Alcúdia: Walls, Market and Roman Pollentia

Walls, City Gates and a Cultural Route

Alcúdia has two historic rings of walls, one medieval and one from the Renaissance. The Camí de Ronda is a walking route along the inner path beside the walls. Along the way, you’ll reach the Porta del Moll, also known as the Porta de Xara, and the Porta de Sant Sebastià, also called the Porta de Mallorca. The different names will help you recognise the gates as you explore the historic centre. The cultural route through the town centre adds another perspective on the town’s history.

The parish church of Sant Jaume is also part of the distinctive connection between architecture and fortification: it is integrated into the city walls. The Chapel of the Holy Christ, built at the end of the 17th century, adjoins the church. If you’re interested in how the town centre developed, you’ll find several historic features in one place: the rings of walls, the church and the chapel.

Pollentia: Houses, Forum and Theatre

Pollentia was founded after the conquest of Mallorca in 123 BC and is considered the beginning of urban life on the island. La Portella was a residential area containing the remains of three Roman houses. One of them, the Casa de los Dos Tesoros, is the best-preserved house in Pollentia. The residential buildings offer a different perspective on the ancient city from its public centre.

The Forum includes the Capitolium, two smaller temples and a group of tabernae. It opened to the public in 2002. The Roman theatre of Pollentia dates from the 1st century and is the only surviving Roman theatre in Mallorca. The cavea, orchestra and stage have been preserved. Pollentia was designated a historic-artistic site in 1946. This gives you a clear choice of focus when planning your trip: you can concentrate on residential areas or make the public buildings and theatre the centre of your visit.

Finds at the Museo Monogràfic de Pollença

The Museo Monogràfic de Pollença is in the historic centre of Alcúdia. Its first exhibition area displays pottery, jewellery and games from the excavations at Pollentia. These objects offer a glimpse into the everyday and domestic life of the city and its inhabitants. The second area focuses on archaeological materials from the Forum and other public buildings, including sculptures and inscriptions. By first exploring everyday life and then public spaces, you can discover two different sides of Pollentia.

Market Days and Feria

The weekly market takes place in the historic centre on Tuesdays and Sundays from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm. In the morning, you’ll find fruit and vegetables as well as fashion jewellery, leather goods and clothing. The market brings together food and a range of other goods, so you can make a visit part of your exploration of the town centre.

The Feria de Alcúdia is also held in the historic centre on the first weekend of October. It is a fair for agriculture, livestock farming, business, crafts and gastronomy. Unlike the weekly market, the Feria brings these different themes together in one event. If you’d like to focus your stay on local traditions and gastronomy, this event offers a separate reason to take the date into account when planning your trip.

Which Holiday Apartment Suits Your Travel Plans?

When looking for a holiday apartment in Alcúdia, it’s worth deciding on the focus of your trip first. For a culture-focused trip, the rings of walls, Sant Jaume and a walk along the Camí de Ronda offer ways to explore the historic town centre; Pollentia and the museum add Roman residential and public buildings to the mix. The market and Feria offer a different focus, with goods, agriculture, crafts and gastronomy.

You can also add Port Alcudia Port Alcudia and Es Mal Pas Es Mal Pas to your selection of places to visit within Alcúdia.

For the broader travel overview: Mallorca.

More Destinations

More places in the same destination:

Escorca, Santa María Del Camí, Esporles, Rotes Velles, Maria De La Salut, Porto Cristo Novo.