Església de Santa Margalida

The construction of the church was initially begun in the 1230’s by the Franciscan friars who arrived from Rome immediately after the Aragonese-Catalan conquest of Mallorca in 1229. King Jaume I of Aragón, protagonist of the conquest, had promised assets and properties to multiple religious orders once the campaign was finished.

The nuns of Santa Margalida were initially installed in a property at the Plaça del Mercat, but due to an exchange with the Franciscan friars the nuns moved to this place in the 1270’s. First prioress of the Santa Margalida order in Mallorca was Caterina de Torrella, niece of Ramon de Torrella, first bishop of Mallorca.

During the second half of the 14th century parts of the convent started to take form but could not finish due to economical crisis.

The convent underwent several reforms during the 16th century in accordance to contemporary styles and guidelines of that time. Santa Margalida was one of the first nun convents to adopt the guidelines of the Council of Trent (1563), forcing an even stricter closure. As a result of this adoption, four nuns were sent to the convent of Puig de Maria in Pollenca to promote it, as the nuns here were reluctant to adopt these.