Nits a Bellver begins: Belén Aguilera opens the summer season at Bellver Castle

Nits a Bellver begins: Belén Aguilera opens the summer season at Bellver Castle

Music in the round courtyard until the end of August, closing with Mahler on August 29

Tonight the circular courtyard of Bellver Castle comes alive again. Spanish singer Belén Aguilera is on the bill and opens the Nits a Bellver concert series - a program that promises concerts, jazz and dance evenings through the end of August. The castle on the hill above Palma thus becomes a summer stage that attracts both locals and visitors.

Anyone who has been up there knows the mix of cool stone and warm evening light: the circular wall casts long shadows, the crackle of pines mixes with the murmur of the city far below. When the musicians play, people sit on the steps, wine glasses clink continuously, and sometimes children's laughter blends with the waves of applause. Such evenings are exactly why many Mallorcans make the walk up the hill again in the evening.

Belén Aguilera, who is also appearing at the Mallorca Live Festival, brings pop and singer-songwriter sounds to the courtyard. After this opening, various formats are on the program in the coming weeks: chamber ensembles alongside jazz trios, dance performances in the balmy summer air and guest appearances by the OSIB. The range is deliberately broad - from quiet songs to orchestral evenings.

Once again a simple idea proves itself here: using historic sites for culture instead of treating them only as viewpoints. Bellver Castle, with its unusual circular form, offers an intimate atmosphere that large concert halls do not have. Especially at sunset a concert in the courtyard feels more like a personal experience.

On August 29 the series will end with a concert in honor of Gustav Mahler. A Mahler evening within the stone walls of Bellver sounds as if the music could resonate deeply - ideal for listeners who want to experience classical language in an unusual setting. Between pop, jazz and classical music a summer program emerges that brings together different audiences.

Practical information: events take place in the courtyard; evenings with orchestra are set up acoustically differently than small jazz sets, and the audience often sits on the steps or on brought blankets. On warm evenings it is advisable to arrive early to secure good places. The castle can be reached on foot from central Palma in a leisurely walk uphill; a light jacket is recommended - a spring or summer breeze often blows at the top.

For the island such a program is more than entertainment: it enlivens the cultural calendar in the warm season, creates work and performance opportunities for local and national artists, and uses a historic monument as an open stage. Local gastronomy and small businesses around the castle also welcome such evenings - a concert night at the castle is often combined with dinner or drinks beforehand.

My tip: arrive early, enjoy the view of Palma in the evening light and stay for the last notes as night falls over the island. Those seeking something special will find it in the combination of ancient stonework, dark pine scent and music rolling through the courtyard. And if you can't make it tonight: the series runs for months.

The concert series opens tonight with Belén Aguilera; the program and dates run until the end of August and conclude with the Mahler concert on August 29. A small, loud summer greeting from the hill above Palma - cultural, local and with a view.