Palma Cathedral Light Show takes place at the magnificent Cathedral de Santa Maria, or more commonly known as La Seu, and is Palma’s star turn.
Begun by King James I of Aragon in 1230 in thanksgiving for the conquest of Mallorca and built on the site of a former mosque, Palma Cathedral is the second largest of all Gothic cathedrals in the world. Opening in 1601 taking four centuries to complete, it has become one of the most renowned buildings in Europe as it encompasses almost all artistic styles since the Middle Ages.
Visible for miles from land and sea, its scale is breathtaking. Of its three facades the most spectacular is the southern looking out to the Bay of Palma where you can appreciate the Gothic style with decorative features such as the gargoyles, railings and spires.
But is it the Rose Window that is the true miracle. The largest window of Gothic design (known as the Gothic Eye) anywhere in the world at 14 metres in diameter and holding 1236 pieces of glass.
On just two days a year, if the sun shines between 08:00am and 09:00am, the positioning of the Rose window allows morning sunlight to pass through the giant eastern window and create a reflection below its smaller western counterpart forming a forming a colourful figure, of ‘8’.
Not a trick of light of course but the result of a mathematical genius hundreds of years ago.
The first opportunity to see Palma Cathedrals Light Show each year is Candlemas – February 2nd – The second one is on the 11th of November. Deserving of its reputation as the ‘Cathedral of Light’ and should top every visitor’s ‘to see’ list.
Set the alarm and be prepared to be dazzled.
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