Tag: Northern Mallorca

Alcúdia is located in the north of Mallorca and as the oldest town on the island, it’s bursting with history. But even if you’re not a history buff, you’ll love it here: The small old town of Alcúdia is just too pretty!

What you need to do:
➜ Be sure to take a walk along the city wall
➜ People-watching at Plaça de la Constitució
➜ Visit one of Mallorca’s largest markets
➜ Enjoy art & culture, such as the Roman excavations or the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca just outside the city

1. Porta de Sant Sebastià

The old city wall makes the old town of Alcúdia so unique. Two large gates are still preserved; one of them is the Porta de Sant Sebastià, also called Puerta de Mallorca. Once through, you’ll find yourself almost in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the small old town.

2. Alcúdia Old Town

The Old Town is not particularly large, but it’s maintained and well preserved. The narrow main streets are lined with small stores and bars. For the most part, the Old Town is a pedestrian zone.

Mainly, the stores here have adapted to the huge amount of tourists in summer and are selling mainly souvenirs. Still, I think the selection here is more appealing than elsewhere, so if you’re looking for tasteful souvenirs, you’ll definitely find them here!

Find more tips for the island here:
All about Mallorca

3. Plaça de la Constitució

Plaça de la Constitució is the central location in the Old Town. The small spot is lined with numerous cafes and restaurants: perfect for a little break during a sightseeing day. However, most of the places here are real tourist traps and I would only stop here for drinks at most.

In the side streets you will find a few small pubs away from the crowds, where you can also enjoy the atmosphere. For coffee, cake and snacks, I’ll recommend Süss, a small café and pastry shop. The coffee is great and the bocadillos are delicious!

4. Porta del Moll

Once you’ve crossed the old town from the Porta de San Sebastian, you’ll eventually end up at Alcúdia’s second major city gate. The Porta del Moll is also called Puerta de Xara and is a popular meeting place in the old town!

5. Alcúdia Market

The Paseo Mare de Déu de la Victòria runs towards the Porta del Moll: this is where the Alcúdia market is held twice a week. Every Tuesday and Sunday, you can stroll along the Paseo and buy just about anything from vegetables, cheese, groceries, clothes and souvenirs. The market of Alcúdia is one of the largest on the island!

6. City Wall of Alcúdia

In Alcúdia you should definitely climb up the city wall! It dates back to the 14th century and is still really well preserved. From here, you’ll have a great view of the roofs of the old town and you can also see the Serra Tramuntana on the other side. You can’t get all around the Old Town, but near the Porta de Sant Sebastià there are a few open staircasem where you can climb up!

7. The Roman Excavations

The history of Alcúdia actually goes back over 4000 years. This makes Alcúdia the oldest town in Mallorca! Archaeological finds suggest that there were already Talaiotic settlements on the site of today’s Alcúdia. Phoenicians and Greeks then landed here until the Balearic Islands were conquered by the Romans in 123 BC. The Romans called their settlement “Pollentia”, which became the capital of Mallorca and the province of the Balearic Islands.

However, the Roman Pollentia was robbed and destroyed by the Vandals in the 5th century; so a few kilometers away a new settlement was built, today’s Pollença.

With the arrival of the Moors and Arabs in the 10th century, Alcúdia finally got its present name, derived from the arabic word “Al-Qudya” (the hill).

Then, at the end of the 13th century, the construction of the city wall was begun to protect Alcúdia from the many pirate raids. Unfortunately, this wasn’t successful, and several epidemics caused the population to decline even further. In 1779 the harbor Port d’Alcúdia was built, but Alcúdia gained real importance only in the last century with the construction of an important power plant (today no longer in operation) and the general boom of the tourism industry on the island.

Want to explore Mallorca? Then you’ll need a rental car!
Book your rental car for Mallorca here*

8. Playa de Alcúdia & Playa de Muro

Alcúdia is blessed with some of the most beautiful stretches of beaches on the island. The sea here is wide and open in many places. Especially among kite- and windsurfers, the north of Mallorca is very popular. But the flat sloping beaches are also a dream for families with children .

Playa de Alcúdia Centrally located, yet a very nice beach and popular with families

Playa de Muro Super long, white sandy beach, definitely worth a trip! The jetty, which extends far into the sea, is a popular photo spot!

Playa de Alcanada Less touristy. Mainly located under pine trees and with a rather rocky entrance to the water, Playa de Alcanada is a popular beach for extensive picnics, especially among locals!

Advertising / *affiliate link

9. Port d’Alcúdia

The port of Alcúdia is rather touristy. On the long beach promenade there are numerous cafes and restaurants, but also some stores – even a Mango branch can be found here.

10. La Victória Peninsula

If you are already in the area, I also recommend a side trip to the Ermita de la Victoria. The former hermitage is a popular destination for excursions. Here you can also go hiking or visit somewhat rougher beaches such as Playa S’Illot.

