Convent of Santa Clara

This convent in the heart of Palma’s old town was founded all the way back in 1256 when Pope Alexander IV granted permission to have it founded by Sister Caterina, abbess of the convent of Santa Maria de Tarragona in Barcelona.

Already in 1260, the pope send a letter to the Franciscans in Palma to help Sister Caterina by any means. After this, the monastery grew rapidly.

The convent is a beautiful example of Gothic and Baroque styles.

Architecture of the convent

The monastery was built on top of a former Moorish mosque. The convent, has expended throughout the centuries, and during these expansions grown to include several civil mansions too.

Major expansion and renovation works were carried out during the 17th century, giving the convent a Baroque style, but preserved the Gothic arches and vaults.

The church, has a single nave ground floor with 4 lateral chapels separated by barrel vaults.

Special interest

1. Father Junípero Serra, was known in his time as a man with great skill as a preacher, and this convent’s church preserves the pulpit from which he delivered the four lessons of the Seraphic school in 1744, that is his only known teaching from the pulpit.

2. Inside the church, you will see the Gothic tombs of various important nuns of this convent.

3. If you are lucky, you will meet the singing nuns in the monastery when you visit.