Son Fortesa

Hidden in plain sight, Son Fortesa whispers tales of resilience and conquest. Here, amidst the modern bustle of Palma, lies a place touched by the echoes of the War of the Spanish Succession. Son Fortesa, once a sprawling estate, bore witness to the clash of empires. In 1715, French General François Bidal, Marquis d’Asfeld, chose this very spot for his headquarters during the siege of Palma. Imagine the scene. French troops swarming the grounds, their tents stretching between Son Ferragut and the sea. The marquis, perhaps, standing on the very spot we occupy now, plotting his next move. A cannonball, fired from the city walls, once struck the dining room of the Son Fortesa manor house. A testament to the fierce resistance put up by the city. This dramatic event, etched in stone and memory, remained visible for almost two centuries. Even in 1796, Campaner’s Cronicón Mayoricense records its presence, a stark reminder of the battle fought here. The original manor house, as depicted in Arthur Byne and Mildred Stapley’s “Houses and Gardens of Mallorca,” has vanished. Yet, a silent sentinel remains. The well, with its octagonal neck and stone supports, stands defiant. It serves as a link to a tumultuous past, a tangible piece of Son Fortesa’s rich tapestry of history. The spirit of this place endures, inviting us to reflect on the ebb and flow of power, the resilience of the human spirit, and the enduring mark of history.