Joan Miró, the Catalan painter whose bright, playful shapes are known worldwide, had deep Mallorcan roots and settled on the island in the 1950s, working here until his death in 1983. The Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró, now known as Fundació Miró Mallorca, preserves the place where he painted, on a hillside at Cala Major just west of Palma. The heart of a visit is the light-filled studio designed for him by his friend, the architect Josep Lluís Sert, where canvases, brushes, pots of paint and objects he collected are arranged much as he left them. Nearby is Son Boter, an old Mallorcan farmhouse he bought as a second studio, whose walls still carry his charcoal sketches for large sculptures. A modern gallery building shows rotating selections from the foundation’s large collection of his paintings, drawings and prints. It is a gentle, personal museum, more about how an artist worked than about masterpieces on walls.
How it works: the foundation is in Cala Major, a short bus or taxi ride west of the centre along the coast road. The Tiqets entry ticket covers the gallery, the Sert studio, Son Boter and the gardens. It is open every day, with longer hours from Tuesday to Saturday and shorter ones on Sundays and Mondays.
What to expect: the site is spread over a hillside with steps and garden paths between the buildings, and the exhibition in the main gallery changes, so the works on show vary. Allow one and a half to two hours to see everything without rushing.
Making the most of it: start with the Sert studio while it is quiet, then visit Son Boter to see the sketches on the walls, and finish in the gallery. Bellver Castle is on the way back to the city, so the two make a natural half day, and the seafront at Cala Major is close by for lunch. It is also a perfect plan for a wet day.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to Miró’s preserved studio, his farmhouse studio at Son Boter, a modern gallery and the hillside gardens.
Best time
Mornings, when the Sert studio is quiet and the light is soft, or any rainy afternoon.
How long
About one and a half to two hours.
Tips
Take the bus or a taxi to Cala Major, wear comfortable shoes for the garden steps and check which works are on show in the gallery.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers and anyone curious about how a great modern painter actually worked.
- Families
- Children who like to draw enjoy the colours and the sketches on the walls, though it is a quiet museum.
- Couples
- An unhurried morning among the studios and gardens, then lunch by the sea at Cala Major.
- Pair with
- Bellver Castle on the way back to the city centre.
- Time needed
- Two hours.
Good questions
Where is Fundació Miró Mallorca?+
It is in Cala Major, on a hillside a short bus or taxi ride west of central Palma. The address is Carrer de Saridakis 29.
Can you see Miró’s real studio?+
Yes, the studio designed for him by Josep Lluís Sert is preserved with his canvases, brushes and objects. The farmhouse studio at Son Boter still has his sketches on the walls.
When did Miró live in Mallorca?+
He settled on the island in the 1950s and worked here until his death in 1983. His mother’s family was Mallorcan.
Is the Miró Foundation open every day?+
Yes, it is open daily, with longer hours from Tuesday to Saturday. Sunday and Monday visits are shorter, so check times before you go.
How long should I allow?+
About one and a half to two hours. That covers the studios, Son Boter, the gallery and the gardens without rushing.
