Visitació de Santa Maria

Gazing up at the Visitació de Santa Maria, did you ever wonder about its hidden connections to another architectural marvel? The Visitació de Santa Maria, while a beautiful place of worship in its own right, played a fascinating, albeit lesser-known role, in the creation of Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia. This stunning cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma or La Seu, became Gaudí’s testing ground. He was commissioned to renovate the cathedral in 1901. He began working on both La Seu and the Sagrada Familia simultaneously. Gaudí experimented with innovative concepts and designs within these hallowed walls before implementing them on a grander scale in his magnum opus in Barcelona. For instance, the relocation of the choir stalls and the addition of a large canopy were first tested within Visitació de Santa Maria. Gaudí’s distinctive style, heavily inspired by nature and the interplay of light, can be seen in the magnificent rose window of La Seu, considered the largest in Spain. While some of his alterations to the Visitació de Santa Maria, like the removal of Baroque and Gothic altarpieces, were controversial, his impact on the cathedral’s interior is undeniable. The next time you admire the Sagrada Familia, remember its connection to this often-overlooked gem, the Visitació de Santa Maria, in Palma de Mallorca. It stands as a quiet testament to the evolution of an architectural genius.