Pause for a moment and observe the facade before you. This is Can Ribas de Pina. It is a house with stories etched into its very walls.
Can Ribas de Pina stands as a testament to Palma’s rich history. Its story began long ago. The house has Gothic origins. Miquel Joan Net Serralta reconstructed it around 1687.
In 1718, Miquel Ribas de Pina i Ferrà acquired Can Ribas de Pina from the Serralta family. They had owned it since the 16th century. A series of alterations began that year. The columned porch and wooden eaves were added. The Gothic windows on the facade were bricked up. The courtyard was renovated. It still retained its 17th-century characteristics.
Around 1754 Gabriel Ribes de Pina Sanxo, the buyer’s son, initiated more reforms. During these reforms, the porch with small pillars and a wooden overhang was added to the building. The Gothic windows of the facade were closed off. The courtyard was reformed in the Baroque style. It appears the courtyard had been shared with the neighboring house. That house was called Can Dameto de la Quartera.
The facade of Can Ribas de Pina features a semicircular doorway. Above it is a balcony that hints at the medieval mullioned windows. The porch has octagonal pillars and a good overhang. The courtyard has an irregular layout. It adapts to the spatial conditions.
The entrance leads to the courtyard through a lowered arch. It has lateral semicolumns with Ionic-style capitals. The courtyard has regular paving. The staircase on the right side has a handrail with flat iron balusters. A wooden overhang protects the staircase. At the back of the courtyard is a wall with a wide, lowered arch. It is closed off with a fretwork wooden barrier. A gallery with a balustrade crowns it. This serves as a separation between the courtyard and the garden.
The Ribas de Pina family produced several notable figures. One was Gabriel Marià Ribes de Pina. He was an enlightened presbyter of the 19th century. He and his sister founded the religious congregation of the Daughters of Mercy. The priest ceded part of the house to the community. This part had an entrance on the current Plaza Quadrado for the congregation.
According to the “Corrected Electoral List” of 1864, the house was in block number 8. It was owned by D. Miquel Ribas de Pina Gallard, a “landowner”. His share was 11,575 pounds. Currently, Can Ribas de Pina belongs to the Oliver Moragues family. They are heirs of the Ribas de Pina family.
Can Ribas de Pina is more than just a building. It is a living chronicle of Palma’s architectural and social evolution. It embodies centuries of history and tradition. As you stand here, imagine the generations who have passed through its doors. Feel the echoes of their lives.