, many of which are quite priceless, together with medieval and Baroque paintings, and important pieces of ancient buildings that are no longer in existence today.
Open: April to September, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 14:00
October to March, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 18:00, Sunday 10:00 to 14:00
Admission: charge
Museu d'Art Espanyol Contemporani (Museum of Contemporary Spanish Art)
Address: Carrer Sant Miquel 11, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Tel: +34 971 713 515
This museum of Spanish contemporary art is housed in an impressive Renaissance building which was remodelled in the early 20th century. Although most of the paintings and sculptures are by relatively unknown artists, the exhibition also features some works by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and also Salvador Dali.
Open: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:30, Saturday - 10:00 to 13:30
Admission: charge
Museu Krekovic (Krekovic Museum)
Address: Carrer de Ciutat de Queretaro 3, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Tel: +34 971 249 409
Opened in 1981, the acclaimed Krekovic Museum is full of many works of art by the famous Croatian artist, Kristian Krekovic (1901 to 1985). There are also numerous interesting paintings and handicrafts from Spain and Latin America. Next door is the Parc de Kristian Krekovic, which is a pleasant recreational space lined with trees.
Open: mid-January to mid-December, Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00, Saturday - 09:30 to 13:00
Admission: charge
Museu Municipal de Pollenca - Guillem Cifre, Pollenca, Mallorca, Spain
Tel: +34 971 531 166
Housed in the former Convent de Santo Domingo (Dominican monastery) and located within the town of Pollenca, the Municipal Museum contains a large collection of sacred Gothic art, archaeological finds and a small collection of modern paintings.
Open: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge
Casa Museu Joaquim Torrents Llado - Carrer de la Portella 9, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Tel: +34 971 729 835
The Casa Museu Joaquim Torrents Llado is located on the Carrer de la Portella, close to the Parc de la Mar and the waterfront. Highlights at this mansion include a timber gallery with courtyard views and many interesting art works. This house was once the property of acclaimed Catalan artist Joaquim Torrents Llado (1946 to 1993) and provides an insight into his life and achievements.
Open: mid-June to mid-September, Tuesday to Friday - 11:00 to 19:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 14:00; mid-September to mid-June, Tuesday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 14:00
Admission: charge, discounts for students and seniors
