A move by the Mayor of Palma has sparked outrage among the socialists in Majorca. Jaime Martinez was accused of surrendering the iconic Bellver Castle to a private company after he agreed to temporarily rent out the centuries-old fortification to an upmarket French fashion brand.
“He has allowed the Castle to be sealed off from the people of Palma,” the Palma Socialist Group claimed in a statement released on Thursday (May 22). The luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton has rented the castle for a presentation, it’s been reported. Pictures show a black screen surrounding the limits of the landmark, with a sign warning people taking pictures is prohibited.
“For the mayor, the castle is for sale, Palma is a city for sale, a franchise city. We are seeing how luxury is starting to take over everything,” claimed Iago Negueruela, general secretary of the Palma Socialist Group, reported the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
He accused the mayor of renting out the public space at a time when “there is no housing in Palma”, adding that “people cannot live there”.
“They’re closing down long-standing bars and restaurants while we have more private jets than ever before. This is the city of Martinez, the real estate developer, the tourism promoter,” he added.
“The socialists do not share this model; we want the city of Alexandre Jaume, who reclaimed Bellver for the citizens.”
Bellver Castle is located two miles from the capital of Majorca and was built in the early 14th century by order of King James II of Majorca. It is on a hilltop some 367ft above sea level, surrounded by forest, from which you can see the city, its port, and the Tramontana mountain range.
It is one of the very few castles in Europe with a circular floor plan, and it is the oldest of these. It is currently owned by the Palma City Council and houses the Museum of History of the city of Palma, so it is usually open to the public.
The Express has contacted the mayor’s office for comment.