Alcudia

Situated at the north end of the Island between the bays of Alcudia and Pollença there has been human habitation in the area from Megalithic times. It was on the site of the present town that the Romans built their capital of Pollentia. It was the Vandals that destroyed the town and it was not until the Moors arrived that the town was rebuilt. The present town derives it's name from the arabic for The Mountain "al Kudia". Like the rest of the Island Alcudia was liberated by King Jaime I in the early 1200's. Alcudia became a fortified city and with stand out against the Agermanados (yet another invading group) and in doing so was given the status of Fidelisima Ciudad (very faithful city) by Carlos I in the 1500's.

Alcudia town is worth a trip to see the well-preserved city walls and gates. The market is on Tuesdays. Puerto de Alcudia is a sort of down-at-heel Puerto Pollensa: it's bigger and more commercialised with more beach shops and fast food outlets.

Alcudia holds an annual Romeria (a festive 'ramble' to have a picnic somewhere) with horse drawn carts carrying the party food - 25 July.

A good place for lunch is towards Mal Pas: drive into Alcudia town towards the centre, passing the town walls on your left. As you hit the traffic lights at the T-junction just past the walls, turn right then left immediately (a sort of staggered junction). Follow this road, turning right off it following the sign post to Ermita de la Victoria. The road passes through woods: look out for a lone restaurant on the left and pull off the road into their rough car park. 

The sardines are great here. You can get down onto the pebbly beach, as well as enjoying the views over the bay of Pollensa.

The town and its surroundings are an archaeological delight with remnants of Biniatrian Talayots, Romans, Moors, Byzantines and others. The Archaeological Museum founded in 1948, houses an extensive collection from the excavations carried out by students and scholars from all over the world under the sponsorship of the Bryan Foundation.

For the tourist there are clean beaches and quiet calas near by, as well as peaceful Aucanada pine forests and spectacular stops like Pinar Cape, Ses Caletas, Morer Vermell, Gros Cape, Manresa Cape, Mal Pas. Other sites are the Victoria Sanctuary 3 Km outside the town, Casa Consistorial, Iglesia (church) Parroquial, Oratorio de Santa Ana, Torre (tower) Mayor. There are also some stunning Renaissance and Rococo palaces from 15^th 16^th and 17^th centuries. If your feeling energetic enough then the climb up Sa Talaia d'Alcudia at over 400 m gives an impressive panorama and then there's the caves of San Martin, where many of the small caves are in fact chapels to various saints. The Natural wet lands of Albufera are close by and is a nature sanctuary with many rare birds, fish, amphibians and plants. A delightful place to relax and listen to the sounds of the land.

 

Marina
Alcudia		Puerto Deportivo Paseig Marìtim 1  07410 - Puerto de Alcúdia Mallorca Tel 971-546000-04  Fax 971-548920