Page 81 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

M ALL ORC A  79

To soak up Pollença’s sleepy is entered through the
atmosphere, head for Plaça handsome Porta de Moll
Major, where the locals gather gate. The Gothic church of
in the cafés and bars. Sant Jaume at the centre
is 13th-century. The most
Environs interesting sight is the Museu
The family-friendly resort of Monogràfic, which displays
Port de Pollença, situated 6 km objects from Roman and
(4 miles) to the east beside a Phoenician times.
pleasant bay, has a long, sandy On the outskirts of town,
beach. Just southeast of along the road to Port d’Alcúdia,
Pollença a steep narrow road, is the Oratori de Santa Anna.
then a footpath, climbs 330 m Built in the early 13th century,
(1,000 ft) to Puig de Maria, it is one of the oldest Mallorcan
where a 17th-century herm- sanctuaries. Nearby are the
itage has a rustic restau rant Interior of the Gothic church of Sant remains of a first-century BC
and bar, and simple rooms Jaume in Alcúdia Roman theatre – this is the
to let with wonderful views. smallest Roman theatre to
a Alcúdia have survived in Spain.
E Museu de Pollença * 19,000. @ n C/Major 17, 971
Convent de Santo Domingo. Tel 971 897 113. ( Tue–Sun. _ Romeria Environs
531 166. Open 10am–1pm Tue–Sat de la Victòria (2 Jul). ∑ alcudia Port d’Alcúdia, 2 km (1 mile)
(Jun–Sep: also 5:30–8:30pm). & south of the town, is the most
mallorca.com
popular tourist destination on
p Cap de The delightful town of Alcúdia, Mallorca’s northeast shores.
surrounded by 14th-century
It has a lovely sandy beach,
Formentor walls, lies at the base of the a marina and a harbour
peninsula separating as well as hotels,
6 km (4 miles) from Port de Pollença.
Pollença Bay from restaurants and clubs.
The Formentor Peninsula, at the Alcúdia Bay. Originally, The road to Es Mal Pas
northern end of the Serra de this was a Phoenician brings you to Cap des
Tramuntana, is a 20-km (12- settlement. Having Pinar where, in 1599,
mile) long headland of steep conquered the island, Philip II erected a watch-
cliffs, that is in some places the Romans built a tower, Torre Major. A
400 m (1,300 ft) high. A short town here, called branch road leads
footpath from the road leads Pollentia, which from Town hall window to the Ermita de la
to the Mirador des Colomer the 2nd century was the in Alcúdia Victòria. It has a revered
from which you can enjoy spec- capital of the island. In 15th-century wooden
tacular views of the sea and the 456, it was destroyed by the statue of Victoria, Alcúdia’s
El Colomer rock. Staying on Vandals. Around the year 800, patron saint.
the serpentine path, there is Moors built their fortress here,
also a beautiful view of the naming it Al-Kudia (On the Hill). E Museu Monogràfic
16th-century watch tower, After the Reconquest, Alcúdia Carrer de Sant Jaume 30. Tel 971 547
Talaia d’Albercutx. Further on, prospered as a trading centre 004. Open July–Sep: 9:30am–8:30pm
the road passes through the well into the 19th century. The Tue–Fri (10am–3:30pm Oct–Jun),
Mont Fumat tunnel and runs beautifully restored old town 10am–2pm Sat & Sun. &
among rocky hills, covered with
vegetation, up to the lighthouse
rising to 260 m (850 ft). The
rugged cliffs provide nesting
sites for thrushes and rock
doves, also falcons, swallows
and martins.
A spur from the main road
leads to the beach of Platja de
Formentor, which is served by
bus from Port de Pollença and
gets very crowded in summer.
The road ends at one of the
oldest, most luxurious resorts
on the island – the Hotel
Formentor. Opened in 1929,
it is noted for its opulence and
fashionable clientele (see p149). Lighthouse on Cap de Formentor

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