Before and after the hour
A Palma evening around a flamenco show
What to see in Palma's old town around the show, how Mallorca's own folk music differs from flamenco, and how to fit one hour into a night out.
Reserve your flamenco hour ↗Quick answer
A one-hour show fits easily into a Palma evening. See the cathedral beside the sea or the old town before or after, eat on either side, and listen for how Mallorca's own folk music, with its bagpipes and village dances, differs from Andalusian flamenco. Choose the session by working back from your dinner plans, and leave the ride home to a taxi or a bus you have checked.
The cathedral by the sea
La Seu, Palma's Gothic cathedral, sits on the seashore. Wikipedia says construction began shortly after the reconquest of the island in 1229 and continued into the 17th century. Antoni Gaudí was invited to oversee restoration in 1903, and the modern artist Miquel Barceló carried out major works between 2001 and 2006. The rose window, nearly 14 metres across, is described as the second-largest surviving Gothic rose window. Check current visiting rules on the cathedral's own site.
The old town and the royal palace
Behind the cathedral lies the old city, which includes the town hall and the Arab Baths. Opposite the cathedral stands the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, which began as an Arab fortress and was rebuilt as a royal palace under James II of Majorca. The streets around them make an easy stroll before or after the show. Opening hours change by season, so check them on the sites themselves.
Bellver Castle
Bellver Castle sits on a hill about 3 kilometres west of central Palma and is one of the few circular castles in Europe. Wikipedia says it was built in the 14th century as a royal residence for James II, and that the city government now runs it as the city's history museum. It is a daytime visit, so pair it with an afternoon rather than an evening and keep the evening for the tablao.
Mallorca's own music
Flamenco is Andalusian. Mallorca has its own traditions, and Wikipedia says the island's folk music strongly resembles that of Catalonia. The xeremies, a local bagpipe, are traditional instruments, and ball de bot, a partner dance for village festivals, alternates traditional steps including jota and copeo. A tourism portal for the island says visitors can watch ball de bot and wait to be invited to join. Hearing the two traditions side by side shows how much Spain's regions differ.
Why Palma draws this audience
Wikipedia says mass tourism began on the island in the 1950s, that early package tours brought German holidaymakers, and that Germany and the United Kingdom were the biggest source markets. That helps explain why the tablao's host speaks English and German as well as Spanish. For northern European visitors, an hour of Andalusian music in Palma is an evening that gives a holiday in Mallorca a second cultural layer beyond the beach.
Fitting dinner around the hour
An earlier session leaves the late evening for dinner out. A later session lets you eat first. If you take the tapas ticket, you eat during the show, so a full dinner afterwards may be more than you need. Decide in advance whether the tapas count as your dinner, and tell any restaurant your show time when you book, so that the table is ready on time.
Getting back
Palma is served by the municipal EMT bus company, whose website has current routes. If you are staying outside the centre, ask your hotel what the last bus is, or arrange a taxi for the end of the show. Leave a margin, because everyone leaves at once. Do not plan a tight connection back to a resort, and check the final departure before you book a late session.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mallorcan folk music the same as flamenco?
No. Flamenco is Andalusian. Mallorca's folk music is closer to Catalan traditions, with instruments such as the xeremies and village dances such as ball de bot.
Can I visit the cathedral after the show?
Check its current opening hours on its own site. Many sights close early, so the exterior and the old streets are the evening option.
Is Bellver Castle an evening visit?
It is better as a daytime visit. It sits on a hill west of the centre and houses the city's history museum.
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