Alcúdia
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Alcúdia is a town of 20,000 people (2018) in the north of the island of Mallorca, on the eastern coast. It is the main tourist centre in the north of Mallorca. It is a large resort popular with families. In Alcúdia the old town is well preserved with houses dating back to the 13th century. The old town is surrounded by a medieval wall.
Understand
In the 1920s the first tourists began to visit Mallorca and also Alcúdia. This was in a very limited scale and the economy of the village stayed weak. In the early 1970s, it started to be clear that the future of Alcúdia would be in tourism. 15 years later the old harbour of Puerto de Alcúdia had developed into a major resort for European tourism. In the 1990s the construction boom calmed down and several regulations were put in place to secure the quality of the resort.
The focus is on visitors searching for relaxation and activity. A golf course has been constructed, and bicycle and hiking trips are commonplace. The old town has been preserved and pedestrianised. It has become one of the most visited villages in Mallorca.
Get in
- TIB's IB-21 bus service runs from Palma de Mallorca several times daily.
Get around
There are also many organised tours that can be purchased from any of the nofrills travel agencies that are dotted around the resorts. Places of interest to visit are the Gorge of La Calobra, the famous wooden train of Soller, Puerto Soller, the monastery of Lluc. The city of Palma is very popular. Many people visit the caves of Drach whilst in Alcudia.
The best way to get around Alcudia is by car, and then to explore on foot (particularly in the old town, where the streets are very narrow and there's not much parking).The s'Albufeira National Park can be reached by bus.
See
- Roman ruins. There are remains of a Roman town just outside the medieval town walls, in front of the Church of St. Jaume, belonging to the ancient city of Pollentia (see also the Italian Pollentia). There is also a small Roman theatre.
- 1 City walls of Alcúdia. Go around the city on the city walls dating from the 13th century. It is possible to step up on the wall and follow it almost all around the village.
- 2 Sant Jaume. Gothic church.
- 3 Bull ring (Plaza de Toros de Alcudia) (North of the town). From the 19th century. Not used for bull fights anymore.
Do
- North and west of the town are some coves and beaches ideal for sunbathing, swimming or snorkelling. The beach at Alcúdia is 14 km long and stretches as far as C'an Picafort. Alcúdia joins onto Playa de Muro which is home to S'Albufera; a natural park that is very popular with birders.
- Walk (or ride a bike) in the S'Albufera Natural Park on a well-marked trail of about 12 km. Just follow the red marks, or go to the information center of the park to get a free walking map. With a little bit of attention, you'll see interesting birds, fish and other animals. Don't forget to take enough water and a picnic.
- Walk around the Ermita de la Victoria, on the Alcudia peninsula. Two good short trails start from the Ermita de la Victoria. First follow the dirt road for a few hundred meters. You'll see a sign marked Penya des Migdia which brings you along the coast, just above the cliffs. Spectacular, but mind your steps. The other trail, marked Talaia d'Alcudia, leads to the top of a little mountain.
- There is an alternative, less crowded, route to the Talaia d'Alcudia. Prepare for a 4 hours hike in the mountains. From Alcudia, head for the Ermita de la Victoria but turn right in the Cami de la Muntanya. The last few hundred meters are gravel road but passable with a normal car. Park your car at the sign Coll de Ses fontanelles - Platja des Coll Baix, or at the big parking 200 m further (locals use this road to go to the beach). Put good mountain shoes on, take enough water and a picnic, and follow the direction Platja des Coll Baix. At the end of the gravel road, you'll see the beach below you and a refuge with picnic tables. Take the path on your left side, which climbs slowly up to the Talaia d'Alcudia. The path is marked with cairns and very discreet red spots. Admire the beauty of the views on the rocks and on the see all along the way. Once on the summit of the talaia, have a little rest and eat your picnic to regain your strength. Now you have to find the way back: come back a few meters on the path, to about halfway between the summit and the sign Talaia d'Alcudia. You'll see at your left side (going down from the summit) a little path which follows a ledge in the rock. That's your way down to the car (the trail is marked with cairns, red spots and even dung as donkeys are using it also). Just follow the trail up to a T under big trees. At this point, take left to get back to your car (the trail crosses the dry river several times).
