Mallorca Property > Pollensa

Pollensa Mallorca

Pollensa Mallorca

Set between the hills of El Calvari and Puig de Pollenca, Pollensa marks the northern end of the Serra de Tramuntana.

It does not feel as touristy as other north-western towns, but is still popular with the expatriate community, successors to the early 20th -century artists who 'discovered' Pollenca's tranquil beauty. By some definitions, this is where Majorcan tourism began.

Pollenca dates from the 13th century and was built a few kilometres back from the sea to protect it against pirate attack. This measure more or less worked, and the town successfully fought off a string of brigand adventurers. However, there are signs of even earlier occupation in the shape of the fourth-century stone bridge that the Romans built across the Sant Jordi stream.

The Placa Major of Pollensa , with its cafes and restaurants is the soul of the town, and it is especially lively on Sunday mornings during the weekly market. Many of the houses nearby date from the 18th century - the medieval ones have not survived - and the narrow streets make for atmospheric wanderings.

There are two fine churches in the town. Nostra Senora dels Angels, a 13th -century construction remodelled in the 18th, looks over the square. It has a beautiful rose window with arabesque tracery and was founded by the Knights Templar on the site of a Greek temple. On nearby called Antoni Maura is the church of Nostra Senora del Roser, which has been deconsecrated and contains a Gothic carving of the Virgin.

From the Placa Major, the 365 stone steps of the cypress-lined Via Crucis lead to a chapel atop El Calvari. The climb is said to atone for a year's sin and will also supply a pretty decent view. The chapel contains a famous statue of the Virgin. On Good Friday, a statue of Jesus is carried down the steps accompanied by a torch-lit procession.

At the southern end of town you can walk to the 18th -century hermitage on top of the 320-metre Puig de Maria in an hour. There are no longer any monks here, but tourists can stay the night.

Not to be confused with the coastal resort of Puerto Pollensa (located nearby), the ancient town of Pollensa (Pollença) was possibly originally founded by the Romans some 2,000 years ago, though its Pont Roma (Roman Bridge) is probably not Roman, as claimed by the locals. The name is derived from Pollentia (the Roman name for Alcudia) and was thought to have been given to the town by settlers from Alcudia itself. After the construction of the parish church of Nostra Senyora dels Angels in 1229, the town was controlled by the Knights of St John (Knights Templar) for many centuries. Most visitors to the town choose to climb the 365 steps of the Via Crucis ("Way of the Cross"), which leads to the tiny El Calvari chapel with its Gothic statue of Christ, also from here you can see the Ermita del Puig de Maria, a 17th century hermitage in an even higher position.

Properties in Pollensa Old Town

Head Property Shop in Pollensa
Via Pollentia 3 , 07460 Pollenca
Tel: +34 971 532 221

 

property

Mallorca Property Articles and Reports

dot Mallorca Property Market in 2009

NEW! - A brilliant in-depth analysis of the Mallorca property market

  dot The Property Seller's Guide

How to sell your home in Mallorca, procedures, costs and advice.

dot Buying your home in Mallorca

All you need to know about buying a home in Mallorca, applicable to the whole of Spain.

  dot Buy a Spanish Property

Questions and answers about the procedures and costs for buying and owning a property in Spain.

pixel dot Mallorca Property & Lifestyle

Mallorca property news, lifestyle in Mallorca, news, ... everything about Mallorca.

  pixel dot Mallorca Property Magazine

Apply to receive a copy of our Mallorca property magazine, interesting, helpful, stylish and FREE.