Three churches worth seeing on Mallorca
A world-famous cathedral and two churches most people drive past.
La Seu in Palma is one of Europe's great Gothic buildings, developed over centuries after the conquest of 1229, with an enormous rose window and Antoni Gaudí's canopy above the altar.
The other two churches here stand among fields and on a wooded hill. You cannot always go inside, but their settings tell you something about Mallorca you won't find in the capital.
Which church deserves a detour?
Almost every Mallorcan village has a church, and many are worth seeing. These three tell different stories: a major European cathedral, a country church from the period after the 1229 conquest and an estate chapel built for a wealthy landowner.
Two are not normally open inside. Sant Miquel de Campanet is usually locked and Església de Son Serra is private, but their exteriors and settings remain worth a look.
Each entry explains its location, opening and access. The cathedral has a timetable and admission charge; the other two should not be treated as regularly open museums.
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1. La Seu
Palma's cathedral developed over centuries from the 13th century, with Gothic buttresses above the waterfront, one of the world's largest rose windows and a canopy by Antoni Gaudí over the altar. The great round window in the apse dates from 1370 and was glazed in 1599, with almost a hundred square metres of glass.
Outside, La Seu is most impressive from a little distance: reflected in Parc de la Mar's pool or seen from the harbour. Inside, choose a bright morning when the windows colour the sandstone. Arrive at opening time, and if possible return in the evening to see it illuminated above the pool.
- Location
- Beside Parc de la Mar in Palma, served by several EMT buses
- Visiting
- Paid admission; cover shoulders and knees; check hours ahead
- Good for
- Gothic architecture and stained glass on an early morning visit
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2. Sant Miquel de Campanet
One of Mallorca's oldest churches stands among fields rather than in the village. Its position reflects its history: Campanet had not yet taken its present form when Christian settlers built the church after the conquest of 1229, on an earlier mosque site.
For centuries Sant Miquel served the surrounding area, including Búger. The village later grew elsewhere, leaving the church here. Today it stands beside the road to Campanet's caves, a simple stone building with an open porch and cypresses in front. A ten-minute stop takes you back almost eight hundred years.
- Location
- Among fields outside Campanet on the road to the caves
- Visiting
- Usually locked; exterior freely visible and forecourt level
- Good for
- A short stop on the way past, including with a pushchair
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3. Església de Son Serra
From the coastal road between Can Picafort and Colònia de Sant Pere, a pointed tower rises above the inland pines. It looks almost as though it has been moved here from a central European village.
This is the neo-Gothic church of the Son Serra estate, belonging to a country property rather than a parish. It stands on its wooded hill behind a wrought-iron gate and nameplate. It is not open for visits, but recalls the estates that occupied this coast before holiday houses arrived: farmland, workers and, for a sufficiently wealthy owner, a private church.
- Location
- On a wooded hill inland from Son Serra de Marina
- Visiting
- Private and not open; view from the road and gate
- Good for
- A brief coastal-road stop and an unusual photograph
Your questions about Mallorca's churches
Do I pay to visit Palma cathedral?
Sightseeing visits to La Seu require a ticket. Check current prices and hours before visiting. Opening time is usually quietest, and shoulders and knees should be covered.
Which church should I see beyond Palma cathedral?
Sant Miquel de Campanet, a rural church dating from the period after the 1229 conquest, makes a worthwhile stop on a visit to Campanet's caves. Sant Bartomeu's Modernisme façade in Sóller and Santa Maria dels Àngels on Pollença's Plaça Major are also worth seeing.
Can I enter all three churches?
No. La Seu has regular visiting hours. Sant Miquel de Campanet is usually locked; ask locally about services if you hope to enter. Església de Son Serra is on a private estate and is not publicly accessible, though visible from the road and gate.
What is the best time of day to visit?
A bright morning for La Seu's stained-glass light, plus an evening view from outside when it is illuminated. Late afternoon brings warm light to the stone at Sant Miquel and Son Serra.
Is Palma cathedral accessible?
Much of the interior has level stone flooring, but entry routes can involve steps. Check the cathedral's designated accessible entrance and arrangements ahead. Pushchairs are generally manageable inside.
Three churches, three sides of Mallorca
La Seu connects the island with Gothic Europe, Sant Miquel with the years after the conquest, and Son Serra with the great rural estates. Three buildings spanning centuries, two best appreciated from outside.
Every recommendation on this page comes from a personal visit. Words and photographs are by Friedhelm Fischer, who has been exploring Mallorca on foot, by bike and with his camera since 2013.