Centre Melis Cursach in Capdepera: Pharmacy, Art and Local History

In the heart of Capdepera, Centre Melis Cursach tells a story that begins neither in a castle nor in a major archaeological collection, but behind the counter of a village pharmacy. The former home and business premises preserve the furnishings and working equipment of Farmàcia Melis Cursach while also serving as a municipal cultural centre with changing exhibitions, documentary collections and a viewpoint in the upper part of the building.

It is precisely this combination that makes a visit so appealing: amid cabinets, vessels and equipment, a piece of Mallorcan everyday history comes vividly to life that might easily have been lost elsewhere. Afterwards, contemporary photography, painting, ceramics or an installation may await in the same building. The programme changes, but the historic pharmacy remains the constant point of reference.

The house is particularly suitable for travellers who want to discover Capdepera through more than its widely visible castle. It presents the town from a more intimate perspective: as a community shaped by crafts, healthcare, family history and a cultural life that remains active today. Families can also enjoy a manageable museum visit here, where historic objects reveal more than lengthy chronological panels.

At the end, the view opens outwards again. From the upper viewpoint, the Castell de Capdepera and the coast can be seen. Centre Melis Cursach thus connects three dimensions of the town: former life inside the house, contemporary art and the historic townscape all around it.

History and significance

For almost six decades, people came to this house not for an exhibition but for medicines and professional advice. Farmàcia Melis Cursach opened in 1916 and remained in operation until 1973. The fact that its interior did not disappear completely from the townscape is the defining historical value of today’s centre: the rooms recall a time when the pharmacy, family history and daily contact with the neighbourhood were closely intertwined.

Farmàcia Melis Cursach

The preserved pharmacy is not a collection of unrelated medical antiques assembled at a later date. According to the municipality, it was reconstructed with its original furniture and working utensils, allowing the relationship between the room and its former use to remain understandable. Cabinets, vessels and equipment represent not only the development of the pharmacist’s profession but also everyday life in Capdepera during the past century.

The long period of operation from 1916 to 1973 encompasses considerable social change. The museum does not, however, attempt to turn this into a comprehensive history of medicine in Mallorca. Its strength lies in the local perspective: it preserves a specific workplace and therefore part of the memory of a community in which the former pharmacy was known for generations.

Antònia Melis Cursach’s donation

The later transformation of the private house into a public cultural venue was made possible by Antònia Melis Cursach. She donated the house to the community; 2011 is cited as the year of the donation. The building was subsequently renovated and fitted out as a cultural centre. A family home and business thus became a place where local history is preserved while new culture is created at the same time.

In addition to the pharmacy, the inherited collection includes archive and library materials belonging to the Melis family. The municipality also notes that documentary material is kept in the house. Centre Melis Cursach is therefore more than a decorative historic setting: it preserves objects and written records that offer different ways of approaching local history.

A living cultural centre

The past forms its core, but the house is not restricted to retrospection. The municipality uses it for artistic and cultural events. The versatility of the rooms was demonstrated in 2020 by the second edition of the Haciéndose Art project: artist Lorenzo Ramis and sculptor Biel Miralles temporarily turned exhibition rooms into studios, worked there using different techniques and created a dialogue between their styles. Parts of the activity were broadcast and displayed on a side façade facing the square.

Photography and art exhibitions are also hosted at Centre Melis Cursach. An exhibition by photographer Norbert Schäfer shows that works by visiting artists, as well as local subjects, find an audience here. The building therefore fulfils exactly the role that makes its preservation worthwhile: it does not merely conserve the past but remains an active part of Capdepera’s cultural life.

What to see

The tour leads through an old Mallorcan townhouse whose significance comes from its preserved interiors. Monumental architecture should not be expected here; instead, the building unfolds through modestly sized rooms and functional areas. The historic pharmacy, changing exhibition rooms, documentary collections and viewpoint each tell a different part of the same local story.

The historic pharmacy

The strongest impression is made where the former Farmàcia Melis Cursach becomes visible once again. The original furniture gives the room its structure: storage, workspace and dispensing area still reveal that this was once a genuinely operating business. The preserved utensils also illustrate the practical side of the pharmacist’s profession.

The small objects in particular deserve an unhurried look. They move the focus away from abstract medical history and towards the recurring tasks of a working day: remedies had to be stored, prepared and dispensed to customers. Because the furniture and equipment come from their original context, the pharmacy does not feel like generic historic decoration but like the memory of a particular house.

