The Serra de Tramuntana takes center stage this summer with a unique exhibition that invites visitors to travel through time. Entitled “La Serra de Tramuntana, Then and Now”, the exhibition at La Misericòrdia Cultural Centre compares some of Mallorca’s most iconic landscapes as they appeared more than a century ago with how they look today.
Organised by the Consell de Mallorca to mark the 15th anniversary of the Serra de Tramuntana’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the exhibition will be open to visitors until July 12, 2026.
When and where to visit the exhibition
The exhibition can be visited at:
- Venue: La Misericòrdia Cultural Centre
- City: Palma de Mallorca
- Dates: Until July 12, 2026
- Admission: Free
After its stay in Palma, the exhibition will tour several municipalities across the Serra de Tramuntana.
A visual journey from the 19th century to the present day
The exhibition features a selection of nine rephotographs created by Lluc Julià Fàbregues, the creator of the documentary project “The Balearic Islands, Then and Now”.
Each image pairs a 19th-century historical illustration with a modern photograph taken from exactly the same viewpoint, allowing visitors to see how Mallorca’s landscapes have evolved over time.
The result offers a fascinating perspective on the transformation of the territory and the conservation of some of the Serra’s most iconic locations.
The featured locations
The exhibition includes some of Mallorca’s best-known landmarks, including:
- Alaró Castle
- Coma-sema
- Cape Formentor
- Valldemossa Charterhouse
- Son Moragues Snow House
- Torre des Verger
- Deià
- Sóller
- Puig de Son Nasi
Each rephotograph reveals how these remarkable places have changed over more than a century.
The legacy of Archduke Ludwig Salvator
The project is based on the work of Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria (1847–1915), one of the greatest scholars of the Balearic Islands.
After settling in Mallorca in 1867, he devoted decades to documenting the islands’ landscapes, nature and traditions. His life’s work resulted in the monumental publication “Die Balearen in Wort und Bild Geschildert” (“The Balearic Islands Described in Words and Pictures”), regarded as one of the most important works ever produced about the islands during the 19th century.
Today, his illustrations serve as the reference for recreating exactly the same viewpoints more than one hundred years later.
More than 150 rephotographs across the Balearic Islands
The exhibition stems from the project “The Balearic Islands, Then and Now”, launched by Lluc Julià in 2002.
For more than two decades, he has travelled across Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera to recreate historical illustrations from the exact locations where they were originally produced.
The project now includes more than 150 rephotographs, making it one of the largest visual archives documenting the evolution of the Balearic landscape.
An exhibition celebrating 15 years of UNESCO World Heritage status
The exhibition forms part of the campaign “A Brushstroke of Memory. 15 Years of World Heritage”, organised by the Consell de Mallorca to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Serra de Tramuntana’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Beyond highlighting the Serra’s natural and cultural heritage, the exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on the importance of preserving this unique landscape for future generations.
A must-see exhibition for history and photography enthusiasts
If you’re looking for things to do in Palma in July 2026, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover Mallorca’s history through images of exceptional documentary value.
Combining photography, heritage and memory, “La Serra de Tramuntana, Then and Now” is one of the most interesting exhibitions of the summer, allowing visitors to see how some of Mallorca’s most iconic landscapes have evolved from the days of Archduke Ludwig Salvator to the present.
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