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NORTHEAST MALLORCA
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Island Guides Mallorca
Work in progress - if you have any destination reports you would like included, or would like to share any information or photos other visitors may find of interest please email us |
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Set between two huge bays, Badia de Pollensa and Badia d'Alcúdia, Alcúdia lies on the north coast of Mallorca, 52 km from Palma about 1½ hours driving from Son Sant Joan airport. Built upon the ruins of the old Roman city of Pollentia, dating from 123 BC, the Badia d’Alcúdia is one of Mallorca’s busiest and main tourist resorts. The municipality covers over 6.051 km² of land, encompassing over 10 km of glorious sandy beach, one of the longest stretches of beach on the Island.
Alcúdia was first settled by the Phoenicians in around 700 BC as a staging post for sea trade between northwest Africa and Spain. In the 2nd century BC the Romans made Alcúdia the capital of the island. But in 426 the town was destroyed by Vandals and lay neglected until the building of a Moorish fortress, known by the name of “Al Kudia”, meaning On the Hill.
The old town today consists of narrow streets and is entered through one of the two gates that were constructed, along with the impressive city walls, after the conquest of the island by King Jaime I of Spain.
All that remains of a second wall, the outer fortification, is Sant Ferran (now housing a 100 year old bull ring, where mock bullfights are held in summer as well as other events), and a few small wall sections.
Many of the main streets are now pedestrianised in the rejuvenated Old Town area. It only takes an hour or so to walk around the antiquated lanes of the centre, and to explore the town walls and their fortified gates. Starting at the Ajuntament (Town Hall), Alcúdia’s most attractive building on c/ Major, other places worth a visit include:
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The Church of San Jaume IV - the tallest building in Alcúdia town - originally erected in the early 14th century. St. James, the patron saint of both Spain and Alcúdia can be seen above the front entrance. In 1507 a wooden carving of Christ, which can still be found in the church, was carried to a nearby cave wherein the townspeople prayed at an alter during a severe drought. It is said the carving started sweating blood and water; the rains came and the crops were saved. The chapel was built to house the sacred statue.
- Museo Monographic, a small museum filled with interesting archaeological artefacts, primarily Roman from Pollentia.
- Teatre Romà, dating from the 1st century BC, the smallest of 20 Roman theatres to have survived in Spain.
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The actual port and holiday resort of Alcúdia - Port of Alcúdia - lies at the western end of the Bay, running for over 8 km through Playa de Muro and onto the resort of Ca'n Picafort in the east. The warm shallow waters of Alcúdia Bay make this resort very popular amongst families with young children, and the beach is without doubt a major attraction with fine, clean sand with a wide variety of water sport and other facilities available to suit all tastes. A myriad of restaurants, cafe-bars and clubs line the main street of the resort, and you’ll find the attractive marina complex, with combined cruise boat and fishing harbour across the road, with a number of nice restaurants and bars in which to enjoy a moment’s respite. Although highly built up with rows and rows of hotels and apartment buildings, the roads are well laid out, neat and tidy with an easy-going air which has a certain appeal, particularly for a family holiday. In summer there’s plenty of pine-studded sandy beach for everybody, if prepared to walk far enough, but in winter, you can practically have the beach to yourself. The commercial port, the largest container terminal after Palma, lies 500 m east of the marina, sadly forming a slight blot on the landscape.
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Also worth a visit is the Parc Natural de S’Albufera. Situated at the far end of Alcúdia beach, some 6 km out of town near Ca'n Picafort lies, this 2.000 acre protected wetland park. Over 200 different types of birds have been spotted here, together with a stunning array of wild flowers, particularly between April and May. (open April-Sept, 9am-7pm; Oct-March 9am-5pm - free of charge)
Shops and Services
You will find all kinds of shops, restaurants and services in and around Alcúdia.
