Cal Comte d'Espanya

Cal Comte d'Espanya in Palma is one of those old-town townhouses easy to walk past without realizing its façade hides a centuries-old connection to the Carthusian monks of Valldemossa. The building stands at Carrer de la Portella 12, right in the cathedral quarter of Palma's historic center, a short walk from La Seu and the Almudaina Palace.

Why is the building called "Cal Comte d'Espanya"?

The current name is not the original one. For centuries the building was known as Posada de la Cartoixa, the town base used by the Carthusian monks of the Valldemossa monastery. Monks used it as a storage and sales point in Palma for produce coming from the monastery's estates whenever they came into the city. That changed in 1836, when Spain's ecclesiastical disestablishment (desamortización) stripped the Church of much of its property and put former monastic buildings up for sale. The posada was bought by the Count of Spain (Comte d'Espanya), and the building has carried his name ever since — even though its Carthusian past was never erased from the façade.

What on the façade still points to its Carthusian owners?

Above the baroque entrance portal, two details still give away the building's original purpose: a carved figure of Saint Bruno, founder of the Carthusian order, and the order's coat of arms. Both are easy to miss if you don't know to look for them, but for anyone reading Palma's old-town architecture, they are unambiguous evidence of the building's link to the Valldemossa monastery — regardless of the name it has carried for nearly two centuries.

What kind of renovation did the building go through?

The structure has Gothic-era origins, but it was remodeled in the 18th century in a style typical of Palma's civic courtyard houses of that period. The result is an interior patio surrounded by the building's rooms — a layout common to historic old-town townhouses, where the courtyard served at once as a light source, a circulation space, and the house's representative core.

Is the building legally protected?

Yes. Cal Comte d'Espanya is listed in Palma's municipal Heritage Catalogue under code 08/48. The listing means the façade, portal, and overall architectural layout of the building are legally protected as part of the city's historic heritage, even though the interior remains in private use.

Where to find it while exploring the old town?

Carrer de la Portella sits naturally along the route linking the cathedral, the former Jewish quarter (the Call), and the Arab Baths. It's worth a short stop at the portal of Cal Comte d'Espanya to spot the figure of Saint Bruno and the Carthusian coat of arms — one of those small details that reward an unhurried walk through the narrow streets of Palma's cathedral quarter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the name "Cal Comte d'Espanya" come from? From the Count of Spain, who bought the building in 1836 after Spain's disestablishment of church property.

What was the Posada de la Cartoixa? The town base of the Carthusian monks from the Valldemossa monastery, used to store and sell monastery produce during their visits to Palma.

Which façade details reference the Carthusians? A carved figure of Saint Bruno, founder of the order, and the Carthusian coat of arms, both placed above the baroque entrance portal.

Is the building legally protected? Yes, it is listed in Palma's Heritage Catalogue under code 08/48.