Centuries whisper through the streets of es Viver. It is a neighborhood in Palma with a past richer than you might imagine. Es Viver is not just a place on a map. It is a tapestry woven from rural beginnings to a vibrant community.
Before the 19th century, es Viver was a landscape of rural estates. Son Ametler stood among them. So did Son Montserrat and Son Rutlan. These estates shaped the land and life of es Viver.
In 1844, a transformation began. The Ministry of Public Works bought land from Son Montserrat. Their goal was to build a house for road workers. These workers maintained the roads. A decade later, in 1854, the ministry expanded its plans. They purchased the entire estate. The vision? A plant nursery. This nursery gave es Viver its name. The first nucleus of es Viver emerged from Son Montserrat’s lands. It grew between the Inca road, Camí Salard, and other streets. The homes of the nursery workers formed its heart. Even today, streets like Carrer del Caminer and Carrer del Jardí remind us of this green past.
The railway arrived in es Viver in 1875. The closest station was in Pont d’Inca. Es Viver had no station until 2014. The Son Cladera-Es Vivero station finally connected the neighborhood. However, this station is administratively part of Son Cladera.
The late 19th century brought changes to Son Ametler. It was divided between two sons. In 1923, Baltasar Valentí Forteza urbanized the northern half. He hired architect Jaume Alenyar i Ginard. This area lies east of Carrer de Baltasar Valentí. The 1930s saw further development. Sebastià Sabater bought another part of Son Ametler. He established lands west of Carrer de Baltasar Valentí. These stretched to Camí Salard.
Until 1930, locals used Son Ametler’s 17th-century chapel as a public oratory. It depended on the Pont d’Inca parish. In 1924, Augustine nuns settled here. Their convent was on today’s Carrer Beethoven. By 1930, they had an oratory designed by Josep d’Oleza i Frates. It became a parish in 1938 named Crist Rei. The current temple was blessed in 1944.
After the war, Son Rutlan saw new construction. A military aviation barracks was built. It is now dismantled and urbanized. Houses for military personnel were also erected. In the 1950s, homes were built near Marratxí. These were official protection homes in Verge de Lluc. Spanish immigrants mainly populated them. These small neighborhoods are no longer part of es Viver.
Es Viver has been a working-class neighborhood. Many residents worked in Hostalets factories. Others were day laborers. This fostered labor and leftist organizations. These included a stonemasons’ union and a communist group.
Between 1963 and 1971, a scout group existed named Crist Rei. It was named after the parish. Another group, Nova Terra, existed from 1973 to 1988.
The main sports entity is the Societat Esportiva i Cultural Hispània. It is a multi-sports entity. It excels in basketball. Its origins go back to 1942. It plays at the Hispània Pavilion. The Club Atlètic Viver was a pioneer in women’s football. It ceased activity in the 1990s.
In education, es Viver has a public school, CP es Vivero. It dates back to the Republic era. There are also two subsidized schools. One is Nostra Senyora de la Consolació. It is the former convent of the Augustinian nuns. The other is the Juan de la Cierva school.
The Crist Rei church, from 1946, stands on Carrer de Baltasar Valentí. It was renovated in 1966. The houses of Son Ametler still stand on Carrer d’Antonio Vivaldi. The Hispània Pavilion is next to Son Ametler.
From 1926 to 1950, es Viver had a tram line. Before that, it had a stagecoach transport system.
Today, es Viver stands as a testament to its diverse past. It is a blend of rural roots and urban life. As you explore, remember the stories woven into its streets. Es Viver invites you to discover its unique narrative.