The beautiful Es Baluard Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is a must to visit whilst in Palma. The exhibitions are of obvious interest to art fans, but the whole building is a great place to explore even if you have no real desire to boost your cultural intake. Es Baluard is much more than an art gallery and museum it is also a stunning building with the added bonus of great views to the Bay of Palma. There is also an expansive restaurant terrace with views over Palma and the sea, so it is also a great spot to just enjoy a coffee or a delicious meal.
Some of the Es Baluard building was once part of the Renaissance bastion and wall that surrounded the city of Palma, and the architects have worked hard to meld this ancient military structure with contemporary design. The museum building is defined by simple clean lines that fit with the original building, and glass and concrete have been used to differentiate the modern areas. The huge success of the building lies with its use of the exterior space and the old walls. The perimeter walls are joined by ramps, skylights and interior balconies and are full of surprises, with art works springing up as you round a corner.
This is a fabulous place to introduce children to the world of art, as they follow the trail of the exterior ramparts; pretend they are soldiers and then find themselves amidst intriguing art structures. Another hit inside the museum with children seems to be the Picasso ceramics, as the simplified, bold patterns and faces capture their imagination.
The gallery shows an array of world class art, including Miro and Picasso, and has temporary exhibitions to keep visitors coming back. 2014 is Es Baluard’s 10th anniversary, so there will be plenty going on to celebrate.
A good tip regarding entrance prices is to visit on a Friday, where a donation rather than a set ticket price is applied. The museum also has specific free entrance days throughout the year (which tend to be on public holidays). Or if you arrive by bike on any day, then entrance is just 2 euros per person!
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