Beneath the stones of Palma, secrets sleep. What if I told you that this school, the Col·legi de Sant Francesc, has a hidden past reaching back centuries?
The Col·legi de Sant Francesc stands here today. It is a testament to faith and education. Its story began long before 1952 when it was officially founded. The roots go back to 1281 with the construction of the Convento de San Francisco by the Franciscan Order.
Imagine five Franciscan friars arriving in Mallorca in 1232. They came after the island’s reconquest by Jaime I of Aragón. The king provided them space. They settled in a convent on Carrer Sant Miquel.
Around 1270, the Franciscans exchanged convents with the nuns of Santa Margalida. This swap led to building the church dedicated to “Las Llagas de San Francisco” in 1281. Jaime II of Mallorca also funded a Franciscan school in Valldemossa after talking with Ramon Llull. This was the Colegio de Miramar. Its goal was to train religious missionaries.
The Iglesia de San Francisco opened in 1317. But it was not consecrated until 1385. It took a century to finish its impressive vault. The church has a central nave with cross-ribbed vaults. Eight side chapels add to its Gothic style.
Ramon Llull is buried here. This changed plans to bury him in Santa Eulalia Parish with his family. Around 1310, a large trapezoidal cloister was built. It features slender columns and lobed arches. The convent received royal privilege. It could draw water from the Síquia de la Vila. This water was stored in a cistern under the cloister.
The Convento de San Francisco gained importance. Many noble families wanted to be buried here. This caused tension with the local clergy. The Franciscans expanded their presence. They founded convents across Mallorca. These were in Inca, Palma, Alcúdia, Artá, Lloret de Vistalegre, Lluchmayor, and Petra.
In 1580, lightning struck the Convento de San Francisco. The original Gothic facade needed rebuilding. Pedro Horrach and Francisco de Herrera led the work. Pedro Comas created a beautiful rose window. The new main portico showed Baroque style. It featured Solomonic columns and detailed decorations. Statues of Santo Domingo and San Francisco were added. An image of the Immaculate Conception tops the portico. It is flanked by Duns Scoto and Ramon Llull.
San Junípero Serra studied philosophy here in 1728. Later, he felt called to be a missionary in the Americas. The number of Franciscans grew. Between 1780 and 1823 there were ninety-five Franciscans in the Palma convent.
The convent became a prison and military barracks in 1836. This followed the confiscation of church properties. In 1881, it was declared a National Monument. This saved it from destruction.
In 1924, Bartolomé Crespí Cladera formed the Confraria de Nostra Senyora de l’Esperança i de la Pau. They participated in Palma’s Holy Week processions. In 1930, Father Miguel Alorda founded the Confraria de la Joventut Seràfica de Sant Francesc.
During the Spanish Civil War, underground tunnels were used. These created an air-raid shelter for civilians. In 1939, the Franciscans reopened a primary school. In 1943, Pope Pius XII made the Convento de San Francisco a minor basilica.
Finally, in 1952, Father Antonio Bauzá officially founded the Colegio San Francisco. Marcos Ferragut built a building next to the convent for the school. Cardinal Francisco Spellman blessed it. In 1981, the Island Council of Mallorca declared the Convento de San Francisco a Site of Cultural Interest.
Today, the Col·legi de Sant Francesc continues its mission. It provides education based on Christian values. The school focuses on innovation and technology. It prepares students for a globalized world.
So, as you stand before the Col·legi de Sant Francesc remember its long history. It’s a story of faith, learning, and enduring legacy. The Col·legi de Sant Francesc stands as a beacon of knowledge.