Palace of Marivent facts for kids

The Palace of Marivent is a beautiful building located in Cala Mayor, a tourist area in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Its name means Palace of Sea and Wind in English, which fits perfectly with its seaside location!

Built in the 1920s, this palace has been the summer home for the Spanish royal family since the 1970s. While their main official home in the Balearic Islands is the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, the Marivent Palace is often used for summer visits. It is known to be a favorite spot for Queen Sofía, who spends a lot of time there.

Unlike some other royal homes, the Marivent Palace is not owned by the Spanish government agency called Patrimonio Nacional. Instead, it belongs to the local government of the Balearic Islands. Even though it's a private residence, the palace is often used for important meetings. The monarch sometimes meets with the Prime Minister of Spain and other world leaders here.

The Palace's Story

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia meet prime minister Pedro Sánchez and his wife, Begoña Gómez, at Marivent Palace in August 2018.

The Palace of Marivent was designed by an architect named Guillem Forteza Pinya. Construction took place between 1923 and 1925. It was built for a painter named Juan de Saridakis, who lived there for many years.

After Saridakis passed away, his wife, Anunciación Marconi Taffani, gave the palace and its land to the Balearic Provincial Council in 1966. She had one special condition: the palace had to become a museum named after the painter, and it had to be open for everyone to visit.

These conditions were followed for a few years. However, in 1973, the Provincial Council gave the estate to the then-Princes of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofía. This meant the palace could no longer be a public museum. Because of this change, Saridakis's family asked for their family belongings inside the palace to be returned.

See also

In Spanish: Palacio de Marivent para niños

• Royal Residence of La Mareta