Plaça de sa Mora

Plaça de sa Mora is a small but historically rich square in Manacor, Mallorca's second-largest town. It sits directly across from the town's former railway station and links Avinguda d'es Tren (Train Avenue) with Carrer de Lleó XIII. At first glance it looks like an ordinary street junction with a fountain, but it holds one of the island's most striking pieces of modernist art.

How do you get there?

The square sits in the heart of Manacor, only steps from the old train station building, which explains both its original name and its character. Travelers arriving by train from Palma can simply step out of the station and walk toward the avenue leading further into town — the square appears almost immediately. Drivers will find it easiest to park in one of the central car parks and continue on foot; strolling through Manacor's old town is a worthwhile addition to the visit anyway.

Where does the name come from, and what's the history?

The square's story is tightly bound to the arrival of the railway on Mallorca. The line reached Manacor in 1879, triggering a wave of urban growth around the new station. The municipal plan for the square itself dates back to 1874, yet it wasn't formally inaugurated until July 23, 1911. Over the following decades it carried several different names — first del Carril (referring to the rail track), then León XIII, then General Goded — before settling on its current name, taken from the fountain that dominates it.

What should you see — the Font de sa Mora fountain

The heart of the square, and its main draw, is the Font de sa Mora, considered the single most important work of modernist architecture in all of Manacor. It was designed by the Catalan architect Joan Rubió, known for his collaboration with Antoni Gaudí, while the actual construction was carried out by a master builder known as Damet. The structure rests on two leaning columns that converge toward each other, forming an unusual base for the whole composition. Its surface is covered in decorative ceramic tilework in brown and white tones, characteristic of Catalan modernist style. At the base sits a sunken basin with steps, though the fountain no longer functions as a working water feature today.

The most recognizable element is a cast-iron figure of a woman, described as having sub-Saharan features, holding a lantern — which still works as part of the town's street lighting, giving the square a distinctive, lived-in feel after dark. According to local lore, when the sculpture was unveiled, the parish priest blessed the fountain with visible reluctance, uneasy about the exposed skin of the female figure — a story still told among Manacor residents today.

When is the best time to visit?

The square can be visited year-round, but spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, when Mallorca's temperatures are milder than in the height of summer. Try to time a visit for dusk, when the lantern held by the fountain's figure lights up and the whole scene takes on its most atmospheric look. The square pairs naturally with a longer walk through central Manacor, including its historic old town and toward the Nostra Senyora dels Dolors church.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Plaça de sa Mora? The square is in central Manacor, opposite the former railway station, between Avinguda d'es Tren and Carrer de Lleó XIII.

What is the square's main attraction? The modernist Font de sa Mora fountain, designed by architect Joan Rubió, a collaborator of Antoni Gaudí, featuring a distinctive cast-iron figure of a woman holding a lantern.

When was the square officially opened? Although the urban plan dates to 1874, the square was not formally inaugurated until July 23, 1911.

Does the fountain still work? The water basin itself no longer functions, but the lantern held by the female figure still operates as part of the town's street lighting.