| General |
| Population: |
approx. 12.942 |
| Town Hall: |
c/ Major, 9 - 07400 Alcúdia, Tel. 971 548 071, Email: ajt@alcudia.net |
| Post Office: |
Avda. dels Princeps d’Espanya, 8 |
| Market Day: |
Tuesday & Sunday, Plaza de la Victoria Moll, Alcúdia Old Town |
| Palma: |
1hr 20 minutes  |
| Airport: |
1hr 30 |
| Beaches: |
Alcúdia, to include Xara, Poncet, Alcanada, Coll Baix and Ses Caletes |
| Golf: |
Pollensa - Tel. 971 533216, Alcanada - Tel.: 971 549560 |
| Leisure: |
A wide array of watersports can be found during the summer. In addition to Go-karting, Hidropark & a Football Stadium. |
Fiestas
Subida a la Victoria - July
San Jaime - July 25
Santo Cristo - July 26
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The municipality and residential town of Artà lies in the north east corner of the island, approx. 70 km and a 1½ hour drive from the capital Palma. With the Serres de Llevant mountain peaks to the north east providing a dramatic backdrop, this historic town's focal point is centred around its church and castle, situated up on a hill surrounded by medieval walls. Evidence of settlements dating back over 3.000 years to the bronze age can be found at Ses Païsses just outside town. A 10 minute trek from the short main street c/ Ciutat to the Santuari de Sant Salvador is a must - for both the view and a visit to the sanctuary itself. Pass through the Plaça Espanya, where the town hall is situated and stroll past the old decaying mansions leading up to the parish church of Sant Salvador. Continue on up the steep stone steps leading up the Via Cruces (Way of the Cross) to the sanctuary. The castle was originally a Roman barracks, and later an Arab fortress before being converted into a Christian temple. Not overly awe-inspiring inside in its current form (the edifice was knocked down in 1820 in a superstitious attempt to ward off the spread of an epidemic), but you will find portraits of two Majorcan heroes, Jaume the Conqueror and Ramon Llull inside. The views are quite spectacular, and you can also enjoy a stroll around the battlements and stone towers of the castle.
Today the town is best known for its raffia basketware, with espadrilles, hats and baskets on sale at the Saturday craft market and the weekly market on Tuesdays. Artà remains primarily a traditional residential town with no all-night bars or night-clubs. It is just a short drive to nearby Cala Ratjada or Ca'n Picafort which is full of nightlife. There is a very good municipal sports centre with indoor swimming pool, that also serves as the meeting point for the local football, volleyball and basketball clubs. These facilities were supplemented in 2001 with the opening of the 460 seat cultural centre and theatre, this also houses the town's cinema,
Ses Païsses - About 1 km south of Artà? you will find the Talayotic village of Ses Païsses, the best preserved Bronze-Age settlement on the Island. The entire complex is surrounded by a massive “Cyclopean" wall - so called because it is believed to have been built by giants.
Nearby towns include - Colonia de Sant Pere, Betlem, Cala Ratjada and Ca'n Picafort . Colonia de Sant Pere still remains one of the few unspoilt, uncrowded and undeveloped villages on Mallorca.
Shops and Services
You will find all essential shops and services here.
| General |
| Population: |
approx. 6.220 |
| Town Hall: |
Plaça Espanya, 1 - 07570 Artà, Tel. 971 829 595, Email: info@arta-web.com |
| Post Office: |
c/ Ciutat, 26 |
| Market Day: |
Tuesday |
| Palma: |
1hr 30 mins |
| Airport: |
1hr 25 mins |
| Beaches: |
Beaches on the East Coast are approximately 10 minutes away. |
| Golf: |
Capdepera Golf, Pula Golf |
| Leisure: |
Indoor pool, municipal sports centre |
Fiestas
San Antonio, January 16, 17
San Antoni de Padua, June 12, 13
San Salvador, August 5-7
Sa Fira, 2nd Sunday of September
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Quite sedate and quiet by comparison to most, this lovely resort lies 6 km northeast of Pollença. A popular retreat for the Spanish “well healed”, an array of upmarket villas and modern hotels are spotted around a wooded ravine behind 2 small, but lovely sandy beaches. The best view over the area can be had from the top of the Puig de l’Àguila (206 m), a 6 km trek from the headland (where the rather overpowering Don Pedro Hotel lies).
Shops and Services
You will find lots of shops, cafes and restaurants here, however most essential services can be found in Pollença.
| General |
| Town Hall: |
see Pollença |
| Market Day: |
Tuesday |
| Best Hotel: |
Hotel Cala San Vincente, Tel. 971 530 250 |
| Palma: |
approx. 1hr 35 mins |
| Airport: |
1hr 40 mins |
| Beaches: |
Beaches on the East Coast are approx. 10 minutes away |
| Golf: |
Golf Pollença
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Fiestas
San Antonio, January 16, 17
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Lying at the end of the Alcúdia run of buildings and beach, this port was once an important fishing port. Its harbour-marina still preserves the vestiges of its earlier history.
Shops and Services
There are a number of minor shops in this quiet town, but for more variety visit Alcúdia or Santa Margarita.
| General |
| Town Hall: |
Santa Margarita |
| Palma: |
1hr 25 mins |
| Airport: |
1hr 35 mins |
| Beaches: |
Ca'n Picafort, Alcúdia |
Fiestas
See Pollença.
