Does the gentle sound of a fountain draw you in? Here in Palma’s old town lies the Placeta de Sant Jeroni. It is more than just a square. It is a journey through time.
Welcome to Sant Jeroni. This church and square whisper tales of Mallorca’s rich cultural past. We are in the Calatrava quarter. It is an area of narrow streets. Once, the old Jewish Quarter Calle Major thrived here.
Feel the Venetian charm as you step into the Plaza de Sant Jeroni. The central fountain murmurs. Shutters flutter on surrounding buildings. The baroque Sant Jeroni Church stands proudly. It was built between 1651 and 1669.
Locals know it as Sant Jeroni. Jeroni nuns called it home until 2014. Imagine the echoes of their prayers within these walls. The church’s origins trace back to the Monastery of Santa Elisabet of Hungary. It was founded in 1336. For centuries, it was a sanctuary for devotion and contemplation.
Notice the Mayor Seminary in Sant Jeroni square. It shares the same architectural style. Once, it housed the Colegio de Nostra Senyora de la Sapiència. Bartomeu Llull founded it in 1633. Behind the seminary once stood the new synagogue of the Jewish quarter. This square marked the Jewry’s limits.
Reflect on the square’s history. Prominent figures once lived here. Medieval cartographers Abraham and his son Jafuda Cresques called this place home. They had their house and workshop here.
The fountain adorned with four lion heads dates back to 1860. They add to the square’s charm. This small square marks the southern edge of Palma’s Call. From the 13th to 15th centuries, this was the Jewish quarter. Palma was a vital Jewish community then. It rivaled Barcelona and Gerona.
Sant Jeroni in Palma embodies Mallorca’s spirit. It blends Hungarian saints, Lullian philosophers and Hebrew cartographers. This square exudes a Venetian atmosphere. It showcases Palma’s beautiful facets.
As you leave Sant Jeroni consider its layers of history. It is a place where cultures intertwine. Faith and intellect meet. The echoes of the past linger. They enrich Palma’s present.