You can also find pure nature in the Albufera National Park.

If you are interested in art, the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca is certainly something for you. The private museum is located in the middle of the peninsula La Victória and is a real insider tip! Get your ticket here*

Where to stay in Alcúdia

Especially along Alcúdia’s beaches in Las Gaviotas and Ciudad Blanca, you’ll find one big hotel after another. However, it is not quite as overbuilt here as at other tourist areas.

Are you in the mood for some art in Mallorca? In the north of the island, you’ll find a very special place that not everyone knows about! The Museo Sa Bassa Blanca is tucked away in the countryside near Alcúdia and is a great place to visit—not just for art lovers!

Tip: Combine your visit to the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca with a trip to Alcúdia’s Old Town! Here’s my guide to Alcúdia

Far from Palma: The Museo Sa Bassa Blanca

Even though Mallorca is just an island, there are more museums, galleries, and art exhibitions than you might expect. However, the larger museums tend to be located in Palma, such as Es Baluard, which features contemporary art and major temporary exhibitions. So I was all the more surprised when I first heard about the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca.

This special place is located in the very north of Mallorca, right in the middle of the La Victória Peninsula, and is so surrounded by dense forests that you’d hardly be able to find your way here on your own—were it not for the narrow, secluded road that winds its way from the small village of Mal Pas-Bonaire to this spot.

“Drive up to the line,” reads the small sign at the entrance, and just like that, as if by magic, the gate opens to another world: The Museo Sa Bassa Blanca is more of a total work of art than a museum.

Want more tips for Mallorca?
You’ll find plenty of articles and exciting places to visit on the island on my Mallorca page!

Hassan Fathy House with an exhibition and guided tour

The main building is named after its architect, Hassan Fathy, and houses a large portion of the collection belonging to the artist couple Yannick Vu and Ben Jakober, whose foundation is also responsible for the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca. Access is limited to private tours—and once inside, a small universe of art unfolds. Paintings, installations, photographs, and mementos from a life that has always, in one way or another, revolved around art.

Particularly striking is the high proportion of African art, which blends seamlessly with the Moorish style of the entire building. Originally an old Mallorcan country house, details such as tiles and windows were brought here from Andalusia and Morocco . Even a 15th-century Mudejar coffered ceiling found its way here, and it immediately reminded me of Marrakesh.

The view from one of the terraces across the lush inner courtyard (unfortunately not open to the public) out to the open sea is spectacular.

Aljub & Sokrates Room

Housed in a former underground water reservoir known as an “aljub” is the permanent exhibition “NINS,” a collection of approximately 150 portraits of children from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

In stark contrast to this is the Socrates Room, with its collection of contemporary art and other exhibits. You can visit both without a guided tour.

Sculpture Park & Rose Garden

Around the main building and the exhibition halls, you can explore the sculpture park and the rose garden. In the sculpture park, you’ll even find a few shaded picnic spots scattered throughout—you’re more than welcome to bring your own food and enjoy the atmosphere!

If you don’t have any picnic supplies with you, you can also take a culinary break at the museum’s café. Some of the ingredients for the dishes there even come from the museum’s own garden! Vegetables are actually grown right in the middle of the rose garden, which you can also check out.

Prices

You have several options when choosing a ticket: The least expensive ticket includes only admission to the sculpture park and the rose garden. There is a small surcharge for the Nins and Sokrates galleries.

You can buy tickets in advance here*

The main house can only be visited as part of a one-hour private tour, which you can book on site.

Up to 20 people can participate in the tour, though there is no minimum group size. Spontaneous tours are also possible; there’s always someone available to give a tour of the house—this level of spontaneity, along with the possibility of a truly private tour in a small group or even on your own, more than makes up for the higher price.

Advertising / *affiliate link

My personal tip: Start by buying just the basic admission ticket online for the park and the galleries, and then see once you’re there whether you’d like to visit the main house as well or if the rest of the grounds are enough to keep you busy.

Tips for the Area Around Alcúdia

I’d probably set aside a few hours for the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca. If you’re coming from another part of Mallorca, you should spend the rest of the day in the Alcúdia area —there’s so much to see here!

Here are a few ideas for other places you can visit in the area:

• Playa de Alcanada (locals love to have picnics here under the shade of the pine trees)
• Ermita de la Victoria (a former hermitage surrounded by several beautiful secluded beaches and a popular hiking destination)
• Port d’Alcúdia, with its lively promenade
• Alcúdia’s Old Town, with its ancient city walls and archaeological excavations
• Playa de Muro (one of the island’s most beautiful beaches)
• S’Albufera National Park

The best way to get around here is really by car: You can find affordable rental cars here*.