What stories do these stones conceal? Can Ceba stands before you. It is a silent witness to Palma’s long history. This may not seem obvious at first glance.
Can Ceba’s exact origins are hard to define from here. Palma was founded as a Roman camp. It happened upon the remains of a Talaiotic settlement. The Romans loosely incorporated the city into the province of Tarraconensis around 123 BC. They used Palma as a port. Destinations included Africa and Hispania. Not much remains of this period in Palma today. However, occasional archaeological finds occur during excavations.
Between 902 and 1229, the city fell under Islamic control. It became known as Medina Mayurqa. That means City of Majorca in Arabic. In 1229, James I of Aragon reconquered the city. He renamed it Ciutat de Mallorca. It became the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca. Palma’s advantageous location fostered extensive commerce. It traded with Catalonia, Valencia and Provence. It also traded with the Maghreb and the Italian republics. Trade extended to dominions of the Ottoman Empire. A golden age dawned. It ended with the Aragonese conquest in 1344.
The 17th century saw Palma divided. Two gangs emerged. They were named Canamunts and Canavalls. This division had severe social and economic effects. The port became a haven for pirates. The Inquisition persecuted the city’s Jews. They were locally called xuetes.
In 1714, Barcelona fell. The War of the Spanish Succession ended. The Crown of Aragon was defeated. Philip V of Spain issued the Nueva Planta decrees in 1715. These decrees changed the island’s government. It separated it from Palma’s municipal government. By the end of the 19th century, Palma de Mallorca became generalized in written Spanish. Though, it was still colloquially named Ciutat in Catalan.
At the start of the 19th century, Palma became a refuge. Many people had exiled themselves. They fled the Napoleonic occupation of Catalonia and Valencia. Freedom flourished. Then the absolutist restoration happened. Palma became the capital of the new Balearic Islands province. This happened in the 1833 territorial division of Spain. The French occupation of Algeria ended fears of Maghrebi attacks. This favored the expansion of maritime routes. The city saw economic growth.
Mass tourism arrived in the 1950s. The city transformed into a tourist destination. It attracted many workers from mainland Spain. This caused huge changes. Traditions, language and economic power all shifted. Palma grew significantly. Tourism now provides 80% of the island’s GNP. It has placed Mallorca among Spain’s wealthier regions.
Palma is a major city and seaport. It lies in southwest Mallorca. The city center is north of the Bay of Palma. The area eastwards is a flat fertile plain. It is known as Es Pla. North and west, the city borders the Serra de Tramuntana. This is the island’s major mountain range. UNESCO recognizes it as a World Heritage site.
Can Ceba stands as a reminder. Palma has been shaped by Romans, Moors and kings. Its stones echo with tales of pirates and merchants. They speak of tourists and refugees. It has always grown. It has been a point where cultures meet. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Palma.