Bellver Castle crowns a pine-forested hill three kilometres west of Palma's centre, offering the finest panoramic view of the city, the bay, and on clear days the Serra de Tramuntana mountains behind. The walk up through the woods takes about twenty minutes from the road; there is also a bus. The castle itself is extraordinary — circular, fourteenth-century Gothic, with a massive round keep connected to the main building by a flying arch. The courtyard is two-storey with elegant Gothic arcading and has been used as an outdoor concert venue in summer.
The interior houses the Municipal History Museum of Palma, which displays Roman artefacts recovered from the island and a collection of sculpture copies assembled by Cardinal Despuig in the eighteenth century. The museum is small but the views from the battlements justify the visit alone. On a clear day you can see the outline of Ibiza to the southwest. The surrounding Bellver Forest is pleasant for a walk, with picnic areas and good shade in summer heat.