Welcome to Palma de Mallorca, where even the narrowest alleyways hold tales of passion, rivalry, and more than a dash of scandal. Let’s take a stroll down Carrer de la Torre de l’Amor — the Street of the Tower of Love — a name that promises a story as juicy as it is ancient.
Back in 1365, this small street was part of the bustling Jewish Quarter, known as the Call, and two prominent neighbors were at the heart of it: Mossé Faquim, a wealthy and unattached man, and Magaluf Natjar, an equally wealthy but married fellow whose lovely wife caught more than just a casual glance from Faquim.
It didn’t take long for whispers to turn to scandal. Faquim and Natjar’s wife were smitten, and soon enough, the whole community was buzzing with their affair. And as for Natjar? Furious doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Now, here’s where things took a truly dramatic twist. Faquim, feeling emboldened, had a grand tower built on his property — one high enough that he could look directly into the quarters of his beloved. He dubbed it “La Torre de l’Amor” and invited high society, including Christians, to climb to the top to admire the architecture and fine city views (or so he said). This act of defiance only inflamed Natjar’s anger, and he demanded that Faquim demolish his romantic vantage point. But Faquim stood firm, and the tower remained, a looming reminder of his brazen affection.
Desperate, Natjar took his complaints all the way to King Pere IV. But the wheels of royal justice turned slowly. Fourteen years later — a glacial pace for any inflamed lover or jealous husband — the decree finally came down. In 1379, officials ordered the tower to be reduced by twelve “palms” (in total around 2.5 meters) in height, ending its prime function as a lover’s lookout.
Today, if you wander along this storied street, you might spot an old structure, tucked among the 19th-century buildings. Is it the original tower of love? Perhaps. After all, in Palma, every stone seems to have a story waiting to be told. So next time you pass, give a nod to old Faquim and his legendary love, and a man called Magaluf – who may have had the last laugh by giving his name to the popular fleshpot of passion we know today.
