Bellver Castle, Mallorca, Spain

Bellver Castle is a Gothic castle located on a hill 3 km west of the center of Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, in the Mediterranean Sea. Built in the 14th century by King James II of Mallorca, the castle is one of the few circular castles in Europe. Originally the residence of the Kings of Mallorca, it was later used as a military prison throughout the 18th to mid-20th centuries. In 1931, the Second Spanish Republic ceded the castle, along with the surrounding forest (Figure 3), to the city of Palma. It became a museum in 1932 and was restored in 1976 to become the Parma City History Museum. In order to accommodate the large number of visitors, a special road leading to the castle was built, as well as a dedicated parking lot. The main courtyard is the venue for many different public ceremonies, such as ceremonial and cultural events and concerts. Due to the location of the castle, it can be seen from the sea (Figure 10) or from any other unobstructed part of the city, making it one of the city's iconic buildings. #OverseasTravel #SpainTravel #Spain #Mediterranean #Island #IslandHoliday #Castle #EuropeTravel #Europe