If there is one place in Europe where sundials are abundant, it is Mallorca, which has the highest density per square kilometre of these devices, and Llucmajor is the town with the most examples on the island.
The technique of sundials, gnomonics or sciography, is the oldest way of measuring time. Strolling through the centre of Llucmajor, you can easily find them on the façade of the rectory or that of the convent of Sant Bonaventura, as well as on other buildings in the town and the municipality. For those interested in the subject, there is a compilation by Damià Garcias Serra detailing most of the sundials of Llucmajor.
Where to find them?
Rectory of the church of Sant Miquel, Plaça de Sta. Catalina Thomàs. Vertical, declining east. “Uni soli servio”
Convent of Sant Bonaventura: one on the church façade, vertical declining west (a vestige), and another on the side along Carrer de Fra Joan Garau, vertical declining east. Restored in 2007.
Carrer de Jaume I, 1. Vertical declining west. Year 1769.
Carrer de la Unió, 18. Eastern vertical declining west, very rare in Mallorca. “Vita mea breve tempus”
Carrer del Cap Puig, 5. Vertical declining east.
Carrer de l’Orient, 181. Vertical dials in a double arrangement, one declining east and the other west. “Astra regunt homines set deus regit astra” D. Garcias, year 2004.
Carrer de Ripoll, 15. Vertical declining west. B. Font, year 1943.
