Near Palma de Mallorca, there are two medieval fortresses, so different from each other. 5 km from the white-walled, graceful Bellver Castle stands an angular fort whose mighty walls have darkened with time. That is the castle of St. Carlos (Castillo Museo San Carlos), which now houses the exposition of the military history museum. If your children's eyes light up at the word "guns", they will love this excursion in Mallorca.
The history of the castle's appearance on the southern coast of Mallorca is typical. In the XVI-XVII centuries, maritime trade was unsafe, as pirates occasionally attacked ships. The merchants of the island turned to King Philip III with a request to protect the port of Palma from the raids of sea robbers. So in Porto-Pi, the castle of St. Carlos was built, a heavy, formidable fortification from where it was possible to fire artillery at pirate ships.
According to some historians, the castle's name comes from the Viceroy of Mallorca, Carles Coloma. The tower is tetragonal, with a bastion at each corner. During the construction of the fortress, sandstone was used, on which traces made by artisan builders are visible. Half a century after the construction and before the need to increase the staffing of the castle and its material, in 1662 and under the reign of Felipe IV, they broached the construction of the enlargement of the second phase done by the illustrious military engineer D. Vicente Mut.
Subsequently, the fortress was rebuilt and expanded several times, and its purpose changed: there were barracks and a prison. Now here is a collection of weapons.
The museum presents the weapons of the Balearic Islands from ancient times to the present day, as well as weapons from different countries and times. The exhibition occupies ten halls and the courtyard of the fortress. In addition to cold and small arms, here you can see ceremonial and everyday uniforms, medals, flags and other items related to military service. An exhibit that is rarely seen even in such museums is a gas mask for a horse.
One of the halls has a mock-up of the fortress, showing how its defences were organised. Another layout depicts a battle that took place before our era: war elephants were used in it. The castle also preserves the ammunition depot for coastal artillery and the mechanism for hoisting the nukes to firing positions.
This Palma de Mallorca fortress occasionally becomes a gathering place for historical reenactments. It is a gathering place for people dressed in the uniforms of the various armies, but the atmosphere is still peaceful.
