A Tour of Palma and the Fountains and Water Channels from the Arab Era

Palma hides secrets from all the cultures that have lived in its streets. Today we want to focus on the fountains and water channels, remnants that the city preserves from its Arab era.

There were more than three centuries of culture, history, and tradition that have left traces and signs that have endured over time. The Muslim domination of Mallorca began in 902 and ended in 1229 with the arrival of James I.

Much of the Muslim legacy was lost in the following years; however, some contributions from that era remain, such as the importance given to water and fountains, which can still be glimpsed.

La Font de la Vila

For the Arabs, coming from the scorching deserts of their homeland, water was a fundamental element, both in private homes and in the public streets and roads of Palma.

One of the first fountains built is near the Valldemossa road, known as La Font de la Vila. The spring of this fountain is in the vicinity of the UIB Faculty of Tourism, and it is believed that Muslim engineers built the well and water channel in the early 10th century.

La Font de la Vila was known as “the emir's fountain,” and it is said to have been very important for the establishment of Madina Mayurqa, as mosques and baths required a well-structured water supply network.

This fountain was declared a Site of Cultural Interest by the Council of Mallorca in 2006, and after almost 10 centuries, it remains one of the most important contributions to supply the city of Palma, providing more than half of the annual average to the municipal network.

The Arab Baths and Can Fontirroig

Descending San Miguel street from Porta Pintada, one of the gates in Palma’s wall, you will be walking through the heart of the historic center of the Balearic capital.

Here lies another reminder of the importance of water during the Muslim era: the Arab Baths. This structure seems determined to withstand the test of time into the 21st century and is the only preserved Islamic architectural construction in Palma.

Another emblematic yet less known Arab bath in Palma is located in the garden of Can Fontirroig. The entrance is through a portal topped with a horseshoe arch, and the central square room, which was once used for hot baths centuries ago, stands out.

It is covered by a dome with skylights and surrounded by twelve columns connected by horseshoe arches. There is a subsequent room covered with a barrel vault, but the cold bath room has disappeared over time.

The Almudaina Palace

The Almudaina Palace means, literally, "small city." Here, water is also present through a channel that supplied the castle of the wali, the main authority in Palma.

The palace was built over a former Roman castrum and served as the official residence of local chieftains. Water was transported through a complex system of channels to irrigate the gardens, supply the palace baths, and cool the environment in summer.

After the Christian conquest, the castle became the residence of the Kings of Mallorca, and today, besides being one of the residences of the Spanish royal family, it is managed by the National Heritage.

At Es Príncep, we love to learn and share the history, customs, and cultures that have inhabited Palma. Want more information? Stay tuned to this blog.