Almudaina Reopens: New Tour, Free Admission – More Space for Mallorca's History

Almudaina Reopens: New Tour, Free Admission – More Space for Mallorca's History

On a late July evening, when the tourist flows along the Passeig del Born slow down and the swans in the Parc de la Mar glide more quietly, the royal palace Almudaina in Palma reopened its doors after seven months of renovation. The building opposite the cathedral has been refurbished inside, with new exhibition rooms and a revised visitor route, inviting residents and visitors to experience the island's history in a more concentrated way.

What was changed?

More than €2.5 million in total was invested in the project, financed by European funds. The visitor route has been rearranged chronologically: from traces of Roman times through the period as the Muslim Madina Mayurqa to the Kingdom of Mallorca and the phase under the Crown of Aragon. The endpoint of the tour is the throne hall — styled from the era of Alfonso XIII. Also newly opened is the so‑called Palau de la Reina, which recalls Queen Isabella II's stay in 1860. Additionally, there is a visitor centre and larger exhibition areas; lighting and electrical systems have been fully renewed, which according to the project plan should reduce energy consumption by around 30 percent.

The objects: from a lion to the tympanum

On display are pieces including a white marble lion from the 10th century, a bronze griffin from the 12th century, and the tympanum of the Coronation of the Virgin from the late 13th to early 14th century. The selection is complemented by historical furniture, portraits, Roman coins and ceramics as well as amphorae from the Museu de Mallorca. Many of these objects can now be seen in a clearer context because the tour emphasizes their period of origin more strongly.

A short celebration: free admission

To mark the reopening, admission is exceptionally free from July 29 to 31. For the island this is a welcome offer: local families, schoolchildren and holidaymakers can look into rooms that have long been closed without barriers. It feels like a small gift in the middle of the high season, when many things are otherwise chargeable — for example, Bellver Castle: Admission Doubled — Who Keeps Access?.

Why this is good for Mallorca

Greater accessibility also means more education: when history becomes more visible and is presented in the correct sequence, visitors better understand how layered Mallorca's past is. The combination of new spaces and a visitor centre opens up possibilities for school programs, multilingual tours and cooperation with the Museu de Mallorca. And the energy-saving measures are not just a label: when historic houses report lower power consumption, it eases long-term operating costs — and benefits the environment.

A local view

Those who now stand in the late afternoon on the Plaça davant la Seu not only hear camera shutters and occasional scooters, but also voices of people talking about rooms they previously only knew from the outside. A woman from Santa Catalina says she is glad that children will soon be able to learn directly on site at school. Such scenes show that the renovation is not a finished monument project, but something that reaches into everyday life.

Looking ahead

The reopening is only the beginning. It would be good to see the new areas linked to regular guided tours, Open House Palma: Over 60 Doors Open — the City Up Close and educational offers for schools. When investments flow into both preservation and usability of historic sites, the whole island benefits — culturally and economically. For the short period of free admission this mainly means: go and see before the summer passes fill up again.

Practical: Free admission from July 29 to 31. For those who come afterwards: it is advisable to choose cooler days and plan for early morning or late afternoon; in high summer the spaces fill up quickly.