The “Cathedral of Light”, in Mallorca, explained as never before

NEWS


8 April, 2019

The “Cathedral of Light”, in Mallorca, explained as never before

The people of Mallorca love La Seu, their cathedral, more than any other site. For some it is the most beautiful cathedral in the world, made of stone and light. However, many of the wonderful things inside it are practically unknown, even to the locals! The new interactive audioguide reveals them all, with audiovisual details and in 6 languages. The visit begins with the sound and images of its nine bells, four of them medieval, and each with its own tone and name.

Have you watched the whole video? Then you’ve seen the colourful images of an event which only happens twice a year. To discover it, visitors have to get to the middle of the route. The narrative line invites you to find out more about the history of this architectural masterpiece as each hidden detail is revealed.

Not many people know that the work of Antoni Gaudí, the brilliant Catalan architect, can be found practically everywhere in the cathedral. The guide summarises his 10 years remodelling the building, making it easy for non-experts to understand what he did and why, while letting admirers of Gaudí enjoy details which would otherwise be impossible to access. For example, the pictures show the decorative work on the choirstalls by Josep María Jujol, Gaudí’s contemporary and disciple.

  

GVAM’s content team has worked closely with the cultural section of the Cathedral chapter, directed by Cristina Ortiz, and with the support of Mercè Gambús, Doctor of History of Art and Law from the University of the Balearic Islands. Before the end of 2018, Mercè directed a thesis which completely changed views on how construction began on this Gothic masterpiece. These latest findings are reflected in the interactive guide.

Through a 360º view, visitors can enter the Chapel of La Trinidad, at the highest level of the chancel. This is where construction began on the cathedral. The chapel is not accessible to the public due to its small size and the need for conservation.

This is just the beginning of a project which will continue to grow and be enriched over the next few years, adapting to visitors’ needs, sharing the results of new art history studies, and adding themed approaches and special tours for different audiences. We will be delighted to tell you all about it!