A walk through old town reveals a fantastic medieval world carved in stone. High above, fierce faces cling to cornices and parapets. The gargoyles of Palma serve practical purposes, obviously. But they are also powerful symbols. Often grotesque, animalistic, or openly demonic, they were believed to ward off evil spirits. Winged lions and dogs snarl into the void. Devils leer with exaggerated expressions. Hybrid figures blur the line between human and beast. At the same time, they drain rainwater from the buildings. Thus, their dramatic flair feels especially alive when the sky opens.

From La Seu to La Lonja

Nowhere is this more striking than at La Seu, Palma’s monumental Gothic cathedral rising above the bay. Along its soaring walls, gargoyles jut out like sentinels. They channel rain away from the limestone while staring down at the modern city below. 

Nearby, the parish church of Santa Eulalia rewards careful observers with its own collection of water spouts. They are smaller in scale but no less imaginative. 

At La Lonja, the former merchants’ exchange and a masterpiece of civil Gothic architecture, stone creatures cling to the edges. They appear like restless spirits. As if guarding centuries of trade, wealth, and whispered deals.

The Sound of Water

Even the word gargoyle reflects this physicality. It comes from the Old French word gargouille, meaning throat. The term is closely linked to the verb gargle. It refers to the gurgling sound water makes as it rushes through the stone channel. The water then pours out through the creature’s open mouth. In this sense, every gargoyle is both sculpture and sound.

Getting Closer: Gargoyles at Eye Level

You don’t have to admire the gargoyles of Palma from the street, only. Step closer to these stone guardians and meet them almost at eye level from the roof terraces of La Seu, Santa Eulalia, or La Lonja. With the city spread out below, the gargoyles feel different. Less like decoration, and more like companions. Weathered witnesses to Palma’s long history. Still doing their job, one downpour at a time.

Read more about the roof terraces of Palma, right here.