The Mills of Mallorca: An Enduring Heritage

For generations, mills have been a key part of the Mallorcan landscape. In areas such as El Pla and El Migjorn, these towers made of stone and wood formed an essential water network for traditional farming and irrigation. The water mills, with their characteristic blades, together with the flour mills, which harnessed the power of the wind to grind grain, represent a form of traditional engineering deeply tied to the island’s landscape. Despite their historical value, many of these elements have suffered from neglect or deterioration. This makes it crucial to ensure they are documented, maintained and restored, so that they continue to be an active part of Mallorca’s cultural heritage.

In this video of the Vigies del Passat series, we meet Miquel Ramis, a master craftsman and the third generation of a family dedicated to restoring mills. His work, recognised with awards such as the Richard H. Driehaus Building Arts Award (2021) and the Mallorca Craftsmanship Award (2023), is fundamental to preserving traditional techniques and restoring life to structures that are central to the island’s collective memory. Through his experience, we learn how components are salvaged, how mechanisms are reconstructed and what it means to preserve a trade that sustains an essential part of the Balearic Islands’ milling heritage.