A Hike Up Castillo Bellver

Programs for this blog post

Spanish Language & Culture

Authored By:

Ryan Lopez

Mallorca has a rich history that began during the times of the Roman Empire.  Over the course of two millenias, the island underwent many changes that lead to the development of what the island is today.  Throughout the city, different architecture and buildings can be found as evidence of the development of Palma and the island. We have already visited many of these sites, such as the main cathedral and the former muslim palace.  This week, we visited another iconic monument located outside the city center.  Castillo Bellver is a unique structure, built as a military fortress on top of the hills so that the inhabitants of the island could see any incoming invasion.  The circular architecture of the castle allowed for the defense to forsee any potential danger coming from all sides, whether it be by land or sea. 

The fortress went through many different stages, serving first as a military fortress, then temporarily as a royal palace for the Christian kings.  During the Spanish Civil War, it was used as a prison for those who were against the Franco regime and supported the Second Republic.  Today, it has been converted into a museum and tourist attraction to see the great views of the city from above. 

During our time at Castillo Bellver, the kids did a series of activites to better understand the history of the castle.  They first completed a reading activity, and once we climbed to the top of the castle, we had time to take some incredible pictures.  Then, the students had to imagine that they were living in the Middle Ages, and had to prepare a hypothetical attack on the castle.  We finished the tour by visiting the museum part of the castle and completing some activities to get a better understanding of the history and role the castle played on the island.