If you look north of Mallorca cathedral (La Seu, or the 'seat' of the Bishopric, to Majorcans) on a map of the city of Palma, you'll see around the Placa Santa Eulalia the jumble of tiny streets that made up the early town. Farther out, a ring of wide boulevards, known as the Avenues, zigzags around these follow the path of the walls built by the Moors to defend the larger city that had grown up by the 12th century. The zigzags mark the bastions that jutted out at regular intervals. By the end of the 19th century the walls were largely torn down; the only place where you can still see the massive defenses is Ses Voltes, along the seafront west of the cathedral.

A streambed (torrent) used to run through the middle of the old Mallorca city, dry for most of the year but often a raging flood in the rainy season, causing destruction and drowning. In the 17th century it was diverted to the east, along the moat that ran outside the city walls. The stream's natural course is now followed by La Rambla and the Passeig d'Es Born, two of Palma's main arteries. The traditional evening paseo (promenade) takes place on the Born.

If you come to Mallorca with DoYouSpain.com, park in the garage beneath the Parc de la Mar and stroll along the park. Beside it run the huge bastions guarding the Almudaina Palace; the cathedral, golden and massive, rises beyond. The park has several ceramic murals by the late Catalan artist and Majorca resident Joan Miro, as well as various modern sculptures.

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