The very attractive old Mallorcan town of
Alcudia is found in between twin bays in the north of the Island. Its town centre of winding roads, fine renaissance buildings, small cafes and restaurants ensures this a pleasant venue for a peaceful stroll. The old town is very popular with day visitors, but is mostly quiet during the evening time. A mile or two from the town is the busy holiday resort of Puerto Alcudia.
Phoenician traders were known to have established an early town in this strategic place during the early 7th century BC. Then the Romans replaced them several hundred years later and it was they who promoted Alcudia (they knew it as Pollentia) to be the capital. Mallorca was often attacked by the Vandals following the end of the Roman era, when they lived up to their terrifying reputation by sacking the town. Alcudia was later reconstructed by the Moors who invented it as "Al-cudia" meaning "on a hill". During the 14th century, the Moors were driven completely out of Mallorca by King Jaume and it was his heir, Jaume II, who rebuilt the town defences, complete with 26 stone towers and three gates. These walls were renovated during the last century after falling into ruin.
Alcudia tourist attractions include the old church of Sant Jaume which has a 13th century chapel (of Sant Crist) complete with organ dating from about 1559ad. Further south are the well preservered ruins of the Roman theatre, the Teatre Roma, in which the stage area has been cut from the bedrock. The theatre is still used even today for the occasional concert or show. To discover more about the long history of Alcudia, then the Museu Monografic de Pollentia has displays of coins and other relics excavated from the town area in recent years.
Further east of Alcudia can be found the Fundacion Yannick y Ben Jakober, a large collection of fine sculptures and oil paintings, showing over 140 portraits of children, that has been assembled by a husband and wife team. In the new Karlewis Wing is a collection of contemporary art by well known artists. This particular area of the Formentor peninsula also boasts some wonderful scenery, especialy round the Talaia d Alcudia which rises to a full 1400 feet above mean sea level. There are outstanding vistas from the summit of the mountain.
Further south of Alcudia town, occupying the upper part of this beautiful bay is the holiday resort of Puerto Alcudia popular mostly with package holiday visitors. The main beach or playa is the Platja d Alcudia, which is thought of as one of the best on Mallorca. It stretches for over 5 miles in total, from the yacht marina to the smaller Platja de Muro beach in Can Picafort. There are a complete range of water sports here, including water skiing, sub aqua diving and wind and kite surfing all taking advantage of the clear waters and warm
Alcudia weather.
In between Puerto Alcudia and Can Picafort is the nature area of S Albufera de Mallorca. This large park of wetlands is a home to a wide range of animals and fauna, including rare moths, warblers, bats, fish and over 60 varities of fungi.
Puerto Alcudia has a large, spacious yacht marina and an esplanade lined with hotels, small bars and stylish restaurants with English style pubs commonplace. The holiday resort has a quite lively nightlife with places like the Roman styled "Menta" disco, which even has its own pool and is one of the most visited of local venues.
