What to expect
Corpus Christi is one of Palma's oldest church festivals and has been celebrated since the Middle Ages. The feast day itself is the Thursday 60 days after Easter; in Palma the big procession takes place on the following Sunday. It begins with a solemn mass in La Seu Cathedral and then winds through the lanes of the old town, past balconies decorated with cloths and flowers.
The best known element are the Àguiles, dancers in eagle costumes who lead the procession with rhythmic leaps. This figure is typical of Palma and stems from old guild traditions. They are joined by music bands, drumming groups in historical uniforms and the Cavallets, further folkloric dance figures. If you are coming mainly for the flower carpets: the most elaborate catifes de flors are laid by the neighbourhoods in La Vileta (a district of Palma) and in villages such as Santa Eugènia and Porreres, where entire streets are covered in floral patterns.
Unlike the loud summer festivals, the mood is calm and ceremonial. For new arrivals, Corpus is a good opportunity to get to know the religious side of Mallorcan festival culture without the crowds of Sant Sebastià or Sant Joan.
Practical tips
- Getting there: The cathedral sits in the middle of the old town; come by EMT city bus or on foot. Car parks such as Parc de la Mar or Via Roma are the nearest options.
- Crowds: Manageable compared with other festivals. Along the procession route you can still find a front-row spot at short notice.
- Costs: Everything in public spaces is free. The mass in the cathedral is open to all; outside service times, admission to La Seu normally costs 10 EUR.
- Best time for the flower carpets: Between 7 and 9 in the morning the carpets are finished and still untouched; after that the procession walks over them.
- 2027 date: Corpus Christi falls on Thursday 27 May in 2027, so the procession in Palma is expected on Sunday 30 May. The Diocese of Mallorca publishes the exact times shortly beforehand.