Castell de Bellver
Just a few days after seeing the interior of the Palma Cathedral, I decided to trek up to one of the few remaining round castles in Europe, Castell de Bellver. The castle was built in the 14th century to be used as residence for Mallorcan kings. In the 1800s, the castle was used as a military prison, and finally was given to the city of Palma in the 1930s. Now, it is home to a museum of the city and is a huge tourist attraction.
The castle is up on a hill just a couple kilometers outside the center of Palma. After a 15 minute bus ride and another 15 or 20 minute walk, I made it to the stairs that would lead me up the hill to the castle. The stairs were a surprise for me.. After climbing a couple hundred stone stairs up the countryside and snapping some amazing pictures of the port on the way, I made it up to the castle and bought my ticket.
After a couple more flights of stairs, I walked across the stone bridge that crosses the old moat and stepped onto the castle walls. I climbed up some tiny stairs to a lookout at the top of the wall and had an incredible view of the island and even the sea. After taking in the view, I decided to go into the castle.
First, you walk into the round courtyard with its many stone arches. Then, I decided to go ahead and climb up the stairs to the top of the castle. That view was even better than what I'd seen from the lookout on the wall. I could see the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. I could see the city. I could see the sea. Looking down into the round courtyard where I'd just been was amazing too.
Back inside the castle were rooms full of ancient and beautiful sculptures. The museum of the city of Palma is housed inside the castle as well. Inside the museum were ancient pots, tablets, and even street signs.
I really enjoyed my visit to the castle. It was a difficult climb up and down the hill, and my legs felt like jello by the time I made it back to the bus stop, but it was an amazing view that I had earned.
The castle is up on a hill just a couple kilometers outside the center of Palma. After a 15 minute bus ride and another 15 or 20 minute walk, I made it to the stairs that would lead me up the hill to the castle. The stairs were a surprise for me.. After climbing a couple hundred stone stairs up the countryside and snapping some amazing pictures of the port on the way, I made it up to the castle and bought my ticket.
After a couple more flights of stairs, I walked across the stone bridge that crosses the old moat and stepped onto the castle walls. I climbed up some tiny stairs to a lookout at the top of the wall and had an incredible view of the island and even the sea. After taking in the view, I decided to go into the castle.
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| This used to be the moat |
First, you walk into the round courtyard with its many stone arches. Then, I decided to go ahead and climb up the stairs to the top of the castle. That view was even better than what I'd seen from the lookout on the wall. I could see the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. I could see the city. I could see the sea. Looking down into the round courtyard where I'd just been was amazing too.
Back inside the castle were rooms full of ancient and beautiful sculptures. The museum of the city of Palma is housed inside the castle as well. Inside the museum were ancient pots, tablets, and even street signs.
I really enjoyed my visit to the castle. It was a difficult climb up and down the hill, and my legs felt like jello by the time I made it back to the bus stop, but it was an amazing view that I had earned.
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