On the island of Mallorca, you can visit an impressive place: Alcudia and its Old Town, a historical and cultural gem that attracts many tourists every year. It’s surrounded by impressive medieval walls that were built in the 14th century to protect the city from pirate invasions and which today serve as a showcase to admire the panoramic views of the city and its surroundings.
Are you ready for a trip to discover the Old Town of Alcudia, one of the oldest cities in Mallorca?
The medieval walls of Alcudia's Old Town
The construction of the murallas (walls) began around 1298. They are Gothic in style and made with limestone. They have square towers and many battlements, like almost all defensive fortifications of the time. You can walk along the walls, adorned with flowers and well-maintained, and enjoy panoramic views of the Old Town of Alcudia, the town, and its surroundings. That is, if you’re not afraid of heights, because you’ll be more than six metres up.
Also, in one of the old bastions of the wall, there is a small bullring that is worth visiting not for the bullfights, but because there are often flamenco shows and concerts. And that’s not all, because this walk is not complete if you don’t pass through one of the gates of Alcudia’s Old Town.
The gates to Alcudia's Old Town
Taking a tour of Alcudia’s Old Town includes walking along the walls, and entering or exiting through one of its two gates, which are both points of tourist and cultural interest in Alcudia. We also recommend visiting several points, such as the Church of San Jaime, the Alcudia market, and the Pollentia Monographic Museum, which we will talk about later. Now let’s get back to the gates!
Puerta de Xara (Xara Gate)
It’s also known as Porta de Sant Sebastià and is located in the northwestern part of the Old Town of Alcudia. Together with the palm trees in front, it becomes one of the most photogenic places in the city.
It was built in the 14th century, along with the rest of the walls. This gate, in the form of a semicircular arch, is accompanied by two large square towers and was designed to control access from the west. Besides its defensive function, the gate also served as a point of inspection and collection of taxes for goods entering the city.
Puerta de Mallorca (Mallorca Gate)
Also known as Porta del Moll, the Mallorca Gate is in the eastern part of the Old Town of Alcudia. It was also built in the 14th century and is very similar to the Xara Gate, although, in this case, it faces the port and the sea. It’s also a semicircular arch with two defensive towers, but in the upper part, it has a trio of decorative arches and is much larger.
Its strategic position facilitated the control of access from the port and was the most important point of entry for goods from the sea to the interior of the Old Town of Alcudia.
The Church of San Jaime, one of the great attractions of Alcudia's Old Town
The Iglesia de San Jaime (Church of San Jaime) is one of the veterans of the Old Town of Alcudia; it has more than 700 years of history and is one of the most important historical buildings in the entire north of Mallorca.
It is from the 13th century although it was rebuilt several times, the last time was in the 19th Century. Even so, visiting it is a true journey to the neo-Gothic past. Its facade is beautiful, with a huge rose window, and the interior nave, with ribbed vaults and an 18th-century Baroque altarpiece, also does not disappoint. Masses and events are still held here, especially the festivities of San Jaime, which are in the month of July. In addition, its bell tower is one of the high points of the Old Town of Alcudia and has incredible panoramic views of the city.
And a little secret about this jewel of the Old Town of Alcudia? It hides a museum of sacred art that you simply can’t miss. The exhibition area is closed on Sundays and the church and museum are closed on Mondays. So, come Tuesday to Saturday and you can visit the church for free and the museum for just €1.
Alcudia Market: a mix of colours and flavours that will captivate you
The Mercadillo de Alcudia (Alcudia market) in Mallorca opens on Tuesdays and Sundays, throughout the year. So, you can enjoy its fresh products and handicrafts, whatever time of year you come. It is open from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm. Tuesdays are usually less crowded. On the other hand, if you are looking to go to the Alcudia market and enjoy it in its maximum splendour you have to do it on Sunday. There are many more stalls and a much livelier atmosphere.
And if you come in summer, it gets even more crowded, occupying not only the Paseo Mare de Deú de la Victoria – its usual place – but also flooding the entire historic centre of Alcudia.
And what are you going to find?
Sausages and cheeses, sweets and all kinds of pastries and cakes, oil, wine, spices, meats and fish and many fruits and vegetables. Also flowers, clothes and lots and lots of handicrafts per square metre.
The Pollentia Monographic Museum: another attraction
Visiting the Museo Monográfico de Pollentia (Pollentia Monographic Museum) you can enjoy a sample of various materials recovered during the excavation campaigns carried out in Pollentia.
The museum is located in the historic centre, quite close to the Church of San Jaime, which we have talked about before. In it, you will find a collection organised into two sections. One of them is full of everyday objects: kitchen utensils such as amphorae (a type of vase or storage vessel) and bowls, jewellery, and other belongings. And another, in which you can see elements used in the 16th century in the Forum, large-format sculptures, statuettes, inscriptions, architectural elements, Roman coins, and even funerary objects.
The museum is small but if you come to visit the Old Town of Alcudia you have to make a stop here because it’s worth it. There are no guided tours but you can ask for a brochure at the door; they have them in all languages. This museum does not yet have QR codes and, although there are some posters, they are few and all are in Spanish. You can get your ticket here or at the ticket office and it also includes the visit to the Roman ruins of Pollentia. Sounds like a great plan, doesn’t it?
Come and discover the Old Town of Alcudia
We’re sure that with everything we’ve told you about this city, you’re already deciding on what dates to visit and searching how to get to the Old Town of Alcudia. And we know that that’s enough work without having to look for accommodation on top of it! That’s why at 5 Stars Home we have a great selection of holiday rental villas for you, as impressive as the old town of Alcudia. So, are you ready to come and see for yourself?