At the same time, the presentation draws attention to the social role of a rural pharmacy. In a town such as Capdepera, it was part of everyday life and a familiar point of contact for decades. This explains why the room also appeals to visitors without a specialist interest in pharmacy. It is equally a story of work, care and the relationship between a business and its neighbourhood.

The exhibition rooms

Alongside the permanently preserved pharmacy, the centre has rooms for temporary exhibitions. The range includes painting, photography, ceramics and installations, so the content of a visit can vary considerably depending on the programme. At times framed works hang on the walls; at others, sculptural pieces or an artistic working process define the rooms.

This interaction between house museum and contemporary art is part of the concept. Historic furniture leads into the world of the past century, while only a few rooms away a current artistic perspective may be presented. The old townhouse is therefore not frozen in time: its rooms remain in use and acquire a different atmosphere with each exhibition.

This was particularly vivid during the Haciéndose Art project, when the participating artists not only displayed finished works but also drew, modelled and developed digital images in the rooms. Such a studio-like character is not necessarily part of every exhibition, but it demonstrates the building’s breadth. It is therefore worth checking the municipality’s current cultural programme before visiting.

Archive and library

The holdings of Centre Melis Cursach also include archive and library materials associated with the Melis family. They deepen the house’s historical dimension beyond its visible furnishings, since documents can preserve connections that cannot be understood from a piece of furniture or an individual instrument alone.

The centre forms part of the municipality’s cultural heritage and is also connected with the municipal archive. Nevertheless, it should not be mistaken for a large, fully accessible research archive. For an ordinary museum visit, the reconstructed pharmacy remains the most immediate point of access; the documentary collections explain why the house is also important for preserving local memory.

The upper viewpoint

The perspective changes at the top of the building. The viewpoint looks out towards the Castell de Capdepera and the coast. After the detailed interiors, the wider context of the town becomes easier to understand here: the compact buildings of the historic centre, the commanding position of the castle and, beyond it, the northeast of Mallorca.

The view is not merely an extra opportunity for a souvenir photograph but connects the house’s private history with Capdepera’s broader topography. Downstairs, the former pharmacy represents everyday life in the town; upstairs, the castle appears as the structure that defines its historic silhouette. Anyone continuing to the Castell afterwards will already have gained an initial sense of spatial orientation from Centre Melis Cursach.

The information point

The building also contains an official information point for Capdepera. Visitors can obtain advice about the municipality, its coves, and hiking and cycling routes. This is particularly useful if the museum visit comes at the beginning of a day in the northeast and the rest of the route has not yet been decided.

This use suits the character of the building: Centre Melis Cursach not only communicates the past but also serves as a starting point for exploring the present-day municipality. The information point does not replace the exhibition; instead, it gives the visit a practical continuation beyond the house.

Visiting Centre Melis Cursach

It is best to begin the tour at the historic pharmacy. Visitors who first take in the room as a whole and then turn to the individual vessels, equipment and furniture will find it easier to understand how coherent the ensemble is. The changing exhibition rooms then lead into the present. The viewpoint makes a suitable conclusion because the castle, town and coastal landscape can be related to what has already been seen.

How much time to allow

A fixed visit duration would not be very helpful because the current exhibition programme can have a considerable effect on the tour. Without an extensive special exhibition, Centre Melis Cursach is a compact house museum that fits easily into a walk through Capdepera. Visitors who study historic details photographically, read exhibition texts or seek information about other destinations will naturally stay longer.

For a visit followed by the climb to the Castell, more than just the time spent in the museum should be considered. The lanes of the old town centre and the change in elevation towards the castle slow the journey. An unhurried sequence therefore makes sense: first the house and its pharmacy, then the view from above and finally the continued walk through Capdepera.

Opening hours

On Mondays, Centre Melis Cursach is open in the morning from eight until fifteen. From Tuesday to Friday, it can also be visited from eight until fifteen and in the evening from nineteen until twenty-one. On Saturdays and Sundays, the evening hours from nineteen until twenty-one apply. Since special events and exhibition changes may affect operations, checking current information is recommended before making a dedicated journey.

No admission price is listed in the current visitor information. Whether different conditions apply to a special event should be confirmed in advance with the centre or the municipality. The evening opening makes the building unusually easy to combine with a later walk through the town; for the view, however, visitors should remember that the visibility of the castle and coast depends on the available daylight.

