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Attractions

Oficines d'Informacio Turistica de Mallorca
Carrer Guillem Cifre de Colonya, s/n
07460
Pollensa
Telephone: +34 971 535 077
Fax: +34 971 535 077
Email: oit@ajpollenca.net
These offices are also open throughout the year as follows:
Summer: Monday to Friday 8:00 to 16:00 and Saturday 9:00 to 13:00
Winter: Monday to Friday 8:00 to 15:00 and Saturday 9:00 to 13:00

Without a doubt, one of the most popular ways to see Puerto Pollensa is an evening stroll after dinner along the Pine Walk. This is a pedestrian promenade that is lined with palms and pine trees, from which the walk takes it's name, that runs for most of the length of the resort.

In common with most of the towns and villages on the island, the first fiesta of the year takes place in Pollensa over the 16th and 17th of January each year in celebration of Sant Antoni the patron saint of animals The event actually begins on the evening of the 16th with the lighting of small bonfires, which the local residents sit around and sing traditional songs, and roast "botifarrons", which are locally made blood sausages. The following day an enormous fir tree is paraded through the streets, past the local church, and on to the main square, where it is then smeared with soap and eggs, and the young men of the town try to climb it.

A couple of days later, on January 19th and 20th, Pollensa then celebrates the Fiesta of Sant Sebastia. The main parade through the town includes the traditional dance of "Els Cavallets", where two small children dance wearing paper mache horses.

One of the most popular cultural attractions in the north west of the island is the cypress tree lined Calvari steps which lead up to the tiny Calvari church with its ancient wooden cross, and magnificent views of looking back over the Pollensa old town. Although strictly a religious event, the 365 Calvari steps are the scene of a moving procession each Good Friday that always draws a large crowd of both local residents and visitors to Pollensa, when the figure of Christ is removed from a cross and carried down the steps by torchlight.

The fiesta season really starts with a vengeance around Pollensa in the middle of July, with the Fiesta of the Mare de Déu del Carme in the Puerto de Pollensa on July 16. Along with the usual selection of parades and musical events, this fiesta also often includes a maritime procession.

In a little less than a week later, visitors are then treated to the biggest event of the north west fiesta calendar, which commences on July 26th and culminates a week later on 2nd August with the Fiesta of Mare de Deu dels Angels, and the re-enactment of the battle of the Moors and Christians. This fiesta commemorates the battle by the local population of Pollenca against 1500 Moors led by a pirate named Dragut. The fiesta can be traced back to the middle of the 19th Century, and almost the whole of the town is involved, the Christians are all dressed in white and the followers of Dragut in various colours. On the evening of the 1st August a dance is held until the early hours of the morning, and the town then waits in suspense until at 5am the local band plays the "Alborada" (the dawn). After this Mass is said throughout the day along with other various activities until the battle is finally fought at 7pm in the evening. After the battle the Christians return to the church for prayers, and on leaving the church the band again play the "Alborada". The fiesta then finishes with the singing of the "Visca Pollenca" (Hooray Pollenca) and a grand firework display.

Although not to everyone's taste, the annual Pollensa Music Festival is nevertheless an important part of the towns' cultural calendar. The festival was founded in 1962 by Philip Newman, who was a great violinist who retired to live in Pollensa. Under the direction of the Czech violinist Eugen Prokop, a number of classical music concerts now take place each year during July and August, that have over recent years seen performances by Sir Yehudi Menuhin, The King´s College Choir of Cambridge, Montserrat Caballé, The Orchestre National de France, and The Pittsburg Symphony Orchestra. For further information about upcoming concerts, their web site is;
www.festivalpollenca.org

The final event of the year is then the Autumn Fair or "Fira de Tardor", which takes place during the second weekend of November in Pollenca. This event combines a traditional country fair with a jazz festival, and features exhibitions of local crafts along with various games and sporting activities.

