Once, one crossed the gates of Cap Enderrocat to defend the Bay of Palma. Today, one slips through them to vanish for a few days.
Built as a military fortress at the end of the 19th century, this imposing defensive architecture is almost absorbed by the rock of the cape on which it rests. Ramparts, trenches, former gunpowder magazines, watchposts, and underground galleries still remain. Some of the Sentinelles suites have even taken up residence in the old artillery stations carved into the cliff, with the Mediterranean now as their only line of sight.
When Antonio Obrador undertook its transformation, the challenge was precisely not to alter the site to the point of making it unrecognizable. Listed and set within a protected natural environment, the fortress could not accommodate new structures. The architect therefore worked with the existing framework, concealing new uses within the ancient structures and preserving the almost primitive relationship between stone, wild vegetation, and sea. The project, spanning some fifteen years, would receive a Europa Nostra European Heritage Award in 2017.
Even the spa feels discovered rather than built: set deep within the citadel, it houses a long pool between stone walls, naturally lit from high above. Outside, the fortress extends onto a private cape facing the bay, in a protected land and marine sanctuary.
TASTE
Mediterranean · Heritage · Fortress · Limestone · Quiet Luxury · Preservation
