Palma unveils portrait gallery of democratic-era mayors

The Palma City Council has unveiled a new portrait gallery at Castell de Bellver to honor the mayors who have served the city since the first democratic municipal elections in 1979. Six of the seven mayors from this era gathered to present the collection, which includes works by various artists commissioned by the former officials.

The collection features portraits of Ramón Aguiló, Joan Fageda, Catalina Cirer, Aina Calvo, Mateu Isern, José Hila, and Antoni Noguera. These paintings will be displayed in a ceremonial room on the second floor of the City Hall.

The initiative has drawn local scrutiny regarding municipal spending. Critics have questioned the decision to allocate approximately 12,000 euros per portrait, arguing that the funds should instead be directed toward urgent citizen needs and that photography would have been a more austere and efficient alternative.