Petra is a charming town—one of our favorites, if you ask us. And as good Mallorcans, we want to tell you about one of the most iconic and beloved places in Petra: the Teatre Municipal Es Quarter.
Does it ring a bell? Have you been checking out what to see in Petra and come across it? It’s a theater that proudly sits in a town of barely 3,000 inhabitants and enjoys tremendous success.
If you’re thinking about traveling to Mallorca and passing through Petra, you need to book a show or at least stop by to see it.
What the Teatre Municipal Es Quarter Is Like
It’s located on Carrer des Sol and is a municipal theater that visitors themselves—we hope you will too—describe as one of the best venues in Mallorca, one of the most modern and best equipped.
It opened its doors in 2005 after a restoration that took no less than fourteen years, transforming the building from a Civil Guard barracks into a cultural space with a very generous program in both quantity and quality of productions.
History of the Old Barracks in Petra
As we’ve already mentioned, the building that now houses the theater was built in the late second decade of the 20th century as a Civil Guard barracks, with the function of providing coverage to all the towns of Pla de Mallorca—a rural area in the heart of the island.
For decades it served that function and, although it wasn’t exactly beloved for its architectural merits, it did have the respect of its neighbors. Even more so since it became the Teatre Municipal Es Quarter.
When the barracks fell out of use, the Petra Town Council considered what to do with it. The answer, after the renovation process, was to turn it into the municipality’s cultural center.
The name “Es Quarter”—the Barracks, in Mallorcan—was kept on purpose. It’s a nod to the building’s history and also a reminder that spaces can change use and be renewed when there’s the will.
Architecture and Design of the Teatre Municipal Es Quarter
The building stands out for its U-shaped floor plan and its main façade, which faces directly onto Carrer des Sol.
It preserves the features of the architecture used for public institutions in the early 20th century: sober, built of marés stone—the quintessential building material of traditional Mallorcan architecture—with proportions and scales without too many frills.
And now for the interesting part—the interior!
The renovation ensured that the theater has comfortable seats, good acoustics, perfect lighting, and facilities that have nothing to envy from venues in much larger cities.
Cultural Programming and Events Held Here
The programming at the Teatre Municipal Es Quarter covers the full spectrum of performing arts. You’ll find theater performances, dance shows, magic shows, performances, and also classical music and jazz concerts.
Contemporary productions and shows from both local and international companies pass through here every year.
The program is designed for all audiences and the prices are very affordable. To give you an example, there have been U2 tributes here for less than €20, theater shows for just €8, and even free band concerts.
Take a look here and grab a ticket for whatever you fancy.
Es Quarter Houses Much More Than a Theater
On the upper floor of the same building is the Petra Municipal Music School, which shares the space with the theater and is part of the same cultural project.
How clever! Because the school’s presence in this building wasn’t by chance—the Town Council is creating synergies between the students and the theater’s programming.
And like any other school, it offers music training for all ages and the opportunity to use the Es Quarter stage as a first contact with the world of performance.
What to See Around Petra
Petra is a small town but with a lot to tell and see, which is why its historic center has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest.
That said, we’ll tell you now that there’s one name that’s going to come up a lot throughout Petra: Fray Junípero Serra, born here on November 24, 1713. This Franciscan friar, despite being the son of a humble farming family, ended up becoming one of the most universal Mallorcans in history.
He founded the California missions—including those that gave rise to cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco—was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015, and his statue represents the state of California in the United States Capitol. Wow!
Related to Fray Junípero Serra, you can visit the Church of Sant Pere—where he was baptized—the Convent of Sant Bernardí—where he studied—and Puig de Bonany with the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Bonany, where there’s a cross in tribute to him.
Oh! And in the vicinity of Plaza Ramon Llull—the center of Petra—there’s a market on Wednesdays, a good opportunity to see the town full of stalls and pick up some traditional products like ensaimadas or sobrasada.
Plan Your Visit to the Teatre Municipal Es Quarter
The Teatre Municipal Es Quarter is one more reason to include Petra in any route through Mallorca—we agree on that.
We hope we also agree that staying a few days here and discovering, in addition to a couple of theater productions, the legacy of Fray Junípero Serra is a great choice, right?
Take a look at the accommodations we have at Ideal Property in this area of Mallorca and book yours; we’re sure you’ll like them as much or more than the Teatre Municipal Es Quarter in Petra itself.