How about stepping back in time to discover Molí den Bestard? This windmill whispers tales of a bygone era right here in Palma de Mallorca. Let me tell you about its history.
Molí den Bestard was one of seven windmills. They were called the Molins de Santa Caterina or Molinar de Ponent. All seven mills were erected in the 18th century. They were built on land from the Rafal de Son Antic. Molí den Bestard was the sixth of these seven mills.
Our story begins in 1786. The brothers Jaume and Josep Bestard were millers. They sold the windmill and part of some houses to Sebastià Bonet.
According to a survey from 1818 the property included the mill houses and was worth 1200 pounds. At that time it belonged to Joan Bonet.
Later Sebastià Bonet Bosch owned it. In 1864 it passed to his son Bartolomé Bonet Bosch. Bartolomé was an industrialist. He died in 1893 at the age of 72. He left his inheritance to his children and grandchildren. His wife Esperanza Garcías Oliver was the universal heir. She died a widow in 1893. She left her inheritance to her sons Sebastià and Bartolomé. Also, to her granddaughters Esperanza and Francisca Bonet Arabí.
In 1894 the heirs accepted the inheritance. The property was subject to a ground rent. It was owed to the inheritance of Marc Vallès.
The property consisted of a house a path and the windmill tower. It bordered the Camp d’en Serralta. Also the factory of La Industrial Mallorquina and the house of Miguel Moll.
In 1896 Sebastià Bonet Garcías acquired the property. He paid 2000 pesetas to his brother Bartolomé. The property then included three houses a path a windmill tower and another small house. It bordered Industria Street the house of Miguel Moll and the factory of Antoni Ramis Garau.
Sebastià Bonet Garcías married Emilia Torrente Navarro. He died in Santander in 1899. He left his entire estate to his son Bartolomé Bonet Torrente.
In 1913 Bartolomé Bonet Torrente sold the property to Bartolomé Catalá Amer. The Molí d’en Tió Gran included a small house marked number 68-1r. Also three houses marked 70-1r 76 78 and 78-1r. There was also a path and a windmill tower.
Bartolomé Catalá Amer died in 1922. He left his inheritance to his children. His son Gabriel became the universal heir.
Gabriel Catalá Escanellas died in 1966. He left his inheritance to his adopted son Bartolomé Catalá Salvá.
In 1973 Bartolomé Catalá Salvá combined several properties. These properties included the house number 37 on Industria Street from the Molí d’en Tió Gran. A piece of land from Son Antic. Three houses with a windmill tower from the Molí d’en Tió Gran. A piece of land from Son Antic. A house with a windmill tower from the Molí d’en Burriada. Also a house with a garden. The resulting property covered 7922 square meters.
In 1985 Bartolomé Catalá Salvá added another portion of land to his property. The property then covered 6260.42 square meters. It included several buildings to be demolished. Except for the three old flour mills. Those had to be restored. These were the mills of Na Barbí d’en Tió Gran and d’en Burriada.
These three mills and the d’en Semoler were declared a historical-artistic complex in 1981.
The apartment blocks built by Talaiot SA and Promobau SA and the four mills formed the Residencial Los Molinos.
Molí den Bestard along with others formed a part of the Molins de Santa Caterina. It is a testament to the island’s agricultural past. It reminds us of simpler times. The mill was restored in the 1980s. It now stands as a monument to the past.