Half a millennium of basket-weaving: Ca La Seu

**** Ca La Seu had to close its doors for good on June 14, 2019. A sad day for our barrio. Thank you for many wonderful nights, Caroline, and all of your wonderful team! ****

If buildings could talk, this one would tell many stories. Most of them were about the making of ropes and baskets, with some of them reaching back as far as the medieval times. Today, Ca La Seu is one of the most unique bars in La Gerreria, but for almost 500 years, it used to house one of the oldest basket shops in Europe.

During daytime, you can easily miss it because the shutters are usually down and you can’t tell what’s hidden behind them. But it is easy to find at night, with its large illuminated windows that allow curious passers-by more than a glance inside. And look out for the braided fish on the window sill, a fancy lamp, but even more a lovely object when not lighted. A small sign at the facade tells you that Palma’s municipality is paying homage to the Ca La Seu for its authentic preservation from 1510 to 1983.

The interior of the large room is all about its own past, with beautiful artifacts from the former basketry, and photographs that show Palma in decades ago. But it is not only the special atmosphere that always makes me come back, it’s also the pintxos that are outstanding. Try a roasted slice of white bread with guacamole, alternatively with warm brie and mango, topped with pesto. Have a glass of vino tinto, or maybe two – this is the place where you just want to sit, relax and deliberately while away your time…