The Trip to the Island of Mallorca

After a few days in Catalonia's capital, they set sail for the island of Mallorca in a steamboat traveling between Barcelona and Palma. They were joined by George Sand's children, Maurice and Solange, as well as a maid they had hired in Paris.

Upon arrival in Palma, they were hard pressed to find somewhere to stay. The inn near the port seemed very noisy. The city, on the other hand, was a more attractive and exotic option. Chopin was taken by the abundant spring-like display of gardens and courtyards.

While they looked for somewhere more suitable to stay, they took their first meander through Palma and went on excursions near the city. The Marquis of la Romana invited them to his palace, La Granja, bathed in lush nature.

On November 14, they visited the village of Valldemossa. Winding round the mountains, they arrived at a hermitage far from the road. The views of the rugged coastline were spectacular. George Sand was so inspired by this moment that she included it in her second novel.

The same day they visited Valldemossa Charterhouse, a monastery that had been expropriated by the Carthusians a few years previously. It now belonged to the Kingdom of Spain's constitutional government. The spacious cells and extensive garden were up for rent.

They stayed in a country house a few miles away from Palma until December 10. They enjoyed typical spring-like days, but the first storms, winds, and chills soon took them by surprise.

Chopin's health began to suffer in a house unprepared for the harsh winter. Doctors began to suspect he may have tuberculosis, a disease believed to be contagious by the Spanish authorities. The owner of the house insisted they were evicted.

The French consul in Palma welcomed them into his home for a few days while they made arrangements to move to Valldemossa Charterhouse.

On December 15, 1838, they left Palma to move to the old Carthusian monastery. A three-hour carriage ride through the mountains brought them to an enormous building, uninhabited at the time.

The monumental complex of the Royal Valldemossa Charterhouse dates back to the beginning of the 14th century when it was a royal residence for the kings of Mallorca. The Carthusian monks' monastery was founded in 1399. The original cells and chapels were built on the remnants of an old fortress.

During the first few days, Chopin continued to hope that his piano sent from Paris would arrive so that he could work. George Sand, meanwhile, managed to finish writing the last chapters of her book, Spiridion.

At long last, on January 9, 1839, his piano finally arrived at Valldemossa.

On January 22, 1839, he wrote to his publisher to let him know that he had finished the first 24 Preludes on the piano sent from Paris and that he was working on a polonaise, a scherzo, and a ballade.

Their trip to Mallorca was interrupted by a deterioration in Chopin's health. On February 13, 1839, they left on the steamboat for Barcelona, to continue on to Marseille. The only souvenir they left behind in Mallorca was the piano, which still remains on the island today.