Societat d’Història Natural de les Balears in Palma

The Societat d’Història Natural de les Balears is a museum in Es Secar de la Real on the edge of Palma’s urban area. Behind the name is a scientific society based there that collects, publishes, and shares knowledge about the natural world of the Balearic Islands—from fossils and coastal landforms to the archipelago’s flora and fauna.

It is precisely this proximity to active research that makes the place interesting. Its focus is on a library, a journal with a tradition spanning decades, scientific collections, and exchange between specialists. Its members mainly come from universities, schools, and various natural science disciplines. For anyone interested in natural history, the institution therefore offers a different way to discover Mallorca: less holiday scenery, more history of research.

A visit is particularly worthwhile for people who want to explore the geology, biology, palaeontology, or nature conservation of the Balearic Islands in greater depth. It is equally important to distinguish it from the Museu Balear de Ciències Naturals in Sóller: that museum, with its botanical garden, is a different institution in a different location.

History and significance

Founded as a scientific association

Its story began in 1948. That year, the society was established as the Balearic branch of the Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural. Its connection to a larger Spanish professional society initially provided an institutional framework for natural history work on the islands. However, the association was re-established in 1954 and continued as an independent organisation. This early independence continues to shape its character today: its central focus is the natural world of the Balearic Islands and the scientific questions arising directly from the archipelago.

The society operates without permanent staff and is supported by its members, who are primarily teachers, university affiliates, and specialists from various fields of natural science. This also explains the professional atmosphere of the institution, where research, publishing, academic exchange, and environmental engagement come together.

The Bolletí since 1955

One of the most enduring results of this work is the Bolletí de la Societat d’Història Natural de les Balears. The scientific journal has been published annually since 1955 and primarily presents new research on the natural history of the Balearic Islands and the Mediterranean region. Older volumes document how research questions, methods, and knowledge of species have changed over the decades. At the same time, they serve as a record of the islands’ natural world—from early reports of discoveries to modern studies of habitats and environmental change.

Natural history monographs have also been published since 1990. This series provides space for extensive individual studies and thematically grouped contributions that go beyond the scope of a journal article. Subjects have included natural areas of the Balearic Islands as well as geological and geomorphological topics. A volume from 2012, for example, focused on Mallorca as an important research area for the Quaternary and brought together studies of coastal deposits, sea-level fluctuations, and cave formations.

Research and nature conservation

The society’s statutory objectives extend beyond publishing. It promotes the study of the natural sciences, contributes to environmental protection, maintains contacts with related institutions, and preserves scientific collections. These include both collections newly assembled by members and collections donated by earlier naturalists. The library and journal holdings are intended to keep this knowledge permanently accessible.

The public importance of this work has also received institutional recognition. Palma declared the association a public-interest organisation at municipal level on 5 April 2006; in 2007, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior recognised it as a charitable organisation. Such distinctions are less a museum seal of quality than confirmation of its role at the intersection of citizen science, research, education, and nature conservation.

What to see

Scientific collections

At the heart of the institution are natural history collections assembled by members or donated by naturalists. Their value does not lie solely in individual objects, because scientific collections gain their significance through provenance, classification, comparison, and documentation. They therefore make it possible to study species, rocks, or fossils over extended periods and to trace changes clearly.

The Societat d’Història Natural de les Balears is primarily an active scientific institution. Its collections are used for preservation, comparison, and research.

Library and Hemeroteca

The library and Hemeroteca—the collection of journals and serial publications—are among the association’s most important working resources. Here, natural history can be understood not as a decorative look back at the past but as an ongoing discussion: old observations sit alongside more recent research findings, while regional publications connect with academic exchange involving similar institutions.

The long run of the society’s own Bolletí is particularly revealing. Its volumes show which animals, plants, fossils, landforms, and habitats scientists have studied in the Balearic Islands. For specialist visitors and students, these holdings can be far more rewarding than a small display collection. Even those seeking only an initial impression will quickly understand from the publications just how broad the society’s natural history scope is.

Bolletí and Monografies

The publications are, in a sense, the SHNB’s most visible exhibition. The annually published Bolletí presents individual research papers, while the series Monografies de la Societat d’Història Natural de les Balears provides space for more extensive subjects. These works do not only describe species; individual volumes may also explore coastal development, caves, former sea levels, fossil discoveries, and entire natural areas.

These publications clearly demonstrate that Mallorca’s natural world extends far beyond beaches, pine forests, and mountains. Beneath the present-day surface lie deposits from former coastlines, mineral formations in caves preserve evidence of ancient water levels, and fossils tell the story of past life forms and climatic phases. The headquarters in Es Secar de la Real is the organisational base where this knowledge is collected, edited, and shared.

A centre for natural history exchange

The society’s activities also include lectures, scientific conferences, and environmental education events. Topics range from marine ecosystems and climate change to the observation of astronomical events. Not all of these events take place at the headquarters in Es Secar de la Real; the SHNB also works with universities, research institutes, and other organisations.

This is crucial when planning a visit: the most interesting experience may come not from an impromptu tour but from an announced lecture, a specialist conference, or a specific enquiry about the library.

Visiting the institution

Between a museum and a specialist institution

It is best to begin a visit with a clear understanding of the place’s purpose. The Societat d’Història Natural de les Balears is a point of contact for natural history research, publications, collections, and environmental issues. Visitors with a specific interest—such as fossils, Balearic zoology, geology, or older specialist publications—will be better able to assess what the institution can offer.

Before making a special journey, it is advisable to arrange the desired access in advance. This is particularly important for library research, consulting journals, or enquiries about scientific collections. Events can provide an especially accessible introduction, but some take place at other locations in Mallorca. Event announcements should therefore always be read together with the stated venue.

Time required and planning your day

For a specialist enquiry, it is useful to describe the subject as precisely as possible when first making contact. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from eight in the morning until five in the afternoon, making it easy to include a visit in a weekday itinerary in Palma.

Who the institution is suitable for

The SHNB is particularly rewarding for students, teachers, nature observers, and visitors who want to understand Mallorca’s landscape from a scientific perspective. Older teenagers with a strong interest in biology, geology, or fossils may also find it engaging. For younger children, its value depends more heavily on whether a suitable activity or event has been announced.

Visitors should not expect the same experience as at the natural history museum in Sóller. There, the focus is on exhibition rooms and a botanical garden; in Es Secar de la Real, visitors come to the headquarters of a natural science society. Understanding this distinction not only prevents a journey to the wrong place but also helps determine whether the visit will meet individual expectations.