Collapse at Palma's City Wall: What Needs to Happen Now

Collapse at Palma's City Wall: What Needs to Happen Now

A section of the exterior facade of the Baluard de Sant Pere has broken away – monument conservators call for immediate stabilization

Central question: How can a building classified as particularly worthy of protection be allowed to remain in such a condition for so long that parts of the outer wall simply fall out?

At the Baluard de Sant Pere, on the corner of Calle de la Pólvora and Calle de Sant Pere, a deep hole gapes in the exterior wall of a 14th-century tower following the collapse. The structure rests on older foundations that date back to the Islamic period. The damaged shell is made of earth-based building materials—adobe bricks and mortar—that are especially vulnerable to moisture and lack of maintenance. Photographs show a crumbled outer skin, dust and exposed layers, making clear: this is more than a cosmetic defect.

The organization ARCA has already sounded the alarm publicly and lamented the loss of a historical testimony. Representatives of the heritage authorities emphasize that there have been indications and calls for a comprehensive restoration plan for years; it is documented that corresponding requests and reminders were sent to the town hall and the island council. According to sources in the circle, those involved waited at least eight years for concrete measures.

Critical analysis: This incident is not a singular material failure but the result of a combination of lack of preventive measures, unclear responsibilities and missing prioritization. Earthen facades require regular inspection, simple repairs and local expertise—both appear to have been neglected in past practice. When protection status (BIC) and reality diverge, it is often an administrative problem: who pays, who plans, who supervises the work?

What is missing from the public debate: So far the discussion has been limited to outrage and finger-pointing. A sober inventory is lacking: which wall sections are particularly vulnerable for earth-construction reasons, which timelines are being observed for preservation, and what resources are needed in the long term? Also insufficiently discussed is how to better promote traditional craftsmanship (e.g. techniques for tapial/rammed earth and earthen bricks) so that sustainable repairs are possible.

Everyday scene from Palma: On a mild December day with grey skies and around 18 °C one can hear delivery vans and the clatter of coffee cups from a small bar on Calle de la Pólvora; pedestrians step around the barrier tape, an elderly woman carries bottles of olive oil under her arm. The wall, taken for granted for decades, suddenly seems fragile; passersby stop, take photos, speak softly. Moments like these show: heritage conservation is not an abstract issue, it touches daily urban life and the identity of the neighborhood.

Concrete, immediately implementable measures: 1) Close off the immediate area to exclude danger to passersby. 2) Order a professional hazard analysis by structural experts for earthen-built structures (conservators experienced with tapial/earth). 3) Install temporary supports and weather protection to prevent further material loss. 4) Create a digital record (photogrammetry, 3D scan) of the damage so that any restoration begins on a sound basis.

Medium-term solutions: A binding restoration plan with clear deadlines and verifiable funding; a consortium of restorers that involves local craftsmen; and a monitoring system (crack monitoring, moisture sensors) that gives early warning. Funding sources could be combined from municipal budgets, the island council, special heritage protection funds or EU cultural programs. Transparency is important: timelines and responsibilities must be publicly accessible.

A practical proposal for policymakers: Establish a small, earmarked emergency fund for at-risk BIC objects near the city — quickly available, with clear spending criteria for emergency measures. In parallel, training measures for local craftsmen should be promoted; techniques for working with earth and traditional mortars are rare but must not become exclusive specialisms.

Conclusion (concise): If historic walls become a political issue, prevention has failed. Now quick, tangible steps count instead of further announcements. The city and the island council must show that protection status is not just a label, but backed by resources and expertise. Otherwise we will lose not only stones, but pieces of our everyday memory.