Concerts and tours of Palma´s patios

Joan Collins GUIDED visits following the Ruta de los Patios, 15 classical music concerts and the First Women's Craft Fair in the Rambla will be the main attractions of the 2006 Corpus fiestas in Palma, which will be celebrated from June 4 to 18, Mayor of Palma Catalina Cirer announced yesterday. She was speaking at a press conference yesterday to present the activities, accompanied by the historian and director of the guided visits, Gaspar Valero; the President of the Juventudes Musicales organisation, Concepcion Oliver; Palma's councillor for Culture, Rogelio Araujo; the councillor for Citizen Animation, Maria Jose Frau, and the vice president of the Cathedral Chapter, Teodor Suau. Cirer explained that, in spite of the religious origin of the Corpus fiesta, this year they are trying to “also emphasise the artistic, heritage, and sculptural aspects” through the opening of emblematic patios to the public, “so that they will be visited as much by the residents as by visitors”, she said. “The original route through the streets of the old part of town near the Cathedral has been reinstated”, said the Mayor, who added that, for the first time, the patio of the old Service Corps Barracks and the Santa Margalida cloister in the old Military Hospital will be open. Valero said that to visit the patios you need to follow the Ruta del Corpus, which will include 60 guided tours in five languages (English, Spanish, Catalan, French and German). For this purpose 47 tourist guides have been trained who will show a selection of 20 patios in the higher part of Palma to those on the tour, which will last for two hours. The historian said that another tour had also been organised, which will last until the end of July, and on which you can see the patios in the lower part of Palma. The concerts in the patios start tomorrow at 9pm and are free, although tickets must be picked up beforehand.