Can Marquès

Can Marquès is an 18th-century townhouse tucked into a narrow lane of Palma's Old Town, just steps from the former merchants' exchange of Sa Llotja.

Where exactly is Can Marquès?

The building stands at Carrer dels Apuntadors 15, right in the historic core of Palma. This tight, cobbled street links the harbour to the cathedral square and is lined with tapas bars, small cafés and craft shops. It is an easy few minutes on foot from La Seu cathedral or the Passeig des Born promenade.

Who built it, and why is it called Can Marquès?

The house takes its name from the Marquès family, one of the well-off Mallorcan lineages who raised a private residence here in the second half of the 1700s. That era was a high point for Palma's seaborne trade, and merchant and noble families competed to build imposing townhouses within the city walls — as much a family showcase as a home. Can Marquès survives as one of the clearest examples of that building wave still standing.

What does the architecture look like?

From the street, the façade reads as restrained Baroque: plain stonework dressed up with carved window surrounds and decorative relief work, a common formula for Mallorcan palace-houses of the period. The real spectacle is inside, around a central courtyard where several design languages meet — Baroque flourish sits alongside older Renaissance touches, while Mediterranean and Moorish influences, long present in Balearic building tradition, show up in the detailing. Original coffered ceilings, gilt-framed mirrors and crystal chandeliers survive throughout the interior, hinting at how wealthy the first owners were.

What is Can Marquès used for today?

For most of its history the house stayed a private family home, closed to outsiders. Following a lengthy restoration, it opened its rooms to the public for the first time in roughly three centuries and now operates as a small boutique hotel, with a limited number of individually decorated suites. The property also houses a grill-style restaurant and a courtyard café shaded by subtropical planting. That means you don't need to be a guest to see the inside — anyone visiting the restaurant or café can walk through the historic rooms.

Why is it worth a visit?

Can Marquès offers a rare, close-up look at how Palma's merchant elite lived when the city was a major Mediterranean trading port. Unlike many Old Town palaces that stay shut behind their gates, this one lets visitors step into the courtyard and study architectural details usually seen only in photographs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a hotel guest to enter Can Marquès? No. The courtyard and parts of the interior are open to anyone visiting the on-site restaurant or café, not only to hotel guests.

When was the building constructed? It was built in the second half of the 18th century as the residence of the Marquès family.

How do I get to Can Marquès from the Old Town? It sits on Carrer dels Apuntadors, a short walk from La Seu cathedral and the Passeig des Born, in the Sa Llotja quarter.

Is Can Marquès a museum? No, it is not a museum. It now functions as a boutique hotel with a restaurant and café, though much of its historic character has been preserved.