Crowds and exhibitions

No reliable peak times have been published. The character of a small cultural venue suggests a quiet, individual visit rather than a tightly scheduled museum operation. Openings, artist talks and special cultural projects can, by contrast, create a noticeably livelier atmosphere. Anyone primarily wishing to see the pharmacy in peace should choose a regular opening period without an announced event.

The changing programme is not a minor detail but can substantially alter the visit. Before travelling, it is therefore worth checking not only the opening hours but also which exhibition is currently on display. This makes it easier to assess whether the focus that day will be on local history, photography, painting, ceramics or an installation.

Getting there and parking

Centre Melis Cursach is located in the centre of Capdepera. The stated road distances and driving times therefore refer to the journey as far as Capdepera, not to a parking space directly outside the museum. The final section leads into the historic part of town; Carrer des Centre is the key reference point for orientation. Since the house forms part of the continuous townscape, a visit can easily be combined on foot with the centre and the castle.

From Palma Airport

From Palma Airport, the route initially follows the Ma-15 towards Manacor and continues northeast. It then follows the Ma-4030 and Ma-4040 to Capdepera. The journey to the town covers 77 road kilometres and takes around 65 minutes. From the town entrance, the route continues through the local road network to the historic centre; there, finding the museum on foot is easier than relying solely on the widely visible castle for orientation.

From central Palma

From central Palma, the route via Ma-15, Ma-4030 and Ma-4040 covers a total of 79 road kilometres to Capdepera. Around 72 minutes should be allowed for the journey. The Ma-15 forms the long main section across eastern Mallorca before the remaining roads lead to Capdepera. The stated driving time ends in the town and includes neither the search for a permitted parking space nor the walk to Centre Melis Cursach.

By bus

Several stops serve the town centre. Capdepera centre 1 and Capdepera centre 2 are in the relevant area, as are Capdepera oest and Capdepera est 1. From there, the museum is reached on foot through the town. Which stop is most convenient depends on the route and direction of travel, so the specific connection should be checked on the day of the journey.

Visitors arriving by public transport can plan the trip particularly easily as a walking tour of the town. Centre Melis Cursach lies below in the inhabited centre, while the Castell forms the elevated historic conclusion. For the return to the bus stop, the descent from the castle should not be confused with the short museum visit.

Nearby sights

The destination that dominates the town is already visible from the viewpoint at Centre Melis Cursach: the Castell de Capdepera. The medieval fortification stands above the houses and defines the silhouette. Visiting both offers two very different approaches to history. The castle tells of defence, authority and the fortified settlement; the former pharmacy tells of everyday life within the community.

Capdepera’s historic centre

The routes between the museum and the castle pass through the old centre of Capdepera. Cobbled lanes, traditional stone houses and small squares define the walk. Centre Melis Cursach blends unobtrusively into these surroundings. For that very reason, it is worth paying attention not only to the destination but also to doors, façades and the increasing gradient towards the Castell.

Plaça de l’Orient provides a convenient place to pause in the town. Terraces and daily life around the square create a clear contrast with the quieter museum rooms. Travellers who do not treat Capdepera merely as a stop on the way to the coast will recognise the town’s distinct identity compared with the more tourist-oriented settlements by the sea.

Castell de Capdepera

The castle is the most obvious continuation of the museum visit. Under Jaume II, it was planned as a walled settlement intended to protect the dispersed population from pirate attacks. For a tour of Centre Melis Cursach, this detail is especially interesting because the fortress is visible from the upper viewpoint and can then be explored at close range on foot.

The two places should nevertheless not be confused. Centre Melis Cursach is neither part of the castle exhibition nor a medieval museum. It preserves a pharmacy from the past century and serves as a cultural venue. Visiting both provides a more complete picture of Capdepera precisely because of this contrast in time and setting.

The northeast and the coast

Capdepera lies close to the coast of northeastern Mallorca. Visitors can pick up information about coves, hiking trails and cycling routes from the information point at Centre Melis Cursach. The house is therefore a useful starting point for travellers continuing towards Cala Rajada or one of the coastal landscapes afterwards.

The view from the upper part of the building already gives an initial impression of this setting between a historic inland town and the sea. A detailed coastal tour should, however, be planned as a separate activity. The museum’s appeal does not come from its proximity to the beach but from its firmly rooted place in Capdepera’s local history.