Església de Santa Maria la Major
Rising imperiously above Inca's low terracotta skyline, the 13th-century parish church of Santa Maria la Major is the spiritual and architectural heart of the city, its soaring Gothic nave sheltering centuries of Mallorcan art and craftsmanship. The adjacent bell tower, added in the 17th century, is one of the most recognisable silhouettes on the island's interior.
Inside the Church
Step through the carved stone portal into a cool, high-vaulted interior where gilded altarpieces compete with delicate stained glass for your attention. The lateral chapels contain a remarkable collection of Baroque retables and ex-votos left by generations of Inquer families.
Don't miss the 15th-century Gothic image of the Mare de Déu d'Inca, the town's patron, housed in a side chapel and dressed in elaborate embroidered robes — she is carried through the streets each November during the Dijous Bo fair.
The Exterior and Square
The church fronts onto Plaça de Santa Maria la Major, a broad, sun-drenched square lined with café terraces that is the natural gathering point for the town. The contrast between the honey-coloured stone façade and the deep-blue Mallorcan sky makes for a classic photograph.
Climb the bell tower on weekend mornings (ask the sacristan) for a panoramic view over Inca's terracotta rooftops toward the Serra de Tramuntana mountains to the northwest.
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