La Concepció

Tucked away on Sitjar hill, La Concepció whispers tales of resilience and artistry. La Concepció began as the Zaforteza stately home. It became a sanctuary for Augustinian nuns in the 16th century. These nuns arrived from the Pollença mountains. The Council of Trent’s regulations had forced them to abandon their original convent. Later, more nuns joined them. These nuns had been displaced from the Santa Margalida convent in Palma due to confiscations. La Concepció became a repository of monastic treasures. The displaced nuns brought relics and art from their former homes. This transformed La Concepció into a living museum. In the 1940s, architect Gabriel Alomar Esteve redesigned the facade. His design evoked a Gothic stately home that once stood on the same street. The renovation preserved elements of the original structure. The doorways, the mullioned windows, and the gargoyles all speak to the Gothic era’s architectural prowess. Inside, treasures abound. The grand altarpiece from Pollença, pieces of the main altarpieces’ predella, and tombs of Santa Margalida’s abbesses all reside within La Concepció’s walls. The altarpiece of Santa Catalina of Alexandria adds to the collection. A rich archive brimming with historical documents resides here. A special reverence surrounds the Sant Crist del Noguer. This 16th-century carving, housed in the church’s fourth chapel, arrived from the Santa Margalida Convent in the early 19th century. Legend says it was found inside a walnut tree just as it was about to be felled to create a similar figure. In 2007, La Concepció church and convent received recognition for their significance. They were declared Assets of Cultural Interest. La Concepció is more than just stones and mortar. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of faith and the artistry of generations past.