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Pollença is situated approx. 1 hour 20 minutes north east of Palma, sitting at the eastern end of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains between two hills, where the land fades into coastal flatland. The municipality covers an area of 151,7 m², with a population of over 15.000 inhabitants distributed over three towns: Pollença, Port de Pollença and Cala Sant Vicenç. It's backdrop, with sweeping vistas over towards Formentor, has long attracted artists and foreigners to this tranquil town. Thankfully it has managed to retain its identity, learning to adapt and accept tourism and its international community without losing its soul. If you really want to join in with the local life, take a walk out into the Plaça Major on a Sunday morning, with its bustling market stalls. Take a moment to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere, and perhaps join the locals congregating for a post church coffee in the Café Espanyol.
As with most Majorcan towns, Pollença was established several kilometres away from the seashore to help ward off pirate attacks, with its harbour Puerto Pollença left as an unprotected outpost. This strategy actually worked for this small town, successfully repelling a string of attacks, the most threatening of all in 1550, when the notorious Turkish corsair Dragut very nearly claimed victory. Celebrated on August 2, the festival of Mare de Déu dels Àngels commemorates this victory, with the locals waging mock battles throughout the streets, the event name taken from the warning shouted by the hero of the resistance, “Mare de Déu dels Àngels, assistiu-mos!” – "Our Lady of Angels, help us!”.
Visit the Pont Romà (Roman Bridge) on the edge of town to gain an insight into Pollença’s long history. Among many historic buildings is the former Jesuit convent, now the town hall. From here you can climb up the 365 steps of the Via Cruces (Way of the Cross) to reach El Calvari (Calvary Hill) and the Calvari church, with its ancient wooden cross and views of the Puig de Maria (where the monastry of the Ermita de Nostra Senyora del Puig can be found – a lovely 1 hour walk from the town). These steps are the scene of a moving Good Friday procession, when a figure of Christ is removed from the cross and carried down the steps by torchlight. Definitely worth experiencing.
Overlooking the Plaça Major the Nostra Senyora dels Àngels church dates back from the thirteenth century, although extensively remodelled in Baroque style five centuries later. It was originally built for the Knights Templar, a rich and secretive organisation said to have been formed to protect the “Holy Grail”. But following trumped-up charges of heresy and sorcery by the pope in 1312, their possessions, as with all Templars, were passed to another knightly order, the Hospitallers of St. John, until the Spanish King appropriated all possessions in 1802. Close by, along the c/ Antoni Maura and past the tourist office stands the deconsecrated church of Nostra Senyora de Roser, which hosts a number of exhibitions, and adjoins the Claustre Santo Domingo (cloisters) where you will find the Museu Municipal which houses a modest collection of contemporary paintings and a few archaeological finds.
Just 5 minutes by car from the town of Pollença, this family-oriented resort's natural focal point is the beach, a narrow elongated sliver of sand with mountains forming a spectacular backdrop. You will find mostly attractive whitewashed and stone-covered villas dotted about the resort, although a number of unattractive apartment buildings and hotels rather blight the edge of town. Ensure you visit the pedestrianised zone just to the north of the marina along the Passeig Anglada Camarasa.
Pollença remains a lovely resort, for either a new home or family holiday offering a great range of possibilities to enjoy: all kinds of nautical and mountain sports can be practiced, as well as a wide range of cultural opportunities.
Shops and Services
You will find all essential services within this medium sized town and port.
| General |
| Population: |
14.650 |
| Town Hall: |
c/ Calvari, 2 - 07460 Pollença, Tel. 971 530 108, Website: www.ajpollenca.net |
| Post Office: |
c/ Jonquet, 57 |
| Market Day: |
Wednesday (port) , Sunday (Pollença town) |
| Bus: |
Nr. 20 |
| Best Hotel: |
Hotel Juma (2*) - Plaça Major, 9. Tel. 971 535 002, Web: www.hoteljuma.com
Hotel Son Brull (5*) - c/ Palma PM 220, km 49,8. Tel. 971 535 353, Web: www.sonbrull.com |
| Palma: |
58 Km, 1hr 20 mins |
| Airport: |
1hr 30 mins |
| Beaches: |
Pollenca, Formentor |
| Golf: |
Pollença - Tel. 971 533 216, Alcanada - Tel. 971 549 560 |
| Leisure: |
A wide range of water sports are available in summer and wonderful treks in winter |
Fiestas
Sant Antoni, Corpus (les Aguiles), Davallament des del Calvari – Good Friday
Music Festival – July & August
Nostra Senyora dels Àngels – August 2
Pollença Feria – second week of September
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