As we mentioned briefly on our general introduction page, 3 miles inland from the port is the the old town of Pollensa which is a 1000 light years away from the popular tourist image of Majorca. The name Pollensa originally dates from the 14th century when settlers from nearby Alcudia named the town after their former Roman capital. Among the many remaining historic buildings is a former Jesuit convent which is now still used as the local Town Hall. It's here that the Sunday morning market is held in the Placa Major square, selling fresh local fruit and vegetables, as well as flowers and craft goods. A further market is held Puerto Pollensa every Wednesday, but since the same traders attend both events, the variety of goods for sale is somewhat limited. Most markets on the island are held in the morning from around 8:00 to 13:00, so you'll need to get there early and be prepared to haggle like a professional to secure the best bargains.

The Pollensa Municipal Museum was opened in 1975, in what was an old Dominican convent that was originally built between 1588 and 1616. There's a large collection of paintings of the area on display, along with archaeological finds, a Buddhist mandala and the Atilio Boveri collection. Contact details are:
Museu Municipal
Convent de Sant Domingo
Pollensa
Telephone: +34 971 531 166

Another museum worth a visit is the Monograph Museum of Pollensa. The building dates back to the 14th Century, when it was used as a hospital, and has a number of displays showing life in the town during the Roman occupation of the island. For further information their address is;
Monograph Museum of Pollensa
Sant Jaume, 32
Alcudia
Telephone: +34 971 547 004

Although much smaller, and less well known than the S'Albufera wetlands between Alcudia and Playa de Muro, Pollensa's own Albufereta Nature Reserve covers a surface area of more than 150 hectares and includes canals, lakes and reed beds. Albufereta is of special interest for bird lovers, with almost two hundred species nesting or feeding in the area, and this is why it has been afforded special environmental protection.

Regular bus and boat trips run from the resort north to the nearby Cap de Formentor, which is a little over 12 miles further up the coast. From the lighthouse at the very tip it is claimed that on a clear day you can see the nearby island of Menorca. The cheapest way is by the water taxi which runs on the hour from 10:00 to 15:00 each day at a cost of around 7.50€ for adults and 3.75€ for children for the return journey, also more leisurely half day trips run either around the bay, or up to Cap de Formentor at a cost of around 17.50€ for adults and 8.75€ for children, but either way you'll still get an ample opportunity to stare at Robbie Williams' Villa on the way.

If you do want to get out of the resort and into the Serra de Tramuntana mountains that surround the town, it is worth considering bicycle hire from Maria's Bicycles in Puerto Pollensa. Newly transferred into British ownership, they offer the hire of both road and mountain bikes, and also organise day excursions complete with maps, guides & packed lunches. They are open weekdays from 8am to 1pm and again from 5pm to 8pm, and Sundays from 8am to 1pm. You'll find them near the new pharmacy in town, just off the Calle Juan XXIII. Full contact details are:
Calle Roger De Flor 12
Puerto Pollensa
Telephone: +34 971 864 336
mariasbicycles@hotmail.com

Perhaps more suited for a cloudy day is the "Fantasy World" next to the post office in the centre of town. This is an indoor play area for kids of all ages similar to a "Wacky Warehouse" back in the UK, it's air conditioned and has full facilities. Although it does costs 6 Euros for each child to get in and play. Also worth considering is their Child Minding service for all children aged 4 years and over. This service is available during normal daytime opening hours and by prior booking in the evening. Full contact details for information and bookings is:
Calle Llevant, 9
Port de Pollença
Telephone: +34 971 866 606 or +34 660 991 790 (mobile)

Line Dancing may not be the first thing you think of when planning a holiday to Mallorca. But the area does have a very active club called "Amigos In Line". They meet twice a week at Cloud 9 on the Calle Gallo Salvage 2, in nearby Puerto de Alcudia every Tuesday from 15.00 to 17.00 and again the following day from 20.00pm - 24.00pm at Debby's Bar on the Avda. Tucan. For more information contact Val Lea on +34 971 866 553.

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