Palma - Santa Eulàlia

Mallorca is the largest island in the Mediterranean Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain. Mallorca is an extremely popular holiday destination. The Palma de Mallorca Airport, one of the busiest in Spain, is used by about 30 million tourists per year.

Palma is the political and economic center of the autonomous region of the Balearic Islands. Palma is a Roman foundation from the time the island was occupied by the Roman Empire in 123 BC. Almost half of the island´s population of more than 890.000 today live in Palma.

From Between 902 and 1229 the city was under Islamic control. It was conquered after three months of siege in December 1229 by the troops of James I of Aragon ( aka "Jaume el Conqueridor"). Palma became the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca. After Jame´s death, Palma became joint capital of the Kingdom, together with Perpignan. The Aragonese expanded the city, so that at its heyday in the 16th century it had around 40,000 inhabitants.

The erection of Santa Eulàlia, (maybe) the oldest church in Palma, started just weeks after the conquest of Mallorca by King James I the Conqueror in December 1299. Like most churches of the early times, it was built on the ruins of an Arab mosque.

The three-aisled, cross-shaped church was dedicated to Saint Eulàlia, who was venerated as the patron saint of Barcelona at the time.

The Jewish quarter belonged to the administrative district of the parish of Santa Eulàlia. In 1391 there was a peasant revolt which was directed against the Jews. The pogrom on the night of August 2, 1391, resulted in over 300 deaths. Many Jews were able to flee to northern Africa. Others converted to Christianity in this parish to save their lives. This side portal, seen here, is known as the silversmiths´ portal because that was the profession practised by most of the converted Jews.