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Alcúdia is one of the places in Majorca with a most unusual history, geography and social dynamism. A city where history is perceptibly alive, with important Roman remains and whose very name is of Islamic origin despite its foundation after the Catalan conquest, to be exact by King Jaume II of Majorca in the year 1325 and which was years later conceded the title "Ciutat Fidelíssima" (Faithful Town) by the emperor Charles V. Situated to the north east of Majorca, its municipality is a peninsula between two bays: Alcúdia to the south and Pollensa to the north, with kilometres of coastline. Some stretches with sandy, transparent beaches while others are rocky with steep cliffs. Its social dynamism has brought about the development of the present-day tourist infrastructure, founded on professionalism and diversity.
Port d´Alcúdia
Outside of Alcúdia there is Port d´Alcúdia with its recently modernized nice promenade thanks to the "Plan of highest quality" changing it into a wide pedestrian area, into a commercial and leisure avenue. On the promenade you'll find shops for all tastes and restaurants specialized in international and regional kitchen.
Cultural Activities
In addition to the annual theatre, music and art programme of the Auditorium of Alcúdia, the Town Council offers a programme calles "Tardor Cultural" addressed to residents and visitors. It's about a programme of leisure and spare time courses, such as workshops of plastic arts, manual labours, craftsmanship, ballroom dance, folk dancing and others, and education courses for adults, foreign languages, Catalan for foreigners as well.
Market: Tuesday and Sunday
Fairs: Alcúdia organises its annual Fair during the first weekend in October. The streets become an open-air exhibition of industrial and commercial items, handicrafts and agricultural machinery. During the Fair several cultural activities take place.
Feste:
- Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastiá
These two saint´s day festivals are held in Alcúdia on the 17th and 20th of January respectively, and the traditional foguerons or bonfires are lit in the street.
- Easter week
Religious precessions are held on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in Alcúdia. Easter week culminates on Easter Sunday with the "Encontre" or reunion proecession, known locally as "els tres botets".
- Sant Pere
The holiday feast of Sant Pere, patron of sailors, is celebrated on the 29th of June. A large number of cultural activities and games are held in the port the previous week.
- Mare de Déu de la Victoria
The holiday feast of the Mother of God de la Victoria is held on the 1st and 2nd of July in the hermitage of that name. In the evening, there are public dances and the Municipal Band concert. Mass is celebrated with a floral offering, followed by games and races for young and old.
- Sant Jaume
The 25th of July is Sant Jaume, patron of Alcúdia. The festivities last a week and a large range of activities are offered: musical concerts, fair and dance, theatre and exhibitions as well as religious ceremonies.
- Les Llanternes
On the night of the 24th of August, Alcúdias youngest residents take to the streets with lanterns made out of melons and watermelons while singing traditional Majorcan folk song.
Places of Interest
- Cave Sant Martí
The Cave is located at about 4 km from the town of Alcúdia. To visit the cave you can collect the key from the town hall of Alcúdia (in autumn and winter) and from the Tourist Information Bureau (during spring and summer).
- L´Albufera and Son Real
See the description of Ca´n Picafort.
- Roman City of Pol•lèntia
The Roman ruins situated behind the Sant Jaume Church, outside the walles area. They date back to the beginning of the 1st century AD and cover a surface area of 16-18 hectares.
- Roman Theatre
The theatre is located approximately a 0,5 km from Alcúdia. It was built in the hallow of a mountain in app. The 1st century AD. It appears to have seated for app. 2000 people. During August, the Roman theatre is used by the Town Council for theatre performances and open air musical events.
- Monographic Museum of Pol•lèntia.
The Museum of is housed in a building in Sant Jaume street. It was built in the 14th century and used as a hospital for the village poor. The museum shows a small collection of objects unearthed during various archaeological excavations of the Roman City. The sculptures, portraits epigraph inscriptions and several ceramic pieces merit special
attention.
- Medieval Walls
The medieval fortification is the first ring of the walls which was built around Alcúdia between the 13th and 14th centuries. King Jaume II ordered to build the fortification to defend the town from a possible invasion. The wall contains three entrances to the historical centre: Xara or del Moll, Sant Sebastià or Mallorca and Vila Roja.
- Renaissance Windows
IThere are a number of stately mansions in the heart of the old town of Alcúdia. They are two-storey houses with a round entrance portal and Renaissance windows - a style introduced in the island in 1523 to honour Charles V during his visit here. Many of them are adorned with the coat of arms of the house.
- Church Sant Jaume
The church is located in the historical centre of Alcúdia. There is also a small parish museum. Among other religious objects it includes a magnificent collection of Gothic altarpieces.
- Alcúdia Town Hall
This building is located in the centre of the town and was built in 1929 by the architect Charles Garau.
- Can Torró Library
The Majorcan house of the 14th century presents the aristocratic architecture of the historical centre of Alcúdia. It has been open to the public in 1990 thanks to the collaboration between the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Town Council of Alcúdia. Also Concerts and Expositions.
Tue-Fri 10-13 and 17-20
Sat-Sun 10-13
Monday closed
- The Alcúdia Auditorium
Alcúdia is the perfect setting for congress and meetings. It counts on the necessary infrastructure to carry out them with success. The Auditorium has a capacity for 496 people, a press room, 8 seminar rooms and a room with 50 seats.
The auditorium has been transformed into a cultural centre of highest quality, where theatre performances, music events and exhibitions take
place.
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