A palace with centuries of memory
On Carrer de la Portella, just a few metres from La Seu, the Museu de Mallorca occupies the former palace of the Counts of Aiamans, popularly known as Ca la Gran Cristiana. The building was erected in the 16th century through the union of two Gothic houses built over 12th‑century Islamic remains, which are still preserved beneath the structure.
Its pentagonal floor plan, the semicircular arched entrance, the noble floor with Baroque balconies and the attic with Gothic windows reveal, in a single façade, the layering of styles that Palma has accumulated over the centuries.
In the central courtyard, archaeologists uncovered what is considered the first identified Muslim dwelling on the island, further reinforcing the archaeological significance of the site.
From palace residence to museum of reference
The museum was founded in 1961 from archaeological and fine‑arts collections, and was definitively established in La Portella after the State acquired the building and opened it to the public in 1976. Since then, the Museu de Mallorca has become the principal narrative space for the island’s history, expanding in 2015 with the Fine Arts and Decorative Arts section at the Casal d’Aiamans.
SPES’s contribution alongside architect Pedro Rabassa
Within such a sensitive heritage context, Spes Ingeniería & Construcción, S.L. has had the privilege of taking part in the rehabilitation works of the Museu de Mallorca, in collaboration with architect Pedro Rabassa.
The interventions focused on preserving the historic identity of the palace while updating its conditions for use as a contemporary museum: works meticulously coordinated with the project management team, phased planning to ensure compatibility between construction and cultural activity, and construction solutions that respect the original fabric and established heritage‑conservation criteria.
Our aim has always been the same: for every technical improvement to go unnoticed by the visitor, yet be clearly felt in the building’s safety, comfort and long‑term durability.