Sunbonoo's Top 10 Major Museums in Mallorca

There are museums of all kinds in Mallorca: open-air museums, natural history museums, museums of contemporary art or exhibitions of archaeological finds on the island. The museums can be found not only in the capital Palma, but also scattered around the island. Some museums also offer free admission on certain days.

Es Baluard, the modern museum:

The Es Baluard Museum is one of the most famous and largest museums in Mallorca. The museum is located directly at the old city wall of the capital, at the bay of Palma de Mallorca. Over three floors it is dedicated to modern and contemporary art. A visit is worthwhile not only for the exhibited works, but also for the historical monument and the beautiful view of the harbour of Palma. From the harbour you can already see a work of art on the city wall. Admission is free of charge several times a year, e. g. on public holidays and on the night of the museums. The modern Es Baluard Museum is located near the port and La Seu Cathedral in Palma.

Els Calderers, the open-air museum:

Els Calderers is an open-air museum for all those who want to get an impression of the former landed nobility of Mallorca. The site transports visitors back to 18th century Mallorca. In the three-storey manor house you can visit 20 rooms with original furnishings, taste wine and sausages, visit the local animals in the stables or roam the surrounding gardens. In addition, there is a small chapel and various craftsmen's shops, such as a blacksmith's shop and a mill, in the outbuildings. The Els Calderers open-air museum is located in the municipality of Sant Joan and is easily accessible by car on the road from Palma to Manacor.

Historical Museum of Manacor, for archaeologists:

Located in a 17th century building, the Manacor Historical Museum houses archaeological finds from the east coast of Mallorca. Some of the pieces are over 2.000 years old: In the Prehistoric Hall there are exhibits from the prehistoric period of Mallorca, in the Roman Hall there are items from the Roman conquest of the island in 123 B. C., in the Late Antiquity Hall there are excavations of a basilica and in the Islamic Hall there are exhibits from the Moorish period of Mallorca from 902 to 1229 AD. The Manacor Historical Museum is located in the east of the island, southeast of the town of Manacor.

Museum of the March Foundation, Contemporary Art:

The permanent exhibition in the Museum of the March Foundation gives a structured insight into Spanish art of the 20th century. Famous artists of the avant-garde movement such as Joan Miró, Juan Gris, Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso can be seen here. There are also temporary exhibitions of local and international contemporary artists. Officially the exhibition is called' Museu d' Art Espanyol Contemporani Fundación Juan March' and was founded in 1955 by the Spanish banker and entrepreneur Juan March. The Museum of the March Foundation is located in the centre of the capital, Palma, in Carrer Sant Miquel. Admission is free of charge.

CCA Andratx, the Center for Artists:

CCA Andratx is one of the largest centres of contemporary art in Europe. On an area of 4000 m², it hosts up to four exhibitions of international artists each year. There are also regular exhibitions of Spanish and local artists. The centre focuses on workshops for artists and the promotion and support of creative creativity. CCA Andratx Contemporary Art Museum is located in the south of the Tramuntana Mountains, about 8 km from Paguera.

The Charterhouse of Valldemossa, the Chopin Museum:

A Charterhouse is a monastery of the Carthusian order. After the monks were expelled from their monastery in 1835, the monasteries became privately owned. Today there are several museums in the former monastery of Valldemossa. Most of the visitors come for the so-called Chopin Museum: together with his partner George Sand, the French composer spent the winter of 1838/39 in the so-called cell four of the monastery. Relics such as Chopin's strand of hair, his piano and George Sand's book manuscript for' A Winter in Mallorca' testify to his presence. Also worth seeing is the church, the old pharmacy, the library and the printing house with an original printing machine from 1662. The Charterhouse of Valldemossa, with its Chopin Museum, is located in the northwest of Mallorca, south of Valldemossa.

Museo de Muñecas Antiguas, the Doll Museum:

A special museum is the Museo de Muñecas Antiguas in Palma. The Doll Museum houses one of Spain's largest collections of over 800 dolls from 50 countries: South American rag dolls, 19th century hand dolls and wax dolls. Particularly valuable dolls, such as those bearing the face of a German emperor, can sometimes be worth over 150,000 euros. Furniture in miniature format is also on display. The Doll Museum Museo de Muñecas Antiguas is located in Palma, right next to the Cathedral.

Cabrera Museum, the small museum of natural history:

The museum is located on the so-called goat island in the south-east of Mallorca, in the Cabrera archipelago. It consists of 18 islands and is situated in a nature reserve. In the Cabrera Museum, the history of the archipelago is illustrated with pictures. The three-storey museum is located in a converted bodega, a former wine warehouse. Cabrera is popular with day trippers and hikers. The goat island can be reached by boat from St. Jordi or with your own boat.

Museu Etnològic Muro:

While the open-air museum of Els Calderers represents the life of Mallorca's country aristocracy, the folkloristic Museu Etnnològic Muro gives a deep insight into the ancient life of the island's artisans and farmers. In a city palace dating from the 17th century, visitors can learn about craftsmanship and living spaces, tools, agricultural implements and traditional costumes. There are a number of small folklore museums in Mallorca. The museum in Muro is one of the most famous. The Museu Etnològic Muro is located in an old 17th century palace in the centre of the small town of Muro, about 10 kilometres from Alcudia.

Regional Museum of Artà, an animal exhibition:

The Regional Museum of Artà specialises in two sections: The first exhibition shows dissected birds and animal preparations of native mammals, reptiles and insects. The second section displays archaeological finds of the island. These include mainly finds from the Talaiot period from 1000 to 123 BC, as well as some exhibits of the Roman conquerors. There is also an ethnological collection of typical Mallorcan utensils, household utensils, tools and musical instruments. The Artà Regional Museum is located next to the Town Hall of the town of Artà.

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