Experience the Festival of Light

08 November 2021

On 11 November, Saint Martin’s Day, an exceptional light effect occurs in the Cathedral as the great rose window above the main altar creates a multi-coloured projection onto the inner wall of the main façade. The Cathedral will open its doors so that anyone who wants to can enjoy this Festival of Light.

A number of elements temporarily combine to give this unusual phenomenon, which is unique in the context of the cathedrals of Europe. The following structural features make this possible:

  1. The fact the Cathedral was built on the pre-existing mosque between the 13th and 17th centuries, which decided its basilica plan.
  2. The dimensions of the nave associated with the position of the main rose window, which is in line with it and has a diameter of 11.85 metres.
  3. The construction of the main façade, which was done in three chronological stages (16th–17th and 19th centuries) and has two different frontispieces, interior and exterior. This is a decisive factor in the current location of the rose window seen from the inner wall.
  4. The completion of the programme to instal stained-glass in all of the Cathedral’s available windows and oculi, which started at the end of the 19th century. The last phase of the stained-glass windows coincided with the adaptation to the liturgical prescriptions of the Second Vatican Council. The conditions for natural light to enter the Cathedral have been unchanged since 2010, when the full restoration of the main rose window was completed.

The doors of the Cathedral will open at 07:30 to welcome anyone interested in seeing this phenomenon. Capacity will be limited and you must wear a face mask at all times.

For anyone who cannot attend, the Cathedral of Mallorca will also stream the event on its website and its official Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Furthermore, the Chapter invites any media that wish to attend and has option of accessing the Royal Chapel to be able to capture the phenomenon better. The coordinator of the Department of Culture will also be available for interviews and will be able to answer any questions you might have.

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