Ca´n Llorenç Villalonga

Description

The courtyard most probably dates back to a reform made during the XIXth century and was built on even older remains, as is clearly indicated by a stone in the wall on the right side. It shows a two span entrance with two segmental arches and ionic capitals. The second leads to a smaller courtyard, showing the staircase in the back end and a further segmental arch on the left. It features a walled pointed arch from medieval times to the right of the staircase.

Historical Reference

In the year 1875, the merchant Josep Rosich sold the house to Bartomeu Pol Verd, native of Binissalem. After his death, the house became the ownership of Mercè Gelabert Llabrés, who was married to Joan Palou de Comassema Truyols, aunt and uncle of Teresa Gelabert Gelabert, wife of the writer Llorenç Villalonga. The couple became the owners of the house by heritage in the year 1942 and made it their residence until their death. The writer died in the year 1980 and his wife passed away in the year 1986. The house was owned by his wife, Teresa Gelabert Gelabert, native of Binisalem.

Llorenç Villalonga Pons was born in the year 1897 in Palma, city where he died in the year 1980. He studied medicine and specialised in psychiatry in Barcelona. His first novel was published in the year 1931: `Muerte de una Dama´ (The death of a Lady).

Literary Reference:

- Murray-Pascual, 1999, p. 41-44

- Patis de Palma (Courtyards of Palma): Town Council of Palma - Baltar et al, 2002, p. 87

- Catalogue of the Town Council of Palma, 2005.

Can Llorenç Villalonga according to Baltasar Porcel

Baltasar Porcel describes the house from the inside: "The house is big, a few floors high and has several rooms. We are in a room with a fireplace, mirrors, bad copies of Tiziano, a table with a heater and surrounded by armchairs and a sofa where the writer and his wife... sit, she knitting and he reading... Facing towards the street we find a couple of living rooms, one completely decorated in blue and with paintings that can hardly be distinguished and dried paint with elegant upholstered furniture and cushions in a Versailles-style rococo. These rooms are used in rare occasions: on Corpus Christi day, on the day the Procession passed by, to welcome a general or an enthroned nobleman. In the attic, Llorenç Villalonga has set up a small gym... In a further attic room we find a small studio: a table, a sofa, a few books and a terrace that overlooks the rooftops, the Cathedral's towers and, in the distance, the sea".

Source: Porcel, B.: Les Illes, encantades (The enchanted islands), 138