Overview: The resort of Port d'Alcudia is situated in the north of
Mallorca at the top of a long curving bay with an endless white
sandy beach. It is two miles (3km) south of the historical old town
of Alcudia, from which it takes its name. The sprawling,
purpose-built resort, together with its neighbour Playa de Muro,
stretches for five miles (8km) either side of the coast road and is
particularly popular with British, German and Scandinavian
families. It has a fairly relaxed atmosphere; its spectacular beach
is the major attraction, though it is also well placed for
exploring the attractions around the north of the island.
Shopping: Alcudia doesn’t have a distinct shopping centre: shops
selling buckets and spades and tourist trinkets line the beach road
and the other small shopping areas dotted around the resort also
cater for tourists. The satellite resort of Playa de Muro has an
upmarket mall with some nice boutiques and the port area has a
selection of designer shops. The supermarkets are good, stocking
all the well-known brands along with cheap alcohol and cigarettes.
The local market opens on Tuesday and Sunday mornings and the
market in Inca, 15 miles (24km) inland, opens on Thursdays. Good
buys include the porcelain and leather goods, but bargain hard.
Restaurants: Most restaurants in Alcudia cater for the unadventurous British
palate with plenty of fast-food joints and cafés offering
something with chips. There are also a few Italian, Indian and
Chinese restaurants. The better restaurants are mostly in the port
area, where diners can find some decent Spanish, French and seafood
restaurants within a lovely harbour setting.
Nightlife: Alcudia has lots of bars, pubs and discos catering for most
tastes but this is not the resort for those after some serious
clubbing. Many of the hotels offer in-house entertainment ranging
from flamenco dancers to comedians.
Activities: The activities in Alcudia are mainly focused along the
spectacular five-mile (8km) beach that fronts the resort. All sorts
of watersports can be arranged from scuba diving to banana rides.
There are tennis and squash courts in the resort and nearby
attractions include a water park, a go-kart track and horse riding
stables. Boats trips can be arranged to the stunning Formentor
promontory where passengers can snorkel or simply take in the
views. The nearby towns of Pollenca and Alcudia (old town) and the
mountain village of Lluc are worth exploring in search of a little
culture, while those looking to get away from it all can take a
trip to the mountainous western side of the island.
Negatives: The resort of Alcudia is not known for its architectural merit;
its skyline is dominated by 1960s style apartment blocks. To the
relief of many, Alcudia is not the resort for party animals; those
looking for some serious clubbing should head for the south of the
island.
Attractions
Alcudia(Old Town) : The ancient town of Alcudia, not to be confused with the modern
resort two miles (3km) to its south, has a fascinating and
turbulent history. The Phoenicians and Greeks settled here and the
Romans made it their capital in the 2nd century BC. Destroyed by
the Vandals in the 6th century it was rebuilt again by the Moors
before being liberated by King Jaime I of Spain in the early 1200s.
The Spanish sensibly fortified the city; its massive city walls
date from this era. Today visitors still enter the narrow streets
of the old town through one of the two gates, which are guarded by
large towers. Near the town, at Polentia, is a well preserved Roman
amphitheatre and the Orator de Santa Anna, one of Mallorca's
oldest churches.
Lluc: About 20 miles (32km) beyond Soller, after a precipitous drive
through the Serra de Tramuntana in the north of the island, is the
remote mountain village of Lluc, in a valley that has been an
important place of pilgrimage since the 13th century. Lluc became
Mallorca's most sacred site when a shepherd boy discovered a dark
wooden statue of the Virgin in a cleft in the rock. The miraculous
statue returned to its cave three times after being placed in the
local church. Now the statue, known as La Moreneta, has been
encrusted with precious stones and presides in its own chapel,
receiving pilgrims and tourists who come to pay homage each
day.
Arta: The ancient hilltop town of Arta close to the east coast of
Mallorca has been occupied for about 3,000 years, and today
welcomes visitors to the remains of its Bronze Age settlement
at Ses Paisses, just outside the town in a grove of olive,
carob and holm oak trees. Arta presents a picturesque sight
from the Santuari de Sant Salvador, the chapel-shrine on top of the
hill, with its bleached rooftops spilling down the hillside below
the battlements of a Moorish fortress. The town is particularly
lively on Tuesdays, which is market day.
Pollensa(Old Town) : Situated in the hills, towards the north east of Mallorca,
Pollensa is a peaceful old town that has been largely unaffected by
tourism. The town was established a few miles inland to protect
against any sudden pirate attacks; its harbour, Puerto Pollensa,
was left as an unprotected outpost. Today the port has grown into a
popular family resort. Some of Pollensa's medieval
centre remains around the Plaça Major, the main square,
including the church of Nostra Senyora dels Àngels. From the
outside the church is fairly austere, the sheer stone façade
is pierced only by a large rose window, but the interior is highly
decorative particularly during the packed Sunday morning services
when it is ablaze with candles. Other than the church, the main
square houses a cluster of bars and cafés, and on Sunday
morning, a busy market. Just north of the square is the Via Crucis
(Way of the Cross), a long stone stairway, bordered by ancient
cypress trees. At the top, in a small chapel, is a much-revered
statue of Mare de Déu del Peu de la Creu (Mother of God at the
Foot of the Cross). On Good Friday, a figure of Jesus is slowly
carried down the steps by torchlight in the Davallament (Lowering).
Perched on a hill just south of Pollensa is a rambling 18th-century
monastery, a peaceful and serene spot to take in wonderful views of
the surrounding area. The monastery is an hour’s walk from
town.
Activities
Castelld’Alaro : Mallorca’s most popular hiking trail is the climb from the
town of Alaro up to a ruined castle and hilltop chapel, which
offers panoramic views of the sea and plains as far as Palma. From
Alaro the walk takes about two hours to complete. The castle ruins
on the hilltop date from the 15th century and dominate the
landscape. At the summit there is a restaurant and bar to refresh
weary climbers. On Sundays the trail becomes rather busy.
Shona Gilmour; Nov 2006:
We travelled to Alcudia in October for our 20th wedding anniversary as I dont like it too warm and the weather was perfect. We tried many of the restuarants but preffered the Plaza, the best food in the resort, yummy.... more
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