Picture thirteen young men gathered in Palma de Mallorca. It’s June 1700. They are the first students of the Seminari Vell. Their arrival marks a pivotal moment in the city’s history. The Seminari Vell wasn’t built overnight. The Council of Trent in 1563 mandated seminaries in each diocese. But in Mallorca economic hurdles delayed its establishment. The people desired better-trained priests. Mallorcan bishops pressed the issue in Rome. The City and Kingdom Jurats even petitioned Pope Sixtus V in 1589.
Bishop Bernat Cotoner’s attempts failed. He died in 1681. Archbishop-Bishop Pere d’Alagó finally acted. In 1699 deputies were chosen to organize the seminary. The ideal location wasn’t immediately found. A portion of the Episcopal Palace was considered. The choice fell upon the current site. This was once a Capuchin monastery owned by the Jesuits.
Existing structures were repurposed. The first Mass was celebrated in Palma Cathedral. The city rejoiced. It was a day of great celebration. The Seminari Vell opened its doors. The seminary’s early years saw challenges. The suppression of the Pontifical and Royal Literary University of Mallorca in 1829 presented obstacles. Bishop Antonio Pérez de Hiriart established three philosophy and two theology chairs. Two more were added in 1832. Chairs of Latin and humanities followed in 1835. The Tridentine decree was finally fully implemented.
Political unrest caused the Seminari Vell to close between 1836 and 1845. The Seminari Vell experienced a renaissance under rector Miquel Maura. He was Antoni Maura’s brother. Antoni was a minister of Grace and Justice and later Prime Minister. Miquel oversaw the construction of the new neo-Gothic chapel. It was needed to accommodate the growing number of seminarians. Bishop Pere Joan Campins implemented a new curriculum. He also established scientific-literary competitions for the students. The Schola Cantorum was created in 1909. A public museum followed in 1910. Its founder was the future Bishop of Menorca Bartomeu Pascual.
By 1948 the Seminari Vell had 211 seminarians. This was too many for the existing building. Temporary space was rented at the Augustinian convent. A new building called the Seminari Nou was constructed. The first stone was laid on June 12 1949. By 1953 younger seminarians moved in. Philosophers joined them the next year. By 1956-57 all seminarians were in the new building. The chapel was blessed in 1960. The decline in vocations and the Seminari Nou’s size led to the relocation of the Seminari Vell in 1985. Its current location is the Col·legi de la Sapiència. The Seminari Vell stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of faith and education in Palma.