When one finds a villa in Mallorca, they are likely planning a holiday spent exploring the truly stunning landscape of this island in Spain. Whether you are hiking or cycling along the sweeping coastal roads, driving through lush golden valleys to visit incredible wineries, spending days swimming in azure waters and drying off on perfect golden beaches, wandering around pretty little villages still steeped in tradition, or likely some combination of all of the above, you’ll have plenty to keep you out and about in this breathtaking landscape. However, if you’ve been darting about, seeing and doing it all, trying to make it from one thing to the next, and sweating under the sun that attracts so many tourists seeking a serious dose of vitamin D, you might be looking for a perfect place to come and avail of a little shelter and respite from the heat. One perfect spot to do exactly that, for free, while seeing some astounding works of modern art by famous names such as Miró, Gris, Dalí, and more is the Museu Fundación Juan March in Palma de Mallorca.
Located inside a beautiful 17th century mansion that is adorned with some small Modernist touches and makes for a rather gorgeous setting, the Museu Fundación Juan March in Palma has a pretty small collection on permanent display, with some 80 pieces showcased. However, despite this, the museum is more than worth visiting as this small collection is truly incredible and, as noted, features some very famous names. However, another bonus of the relatively diminutive collection of the Museu Fundación Juan March is that one has a chance to actually focus on the pieces without being overwhelmed. While the sprawling and expansive collections of some of the more famous museums of the world are certainly impressive and also worth seeing with one’s own eyes, it is impossible to take a fraction of it all in when there are hundreds or thousands of works of art spread over endless rooms. With the more intimate collection of the Museu Fundación Juan March at Palma, one does not become overstimulated and has time to spend with works, really get to observe and admire them. Plus, you don’t need to set aside a whole day to visit, you can just pop into the museum in the morning or the afternoon, around the rest of your day’s activities during your holiday in Mallorca.
In addition to this compact but quality permanent collection, the Museu Fundación Juan March at Palma regularly plays host to temporary exhibitions of photography and art that helped shape the 20th century. At the moment, there is a showcase of works entitled, “A History of Recent Art (1960-2020) II” on display until the 9th of July 2022, which is a joint exhibition by the Juan March Foundation and DKV Seguros and presents pieces and development of art from the middle of the 20th century pretty much right up until the present day.
The building itself, the Can Gallard des Canyar, is also a must-see in its own right. This stately and ornate gem of a building, named for the family who owned it until the beginning of the 20th century, dates back to the 17th century but was enlarged in the 18th century and modernised twice in the 19th century. Bought by the creator of the Foundation, Juan March Ordinas, in 1916, it was his home and then the first headquarters of Banca March from 1926 before being opened to the public as a museum in 1990. March first had the building renovated under the architect Guillem Reynés Font in 1917 and Reynés paid special attention to the intricate details, hiring a team of artisans and artists to take care of the plaster mouldings, the stained glass, the decorative paintings, the railings, the stonework, the mosaics, and more. Since then, the building has been remodelled and renovated several times but these stunning and detailed elements that can be found all throughout have been carefully maintained. As such, there is as much to see on the ceilings, on the floors, over doors, and in random corners of this museum as there is within actual picture frames and on sculptural pedestals. Every view of the Museu Fundación Juan March at Palma is a work of art in its own right and wandering these lovely halls is a true delight and a must for any architecture or interior fans who find a vacation rental in Mallorca.
On site there is also a cafe and bookshop where you can enjoy refreshments and browse a wonderful curation of souvenirs and gifts after your visit to the museum, all of which sounds like a pretty idyllic little excursion to enjoy if you have found a holiday rental in Mallorca and are looking for a great museum to visit while on the island. A pretty special collection in a lovely setting and free to visit, the Museu Fundación Juan March at Palma is not to be missed if you are spending any time in this part of Spain.
Museu Fundación Juan March Palma
Carrer de Sant Miquel, 11, 07002 Palma
+ 34 971 71 35 15
+ 34 971 71 04 28
museupalma@march.es
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 10am to 6:30pm
Saturday: 10:30am to 2pm
Sundays and holidays: Closed
Thursday and Good Friday: Closed
December 24th and 31st: 10am to 2pm
Tickets:
Entry is free.