The APB celebrates International Archives Day with an exhibition showcasing the beginnings of Palma's seafront promenade
Entitled “Sparks from the bay: light from the archives”, the exhibition also highlights the role of lighthouses through the preservation of historical archives
Palma
06/06/2025
The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) joins in the celebration of International Archives Day with an interesting exhibition on the beginnings of the transformation of the port of Palma with the construction of the seafront promenade. “Sparks from the bay: light from the archives” unearths the original plans from its archives that made the port link road possible, also highlighting the role of lighthouses in transforming the islands’ coastline.
On the internationally recognised date of 9 June, the exhibition will be open to visitors at the APB headquarters from Monday until Friday 13 June. On Monday 9 and Friday 13, visiting hours will be from 10 am to 6 pm, while on the other days it will be open from 10 am to 2 pm.
This year, the APB Archive is showcasing the 1944 plan, PO.218, showing the road connecting the Ribera Quay in San Carlos with the commercial port, which led to the construction of the promenade. This road was initially designed by the engineer Gabriel Roca Garcías to connect the Old Quay with the port developments that were being planned at that time with the construction of the West dock.
The role played by lighthouses in the urban transformation of the archipelago's coastline is also highlighted. The lighthouses of Portopí and Alcanada on the island of Mallorca, Ciutadella in Menorca, Botafoc on the island of Eivissa and La Mola on Formentera have been chosen as examples.
The exhibition also includes historical elements of the port of Palma, such as the old Riba lighthouse, the APB's institutional headquarters building and the now defunct Quarantine facilities. Among the documents on display is a reproduction of a Health patent.
Historic commitment
For many years now, the staff of the APB Archives have been celebrating International Archives Day with an exhibition open to the general public of original objects and documents with the aim of highlighting the importance of old documents in the preservation of the historical memory of the port.
