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Cala Agulla
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Culture
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Culture
Bellver Castle is one of the most well-known and visited places in Mallorca, located on top of a hill surrounded by pine trees with the entire Bay of Palma in the background. It doesn't matter if you're here for a few days on holiday or if you already know the island, because this castle is always on any island itinerary.
Few monuments in Mallorca will leave you as breathless as Bellver Castle. And not just because of its history, but because it is one of the very few circular-plan castles in all of Europe, which makes it stand out even more when you see it from the outside. You'll quickly notice that it doesn't look much like other typical fortresses.
The name Bellver means "beautiful view", and it truly suits it. From the top, you can see a large part of Palma de Mallorca, the port, the sea, and many surrounding areas. In fact, I would dare say it offers one of the best panoramic views of the city.
A symbol of the island that has served as a royal residence, a prison, and now a museum, Bellver Castle is surrounded by a huge forest known as Bellver Castle Park, considered the lung of Palma, and ideal for a stroll before or after climbing the tower.
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What truly makes Bellver Castle unique is, without a doubt, its round shape. Almost all the castles you've seen are square or irregular, but this one is a perfect circle with three integrated towers and a fourth, the Keep Tower, separated by a bridge.
Built in the early 14th century, here are some of the main curiosities of the "Castell":
The privileged location of Bellver Castle, west of the centre of Palma and just a few minutes' walk from the promenade, makes it one of the most touristy and visited places.
Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
It is located within the Bellver Castle Park, a huge public forest full of pine trees where people go to run, walk their dogs, or simply breathe fresh air.
When you see its silhouette from the port, the first thing you wonder is how to get to Bellver Castle. Well, you should know that there are several ways to get up, depending on how much you feel like walking.
From the centre of Palma, the journey is very short. Here are the options:
The parking at Bellver Castle is located next to the main entrance and is free, although it tends to fill up quite quickly, especially on weekends and in summer, so I recommend arriving as early as possible and avoiding the central hours of the day.
If there is no parking at Bellver Castle, there are some areas where you can leave your car near the forest, and then you'll have to walk up.
Most reviews of Bellver Castle highlight that it is a highly recommended visit thanks to the spectacular nature of the building, its surroundings, and the views, adding that it is a very economical outing.
The interior of the castle also receives excellent ratings, with mentions of the circular courtyard and the good state of preservation of the building. Furthermore, the Bellver Castle viewpoint appears constantly in reviews, especially from those who visit at sunset.
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If you're planning to visit Bellver Castle, here are some things to keep in mind to make the most of your experience:
Due to its location, the area around Bellver Castle has many interesting places you can easily visit on the same day, before or after going to the castle.
If you're travelling with children, within the forest grounds, there are several great children's play areas. It's a favourite spot for many Palma families for kids to burn energy surrounded by nature.
Don't just limit yourself to the building. Bellver Castle Park has plenty of perfectly signposted trails. You can do a short circular route to see the old caves from which the stone to build the castle was extracted.
A few minutes away by car or a pleasant walk down the hill, you'll reach Santa Catalina. It's Palma's trendy neighbourhood for grabbing a bite and taking a stroll. I recommend visiting its traditional market.
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