10. Gate of Bab Al Modi, Es Born and the entertainment during the 20th century.

©Text i fotos: Àngel Gené i Ramis; traducció a l'anglès: Montserrat Casanovas i Stobart; suport informàtic: Martí Gené i Ramis

Gate of the Islamic city wall, corresponding to an extension of the old Caliphate city during the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the only section remaining of this extension.
On the Right: the facades of the Apuntadors street, which follow the route of the disappeared wall. The street already existed in the 11th century; it was constructed parallel to the city walls.
The name refers to the people who packed the large production of wool in Mallorca. During the middle Ages, Mallorca, through the Mediterranean trade, became famous due to its exportations of wool all around the world. These people sewed ("apuntaven") the canvas around the wool, to avoid that they got ruined during the long journeys.
The tradition of producing fabrics could be associated with its industry, which had a great development in Mallorca at the end of the nineteenth century, beginning of the 20th.

The width of Born street, prolonged with Union Street and La Rambla, is noteworthy because it is surrounded by narrow streets of medieval origin. The explanation of its uncommon width can be found in Sa Riera, the stream that runs across Palma. Sa Riera used to end in a small beach which now is the Born. However, at the 16th century the stream was changed in course and made it run along the moat of the Renaissance walls.

In the middle Ages, knight competitions were done in the Born and during mid-twentieth century it was the centre of entertainment par excellence of the city.