Claustre de Sant Vicenç Ferrer

Claustre de Sant Vicenç Ferrer is the most valuable architectural monument in Manacor, Mallorca's second-largest town. Once part of a Dominican convent, this cloister now serves as a civic building right in the heart of the old town on Plaça del Convent, and it has witnessed the city's transformation for four centuries.

Where did this building come from?

The convent was founded by Dominican friars after King Philip II granted his authorization in 1576. Construction of the church began in 1597, and it opened for worship two decades later, in 1617. The cloister itself took much longer to complete — work stretched from the late 17th century through the first half of the 18th century, which explains the mix of architectural details you can spot as you walk through it.

After serving religious purposes for generations, the building underwent secularization and now stands as a civil structure, officially protected as a monument of national artistic and architectural value.

What will you see inside?

The cloister follows a rectangular floor plan wrapped around a central courtyard — a classic layout for monasteries of the period, executed here with real ambition. The building rises over two storeys, with a double porticoed gallery running around the courtyard on both levels.

The lower gallery's arches are lowered and rest on octagonal pillars carved with elaborate ornamentation, a detail that catches the eye of anyone stepping into the courtyard. That lower gallery is topped with a domed vault, while the upper storey is covered by a traditional wooden beam ceiling. The contrast between the stone-heavy grandeur of the ground floor and the plainer upper level is a good illustration of how the building grew in stages over several decades.

How is the building used today?

The former cloister now houses Manacor's municipal library along with several other local government offices. It might seem unusual for a former religious building, but the arrangement keeps the place genuinely alive — rather than a sealed-off museum piece, it functions as an active public space you can walk into free of charge during the institutions' normal opening hours.

How do you get there?

The Claustre sits on Plaça del Convent, right in the heart of old Manacor, an easy walk from the town's main shopping streets and market square. Manacor itself lies in the centre of Mallorca and is well connected by road and rail to Palma and to the resorts of the island's east coast, making the cloister a convenient stop on a day trip through Mallorca's interior.

When should you visit?

Since the building now functions as a library and office space, the best time to visit is on a weekday during standard public-institution opening hours, when the courtyard and galleries are freely accessible. It's worth pairing a visit here with the adjoining Sant Vicenç Ferrer church and a walk through Manacor's historic centre, home to one of Mallorca's largest Saturday markets.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for the cloister? No. Since the building now serves a public function as a library and offices, you can walk into the courtyard for free during those institutions' opening hours.

How long does a visit take? Seeing the courtyard and galleries themselves takes about 15–20 minutes, but it's worth setting aside extra time for the adjoining church and a stroll through the surrounding streets of central Manacor.

Is the cloister still used for religious purposes? No, the building itself has been secularized and now houses a municipal library and administrative offices, though the church attached to it remains active.

What's the difference between the lower and upper galleries? The lower gallery rests on ornately carved octagonal pillars and is capped with a domed vault, while the upper storey has a simpler wooden beam ceiling — a clear sign of the different construction phases.