SUNSHINE AND FLOODS
A FEW SUNNY DAYS Sometime ago, I mentioned that I would be going to Palma (Majorca) to see the Miguel Barcelo Chapel in the Cathedral. It was raining and cold when I left Paris. The arrival in Palma was another world. 26°, sun and a clear blue sky. No hanging around in the hotel despite our late arrival due to controller strikes in Paris. The Spanish eat very late in the evening so with instructions from the Manager, off I went.
The following morning, I bounced out of bed, looked at the weather which was still quite beautiful. After breakfast, map in hand, l was on my way.
The old town is very picturesque giving onto a harbor full of luxury boats. Palma did not seem to have suffered from the financial crisis which had hit Europe. The Cathedral could be seen from a long way off and yet it was not so easy for me to find the entrance. Up and down steps and finally there was a door in front of me.
Without any doubt it is one of the most beautiful Cathedral interiors that I have ever seen. Since the 5th century, the Christian faith has been present on this island and the cathedral itself is an emblematic monument. In 902, the Arabs settled in Majorca and tolerated the Christian community. Antonio Gaudi (who designed and started to build the Sagradia Familia in Barcelona)
became involved with the Palma Cathedral between 1904 and 1914 and opened up the space in front of the alter. Light unifies all the elements of the Gothic Cathedral and with the sun shining as it was, the inside was spectacular. There are over 61 stained glass windows and the larger windows in various chapels have been opened up. Miguel Barcelo created the five stained windows in the restored chapel of the Holy Monument. The inauguration is quite recent, 2007
The chapel recreates the biblical iconography of Feeding the multitude and the Marriage at Cana. This was an episode at Galilee and the beginning of Jesus public life. His windows are majestic.
Although I had spent well over an hour in the Cathedral, there were not too many photographs taken. These are just a few.
It was now midday. You probably know that the Spanish do not eat lunch much before 2 or 3pm. The next stop would be the Modern Art Museum.
It is housed in a 17th-century mansion that was originally built as a residence, but redesigned in the early 20th century and turned in to a museum in 1990. From the outside I didn’t find it a particularly attractive building.
There are just 70 pieces, each by a different artist, including Picasso, Dali and Miro.
The collection displays examples of contemporary mid-twentieth century art with works by some of Spain’s most recent emerging artists. A total of fifty-two artists are represented.
Strangely, l had never felt a museum to be as empty as this one. Pictures could be taken but l was not over enthusiastic.
However, their restaurant was divine and there l had a very late lunch outside on the terrace.
After going back to the hotel for a small siesta, later I tracked back to the old town to really discover it. The hotel was not in the centre A short 15 minute walk didn’t of course deter my enthusiasm! The house facades were very much art deco. Tiny winding streets were full of charm. I sent this photo back to Paris and in return a scene of the flood situation was sent back to me. What a contrast.
Naturally I was going off to see the Joan Miro Foundation. Could l walk there? The walk looked like a long one on the map so this time l opted for a taxi….it certainly was a long way off, but l did walk back, photographing the Cathedral from different points along the way.
Miro’s foundation is a dream. Once again from a little way off, unimpressive but rather like an oblong bit of concrete. Once inside, that changed.
His pictures were hung beautifully but 95% were not titled, so here we go.
After a bit of lunch I started the long walk back. It was a gorgeous day. The news from Paris was alarming about the floods so l was not looking forward to the trip back the following day.
There was one last visit to the March Palace. The construction began in 1939 and was completed in 1945. For several decades it was the March Family’s residence and in the 19th century converted into the headquarters of the Bartolmé March Servera Foundation. Renovated again and re-opened to the public in 2003. What had caught my attention was the collection of sculptures in a so called garden. This did not turn out to be a garden but a patio. These are what I found…..
there were some curiosities inside the palace.
Notably a a Crib from Naples. Spectacular is the word for it. It was brought from Naples in the 1970s. When the Foundation was opened to the public, it was installed in glass cases. I only photographed a few of these which caught my attention. The figures range from 50cm high down to barely 10 giving a real sense of perspective. The Kings’ cavalcade is perhaps the most picturesque.
Before leaving I wandered in another direction.....Had I changed countries?
The few days had been very relaxed and seeing the Miguel Barcelo Chapel made it thoroughly worthwhile.
The old town is very picturesque giving onto a harbor full of luxury boats. Palma did not seem to have suffered from the financial crisis which had hit Europe. The Cathedral could be seen from a long way off and yet it was not so easy for me to find the entrance. Up and down steps and finally there was a door in front of me.
