The Arxiu Municipal de Palma, located in Can Bordils, opens the exhibition ‘La Palma de Gaudí’ (Gaudí’s Palma) on 27 October. The exhibition explores the Catalan architect’s visits to Mallorca and his influence on the transformation of the city in the early 20th century. Admission is free, and the exhibition runs until 26 February 2027.

La Palma de Gaudí exhibition

Courtyard of Can Bordils, home to the Arxiu Municipal de Palma. Photo: visitpalma.com

The exhibition is part of the Any Gaudí (Gaudí Year) programme, marking the centenary of the architect’s death in 1926. Curated by records management specialist Martí Rotger Lebrón, it was officially opened by the Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez Llabrés, accompanied by representatives from the city council and cultural sector.

Beyond La Seu

Antoni Gaudí visited Mallorca on numerous occasions between 1902 and 1914, primarily to work on the renovation of Mallorca Cathedral at the request of Bishop Pere Joan Campins. However, his connection with the island extended beyond this project.

Through original documents, photographs and accounts from the period, the exhibition offers an insight into the Palma that greeted the architect, a city undergoing major changes, as well as the places he frequented and his connections with Mallorca’s cultural circles.

During his stays, Gaudí also explored Mallorca’s landscapes and maintained contact with prominent intellectuals, including Miquel Costa i Llobera and Antoni Maria Alcover.

Gaudí’s influence on Palma’s architecture

Although Gaudí’s only officially documented work in Mallorca relates to the Cathedral, his presence coincided with the spread of Modernisme and the emergence of new architectural trends in Palma.

The exhibition examines this possible influence through buildings such as Casa Balet, also known as Villa Alegre, built in 1903 in Son Armadans and since demolished. An image of the building features on the exhibition poster. Gaudí may have been involved in its design, although there is no documentary evidence to confirm this.

The exhibition also features references to the Sanitario Balear, dating from 1908, and the Gran Hotel, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, as part of an overview of the architects and movements that shaped Palma’s urban development in the early 20th century.

During the opening ceremony, Jaime Martínez Llabrés highlighted how the exhibition reveals “the story of mutual admiration that connected the architect with our city”.

Dates and opening hours of the ‘La Palma de Gaudí’ exhibition

  • Dates: 27 October 2026 to 26 February 2027.
  • Venue: Arxiu Municipal de Palma, Can Bordils building.
  • Address: Carrer de l’Almudaina, 9, Palma.
  • Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 09:30 to 13:30.
  • Admission: Free.
  • Information: 971 225 900 (extension 1560) and arxiu@palma.es.