The writer and chronicler Rosa Planas warns about the transformation of Palma into a boutique city, where traditional commerce and neighbourhood life are disappearing in the face of tourist and economic interests.
The writer and expert on Palma, Rosa Planas, has launched a strong critique of the direction the Mallorcan capital has taken. In an interview, Planas pointed out that the city has lost its personality, tranquility, and identity, and is becoming a space that no longer belongs to those who have lived there all their lives.
Planas, who has seen Palma change over the years, asserts that the changes have not been positive for residents. "I have known many Palmas and, unfortunately, not all the changes have been positive for those of us who have always lived here," she states.
The chronicler prefers the Palma before the phenomenon of gentrification. "It was an elegant, tranquil city, pleasant to walk around. Many neighbourhoods have lost their character and unique buildings are disappearing too easily," she laments.
For Planas, tourism has played a decisive role in this transformation. "If it had been more contained and respectful, we probably wouldn't be in this situation. It was allowed to grow without sufficient control and the city ended up becoming a consumer object," she explains.
The writer believes that her warnings about the future of Palma, expressed in previous writings, remain relevant. "I wish they weren't, but I think I even underestimated some warnings," she notes.
One of the aspects that concerns Planas the most is the loss of heritage. "Only a part of society is aware of the heritage we have. It is often restored for profit, not for preservation. Economic value ends up taking precedence over historical and cultural value," she criticises.
The chronicler also misses the neighbourhood life. "The social fabric has been lost. Many shops and cafés where conversations and friendships were born have closed. Today the city resembles more and more any other," she asserts. She cites the Olivar market as an example, which has profoundly changed its function.
Planas traces the origin of the change to the moment when "it is discovered that the city can become a big business. Economic interests come before the needs of the citizens."
Despite everything, the writer retains some hope. "As long as I have it, I will continue writing and defending Palma, although I miss a culture understood as effort, reflection, and knowledge," she concludes.
For the residents of Palma, Planas' words serve as a wake-up call about the need to rethink the city model. The loss of traditional shops and the transformation of spaces like the Olivar directly affect the daily lives of residents, who see their city adapting more and more to visitors and less to those who inhabit it.
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