Secret Palma from the City Walls: Real Stories You Can Only Discover While Staying at Es Princep
Staying at Es Princep is much more than enjoying a luxury hotel overlooking the sea. It also means coming into contact with a lesser-known side of Palma’s history: the Baluard del Princep, the old tanners’ guild, the medieval remains discovered beneath the building’s foundations, and the fortification walls that still embrace the Old Town. All of this turns the hotel’s location into a unique vantage point from which to discover the most authentic Palma—the one that doesn’t appear in traditional guidebooks.
Beneath Your Feet: Romans, Arabs and Medieval Tanners
The history of this place stretches back more than two thousand years. In the 2nd century BC, the Romans founded Palma as a fortified city —the first walls were built in this very area— and its urban layout remained marked for centuries. When the Arabs occupied the island in the 10th century, they expanded the city beyond the Roman walls and established new artisan districts, including the area where the hotel now stands.
During the Middle Ages, this neighbourhood became home to the tanners’ quarter, one of the most active and influential craft communities in medieval Palma. It is no coincidence that, during the construction of Es Princep, archaeological remains related to this trade were unearthed: tools used for treating animal hides, ceramic fragments, and other objects that are now displayed inside the hotel as decorative elements—silent witnesses of a vibrant past.
If you wish to explore Palma’s urban history in depth, the City Council maintains educational resources and historical routes on its official website:https://www.palma.cat
The Baluard del Princep: A Stone Guardian Facing the Mediterranean
The Baluard del Princep, whose massive stone silhouette stands literally at the hotel’s doorstep, is part of the impressive Renaissance wall built in the 16th century to protect the city from maritime attacks. Of the many bastions constructed at the time, only two have survived to the present day: Sant Pere and Princep.
From this once-strategic point, the entire Bay of Palma was monitored and defended. The bastion is now restored and open to the public, forming part of the network of historical city walls that can be explored on foot. The Consell de Mallorca offers updated information on this defensive heritage here:https://www.conselldemallorca.cat/patrimoni
Today, that same former military lookout becomes a scene of serene beauty: from our Rooftop, the panoramic terrace of Es Princep, the view sweeps across the Mediterranean, the city walls and the Old Town in a constant dialogue between history and modernity.
A Hotel that Honours Its History
Es Princep integrates this legacy respectfully and elegantly. Its architectural lines, choice of natural materials, textures and lighting evoke traditional Mediterranean aesthetics without sacrificing contemporary design. The archaeological finds discovered during construction were incorporated as exhibition pieces, reminding every guest that this is not just another hotel: it is a living fragment of Palma’s history.
Mini-Route from the Hotel Door: The Palma Not Everyone Sees
We suggest a short 20-minute self-guided walking route to experience history under your feet:
- Baluard del Princep
Admire its Renaissance layout, defensive angles and the sea views that protected the city for centuries. - Arab Wall and Medieval Quarter
Walk towards the Calatrava district, one of the oldest in Palma, with visible Islamic remains and narrow streets that preserve their original layout. - Arab Baths (Hammam al-Andalus)
One of the best-preserved monuments from Islamic Palma (10th century). Official information:
https://www.palmacultura.cat - Basilica of Sant Francesc
A 13th-century Gothic treasure, home to one of the most beautiful cloisters in Mallorca. - Return Along the Wall to Es Princep
The ideal ending: an aperitif at Almaq or a relaxing moment in Spa Cocó.
