Can Vivot

Categories:

Sightseeing in Palma, Architecture, Buildings of Cultural Interest

FEATURED EXPERIENCE

Guided Tour of the Grandiose Can Vivot Mansion

Guided Tour of groups between 4 and 15 from Tuesday to Saturday.

Ca’n Vivot offers one of Palma’s most beautiful courtyards and emblematic estates

Can Vivot can be dated back to the 15th century, but has undergone several restorations throughout the past centuries.

Around 1872, Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria observed that “the patio is splendid and should be counted amongst the most beautiful in Palma”.

Can Vivot was prized as an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1985.

The captivating history of Can Vivot traces back to a tumultuous period in Mallorca’s past, during the uprising known as the Revolt of the Brotherhood (Revolta de les Germanías), which took place from 1521 to 1523. In the aftermath of the conflict, the property, ravaged by looting, stood as a testament to the turmoil that had engulfed the region and many other places in Spain.

However, amidst the chaos, two significant houses on the same block, the Reconada d’en Berard and the Alberg d’en Clapés, was united under unexpected circumstances, setting the stage for a remarkable narrative of resilience and endurance.

These two neighboring houses had previously been owned by Margalida Barthomeu i Valentí and Romeu Desclapés i Fuster, respectively. Margalida, a widow from one of the most affluent families in Mallorca, had inherited her house from her late husband, Pere de Berard i de Santjohan. Romeu, a gentleman in his own right, held ownership of the Alberg d’en Clapés. When Margalida and Romeu entered into matrimony, their union not only joined their lives but also merged their properties.

Don Gregori de Villalonga i Desclapés undertook some renovations, but it was his daughter-in-law, the wife of his son Gregori de Villalonga y Dameto, who left a lasting impact on the house that endures to this day. Don Gregori was a highly controversial figure, leading one faction in the brutal conflicts between the noble clans of Canamunt i Canavall (†1641). Unfortunately, he did not have the opportunity to initiate further reforms. However, his widow, Doña María Despuig i de Rocabertí, extended the house in 1676 by acquiring the neighboring property from the Armengol family. In addition to expanding the premises, Doña María carried out renovation and improvement works within the complex, even refreshing the furniture to ensure that her successors received the house in the best possible condition. Her legacy as an energetic and resourceful user of the property is memorialized in what is now known as Ca la Senyora, named after her.

In 1663, Doña Maria arranged the marriage of her only daughter, Doña Magdalena de Villalonga i Despuig, to Don Joan-Miquel Sureda i de Santacília, a 34-year-old who was one of the three founders of the Corsair Squad of Mallorca and the second largest landowner on the island (†1699).

Tragically, shortly after their wedding, the young woman passed away while giving birth to their only child in 1664. This child was Don Joan Sureda i de Villalonga, who inherited the house. Raised and nurtured by his grandmother, Doña Maria, he grew to become an educated individual. From that point forward, the residence became known as Can Sureda and stood as the primary seat of the Sureda lineage, one of the esteemed noble families of Mallorca known as the Nine Houses (Nou Cases).

In that particular year, Don Joan embarked on an ambitious renovation project known as the Obra Nova, which transformed the house into its present-day baroque style that is accessible to the public.

The history behind this renovation is quite intriguing: it coincided with the proclamation of Felipe V de Borbón as the King of Spain, triggering the War of Succession, as Archduke Carlos laid claim to the throne in 1706. Don Joan’s construction endeavors were abruptly halted when he was arrested, imprisoned in Barcelona, and condemned to death for his alleged conspiracy against the Archduke. However, through a series of complex circumstances, Don Joan managed to save his own life in 1714.

After being rescued by Felipe V, he returned to Mallorca and was bestowed with the title of Marquis of Vivot in 1717 as a token of gratitude for his unwavering support of Felipe V. Consequently, the Can Sureda estate became officially recognized as Can Vivot. Don Joan lived out his remaining years, until his passing in 1752.