Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), Palma de Mallorca

The most important building on Cort Square in Palma is the Town Hall. It is cheek and jowl with the Palace of the Council of Mallorca. They are easy to tell apart. The palace has a neo-Gothic facade with towers and a crenelated roof. The Town Hall looks like a Spanish town hall.

Town Hall is a three-story building with a Baroque style facade. There are also hints of Gothic and Mannerist motifs. It was built in 1649 and again in 1680 by the architects Re Bauca, Miguel Oliver and Bartomeu Calafat.

The Town Hall has some curious elements. First is an enormous wooden roof overhanging the facade by more than nine feet. Talk about eavesdropping. There is also a long balcony with six windows and a glass door. It has a watch (Figuera). It was originally in the clock tower but was moved after a tornado in 1848.

The watch was replaced by a new one in 1863. The watch could strike to announce the curfew, which was ended in 1865. From 1865 to the mid 1950s the bells were rung for fires and public announcements. The watch was electrified in 1964.

Inside the building is a collection of giant mannequins or dolls. They represent legendary historical figures and they are paraded during festivals and events.

Visits to the Town Hall are limited to groups having reservations.