Major renovations at Playa de Palma and Bellver Castle to start soon

Plaza renovation at Playa de Palma: More paths, more shade, a bit of noise

In the coming weeks the excavators will roll in at Plaça de les Meravelles on Playa de Palma. Planned is a new floor surface, continuous accessible paths, more planting, a play area and a pergola that will provide shade on hot days. They speak of a construction period of around ten months – enough time for residents to follow the renovation with an annoyed but also curious shrug.

The costs for the project are estimated at about two million euros. A significant portion of this sum comes from the tourist tax, which in recent years has been targeted for infrastructure measures. It is expected that deliveries and construction traffic may cause bottlenecks during the day; the city has announced that work will be planned preferably between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to avoid nightly disturbances.

What changes for visitors and residents

For families there will be new playground equipment; older people benefit from the ground-level paths. Cafés on the promenade — yes, the little café on the corner that delivers pastries at 7 a.m. — will probably need improvised access routes from time to time during the construction. The hope: after completion an open, greener square where one would rather linger for an hour than hurry through.

At Bellver Castle: interventions in the forest and improved safety

Also at Bellver Castle larger measures are planned. The plans include better access for pedestrians and people with reduced mobility, removal of barriers, modernization of fire safety systems, and targeted reforestation in parts of the surrounding forest. The aim is to make the historic site safer and more accessible without losing its character.

For the Bellver project, funds from the tourist tax are also being allocated: about two million euros are earmarked, as officials say. That means: a portion of the money that guests automatically pay through the overnight tax is invested directly in the preservation of public spaces.

Between joy and skepticism

My neighbor, who has lived on the Playa for twenty years, looks forward to the plants — she says the square urgently needs shade. Others warn that construction sites must be completed cleanly and on time. A realistic view: improvements are necessary, but construction projects always bring disruptions. If you walk there often, you should expect small detours, construction fences and occasional noise — for a better plaza and a safer castle in the end.

Start dates have not yet been finalized for all construction phases; residents should be informed well in advance about closures and changes.