- UD Alcúdia Football Club play in the Tercera División – Group 11 at Els Arcs, which has a capacity of 1,750.
- Enjoy the fantastic weather on the beach!
- Dolphin and whale watching, Port of Alcudia.
Festivals
- Festival of St. Jaume for nine days at the beginning of July. Before the festival starts the town is decorated and each street picks out a theme for that year's look. During the festival several traditional evening festivities are arranged in the old town such as the Night of the Romans where the streets are full of locals dressed in traditional ancient Roman dresses. There are also outdoor theatres, sport tournaments, exhibitions and the traditional bullfight. The fiesta is finished with La Noche de Sant Jaume, a fireworks display and philharmonic concert by the old walls.
- The Alcúdia Jazz Festival starts at the end of August and runs for a month.
- International sporting events are held down the road at the port, with an Ironman Triathlon twice a year, beach volleyball and beach rugby.
- Agricultural fair at the beginning of October
- A nautical fair in April features the cuttlefish.
- Taking place every three years is the Triennial of Sant Crist, a religious procession where the population slowly walks barefoot through the town in silence, for several hours. The origin of this procession dates back to 1507. According to tradition, the image of Sant Crist sweated blood and water, thus putting an end to a drought.
Buy
Eat
The old town also hosts a market on Sundays and Tuesdays all year round. Inside the walls there are several popular restaurants and bistros famous for good home-cooked food in small settings. In Port d'Alcúdia most of the restaurants are found around the marina. Most of these restaurants are only open in the tourist season.
Food shops
- Carnisseria Ramis, Av. Victoria, ☏ +34 971 54 61 01. Butcher's shop. Taste their delicious meatballs.
Drink
Sleep
Most of the hotels are in Port d'Alcúdia and Platja d'Alcúdia along the 14-km-long beach that stretches all the way to Can Picafort.
- 1 Club Mac hotels (3 hotels in Alcudia: Jupiter, Saturno, Marte), Calle Tucan s/n (One kilometre from the beach), ☏ +34 971891600. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Standing in 10,000 m² of land, these sister hotels have 9 pools, including children's pools and a splash pool. There are many sports activities and a children's disco; bingo games and professional shows at night. The hotel operates a shuttle bus to the beach, while a shop, bars and restaurants are to be found within the complex. From €28.
- 2 Hotel Hotetur Lagomonte, Estany Petit No. 8 07410. All inclusive.
- Grand Oasis Palace De Muro, Ctra. Alcudia, Platjas de Muro (on Playa de Muro beach, very close to the protected area), ☏ +34 971 894 224, palacemurorec@hotelesoasis.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. From €25.
- 3 Aparthotel Las Gaviotas (Las Gaviotas Hotel & Apartments), Puerto Alcudia road, kilometre 28 (150 m from the Playa de Muro Beach), ☏ +34 971 890 426, reservas@hotellasgaviotas.com. 139 air-conditioned and fully equipped apartments and studios with terrace or balcony.
- Villa Ira (500 m from the sea and beach between Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa; 3 km to nearest shop/cafe, 5 km to nearest golf course, and 55 km from Palma Airport). Villa Ira is a traditional family villa with a private pool. There are far-reaching views across the surrounding countryside to the mountains in the distance and the villa has pleasant gardens where you can relax in peace and seclusion. It has 2 bedrooms, BBQ, linens, towels, a microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, air conditioning, a safe, satellite TV, and a DVD player. starts at £851 per week at low season.
Go next
- Palma de Mallorca- it is well worth a day trip to see Mallorca's capital, and take in the many sights it has to offer.
- Soller - very pretty town on the northern coast of the island.
- Pollenca - nice old city, home of a good Sunday market.