In his great work on the Balearic Islands, the Archduke here describes the picture of a walk through the fishing district of Palma.
Midday is announced by a bell, attached to a wooden peg on the side of the chapel of Saint Barbara, and its bright sound is accompanied by the muffled sound of the Cathedral. Suddenly all activity stops; the workmen lie down for a nap until the bell calls them back to work. During this time of calm you can observe, in the boats of various types and size, the authentic Majorcan life of sailors, how they all sit together in brotherhood on the deck around a great pot of soup or rice and eat straight from it; oh, how good and happy they are, these children of the sun and the waves!
Die Balearen in Wort und Bild geschildert (1869-91)
Translated by Richard Mansell.
(Florència, 1847- Bohèmia, 1915). The figure of s’Arxiduc, as he was known in Majorca, flits between myth and reality, history and legend. His eccentricities and relationships, passed on by word of mouth, have helped to create a fantastical image of a real person. Archduke Ludwig Salvator always stood out owing to his great intelligence. He was especially interested in the natural sciences, and thanks to his lofty position, he could dedicate all his energy and passion to scientific ends. He also had a great facility for languages, painting and drawing, and he illustrated his own literary and scientific works.
In the summer of 1867 he visited Ibiza, Formentera and Majorca for the first time. He was especially attracted to Majorca and spent long periods on the island from 1872. He was 24 when he set foot there and stayed for four decades: Majorca was his second homeland, until the outbreak of the First World War forced him to leave. His great work is Die Balearen in Wort und Bild geschildert (The Balearics portrayed in words and pictures), published in nine volumes. It is a highly-detailed study of the islands: landscape, people, economy and traditions, all the result of the Archduke’s thirst for detailed knowledge (and for sharing this knowledge) of the land that had welcomed him.
Guillem Sagrera was the architect charged with building sa Llonja dels mercaders (merchants’ market) in the mid-15th century. It is one of the best examples of Gothic civil architecture in Europe. Palma was an important Mediterranean port at that time and the Col·legi dels Mercaders (College of Merchants) was in charge of the regulation and protection of trade as well as the maintenance of the city’s port.
Before the construction of the Passeig Sagrera the sea came up to the market, and ships unloaded their wares and passengers just a few metres away. Now, the main port has been moved to the west and pleasure boats have replaced the great steam ships and freight vessels, but fishing boats still come and go daily from the harbour. The main visitors to the area are now tourists who walk through the old town’s narrow streets and around sa Llonja, which is now an exhibition hall.