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| From a little way off |
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| Looking up from steep steps |
Without any doubt it is one of the most beautiful Cathedral interiors that I have ever seen. Since the 5th century, the Christian faith has been present on this island and the cathedral itself is an emblematic monument. In 902, the Arabs settled in Majorca and tolerated the Christian community. Antonio Gaudi (who designed and started to build the Sagradia Familia in Barcelona)
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| Sagradia but without the cranes etc.... |
The chapel recreates the biblical iconography of Feeding the multitude and the Marriage at Cana. This was an episode at Galilee and the beginning of Jesus public life. His windows are majestic.
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| In front of the chapel |
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| Close up of the "bread" |
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| and the fish |
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| One window |
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Although I had spent well over an hour in the Cathedral, there were not too many photographs taken. These are just a few.
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| The Alter |
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| One of the many chapels |
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| Looking up at the rose window |
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| Another Chapel |
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| And Another |
It was now midday. You probably know that the Spanish do not eat lunch much before 2 or 3pm. The next stop would be the Modern Art Museum.
It is housed in a 17th-century mansion that was originally built as a residence, but redesigned in the early 20th century and turned in to a museum in 1990. From the outside I didn’t find it a particularly attractive building.
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| You can just see the walls |
There are just 70 pieces, each by a different artist, including Picasso, Dali and Miro.
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| Karel Appel Untitled 1980 |
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| Jean Miro - "Young girl with long neck" 1981 |
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| Joan Miro " Retrat de Pere Serra" 1969 |
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| Miro "El Abanderado" 1970 |
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| Miro "Le Chien d'Ubu" -1977 |
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| Louise Bourgeois "Stamp of Mémories" 1993 |
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| Louis Bourgeois |
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| Louis Bourgeois |
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| Picasso - 1959 |
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| Zoulikha Bouabdellah "Knives" 2013 |
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| From the roof of the museum |
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| Vicente Escudero "Trois amigos leales" 1960 |
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| Eduardo Kac - 2015 |
The collection displays examples of contemporary mid-twentieth century art with works by some of Spain’s most recent emerging artists. A total of fifty-two artists are represented.
Strangely, l had never felt a museum to be as empty as this one. Pictures could be taken but l was not over enthusiastic.
However, their restaurant was divine and there l had a very late lunch outside on the terrace.
After going back to the hotel for a small siesta, later I tracked back to the old town to really discover it. The hotel was not in the centre A short 15 minute walk didn’t of course deter my enthusiasm! The house facades were very much art deco. Tiny winding streets were full of charm. I sent this photo back to Paris and in return a scene of the flood situation was sent back to me. What a contrast.
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| Sending sun to Paris |
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| And receiving floods in return. What a contrast.... |
| I |
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| Looks like gold |
Naturally I was going off to see the Joan Miro Foundation. Could l walk there? The walk looked like a long one on the map so this time l opted for a taxi….it certainly was a long way off, but l did walk back, photographing the Cathedral from different points along the way.
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| No Cathedral but the harbour |
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| Just make out the Cathedral |
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| Much closer now |
Miro’s foundation is a dream. Once again from a little way off, unimpressive but rather like an oblong bit of concrete. Once inside, that changed.
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| The wall picture |
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| From the terrace |
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| Outside in the gardens |
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| Outside in the gardens |
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| Outside in the gardens |
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| Outside in the gardens |
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| Gothique personnage "1976" |
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His pictures were hung beautifully but 95% were not titled, so here we go.
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| Looks like scribbling on paper! |
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| "Femme et Oiseau" 1962 |
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| Close up |
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| close up |
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| done on a tapestry |
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| A wall of his paintings... |
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| also on a tapestry |
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| Close up of the wall decoration |
After a bit of lunch I started the long walk back. It was a gorgeous day. The news from Paris was alarming about the floods so l was not looking forward to the trip back the following day.
There was one last visit to the March Palace. The construction began in 1939 and was completed in 1945. For several decades it was the March Family’s residence and in the 19th century converted into the headquarters of the Bartolmé March Servera Foundation. Renovated again and re-opened to the public in 2003. What had caught my attention was the collection of sculptures in a so called garden. This did not turn out to be a garden but a patio. These are what I found…..
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| The Palace facade and statues |
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there were some curiosities inside the palace.
 |
Notably a a Crib from Naples. Spectacular is the word for it. It was brought from Naples in the 1970s. When the Foundation was opened to the public, it was installed in glass cases. I only photographed a few of these which caught my attention. The figures range from 50cm high down to barely 10 giving a real sense of perspective. The Kings’ cavalcade is perhaps the most picturesque.
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| The Crib |
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| The Kings arriving |
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| And more Kings |
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| View from the garden |
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| And a view of the Cathedral from the Palace |
Before leaving I wandered in another direction.....Had I changed countries?
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| Just too much ! The telepizza on a windmill |
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The few days had been very relaxed and seeing the Miguel Barcelo Chapel made it thoroughly worthwhile.
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