"Diumenge de l'àngel" at the Bellver Castle

Next Sunday, April 7, if it does not rain, the festive day "Diumenge de l'àngel" will be held at the Bellver Castle, organised, another year, by the Federació d'Associacions de Veïns de Palma. The programme includes a wide selection of popular activities that will start at 10 a.m. with the walk from Cort. to the Castle. The arrival and welcome is due at 10.45 a.m. with music by xeremiers, followed by a concert by the group Arpellots Havaneres Band at the Chapel of the Castle. At the same time there will be a Chess Championship at the entrance of the Castle and a children's party at the parking area with Spaghetti.

As from 11:30 a.m., also at the parking area, there will be traditional dances with Al-Mayurqa and Música Nostra, and at noon, inside the patio of the Castle, a concert by the bands Almudaina and Camp Rodó. Simultaneously, at the detachment area of the Castle, the Mounted Municipal Police will offer an equestrian exhibition, and at 1 p.m. the traditional street parade of the Angel will take place, accompanied by the group Llaüt de Carrer.

At 3.30 p.m. the Chess Championship will continue and at 4 p.m. there will be human towers by the groups Sagals d'Osona, Al·lots de Llevant and Castellers de Mallorca.

The day will end with an open air dance, as from 4.30 p.m., with music by Xaloc Música and Tracalada.

BRIEF HISTORIC NOTES ABOUT BELLVER CASTLE

The Bellver Castle was built ordered by King James II of Mallorca in 1300. The builders were Pere Salvà and Pere Despuig. The main characteristic of the castle is its circular form, which makes it a singular building in relation to the European castles of the gothic era. There is also a singular difference between the austere defensive exterior and the palatine architecture of the interior, with pointed arches of the upper gallery.

In its origins, the Castle was conceived as a royal palace. Towards the end of the XIV century, King Juan I of Aragon transferred his court to Bellver, fleeing from the plague that attacked the mainland (1395). In 1400 the civil government of the castle was ceded to the priors of the Cartuja.

During the Germanies revolt, it was a refuge for the nobles and merchantmen who were escaping from the city (1521) and in time, it became the temporary residence of viceroys, together with the Almudaina Palace.

In the XVI century, a great reform was carried out to introduce artillery. The battlements were removed, the south tower was renovated and a moat was constructed.

During the War of Succession the castle was used alternately by the Caroline and Philippine governments as a political prison and in 1717 it was converted in military prison with its own garrison. Under this use, the most important period was the last years of the reign of Carlos IV and the French War. The most popular prison was the Minister of Grace and Justice, Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1802-1808), who wrote during his confinement the works: "Memories of the Bellver Castle", "Historical, artistic description of the Bellver Castle" and "Topographic description of Mallorca observed from the Bellver Castle".

Other important prisoners were the French officers beaten in Bailén (1808), who left numerous graffiti. In the Civil War, over 800 people were imprisoned in Bellver, amongst others the member of parliament, Alexandre Jaume i Rosselló, shot in 1937, and the republican mayor, Emili Darder i Cànaves, also executed.

In 1931, the woods and castle were ceded by the central government to the Palma Council with the condition that a museum of antique art would be installed there. In 1947, the Council carried out an integral reform to adapt the castle to the new cultural use and in 1976 the Museu d'Història de la Ciutat de Palma was created. In 1998 and 1999 the last reform was carried out to the Museum and didactic material was edited for pupils. At present, the Council also uses the building for protocol and cultural activities, such as the cycles of classical music.

Photos © BalearWeb

Date of publication: 03/04/2002