We visited Mallorca in April to celebrate my beloved’s birthday and spent the Saturday exploring its capital Palma, dominated by its cathedral reckoned to represent the image of a great ship on the sea. Overlooking the  Mediterranean, the Cathedral was built on the site of a former Mosque after James I, the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona, had conquered and evicted the Moors.

Building works started with the Royal Chapel in around 1300, during the reign of James II (1276-1311), the first monarch of the Crown of Majorca, though the more important building work took place in 14th and 15th centuries. The building’s interior was strongly influenced by the Baroque period in 17th and 18th centuries, that coincided with a period of economic and social splendour for Mallorca’s church and society.

In 1902, Bishop Pere Joan Campins commissioned the architect Antoni Gaudi to renovate the whole church which he completed in 1914. This included the renovation and decoration of the central nave and main altar, plus illuminating the space with glass windows, as well as artificial light and candelabras.