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Brimming with history, Pollensa is a beautiful place which has kept its charm throughout the years and still impresses travellers from around the world. Founded in the early 13th century, there’s a brilliant mix of ancient and modern attractions around the town that make it a great place to visit if you enjoy exploring notable sites and taking trips to famous monuments or buildings.
If you’re looking for inspiration for the best places to visit in Pollensa, here are 10 of our top suggestions.
The obvious starting point for most visitors to Pollensa, the main square was built in the 1850s to provide a new hub for the town's growing population after the old square Plaza Vell had become too small to accommodate the town's needs. The main square provides the setting for the weekly market as well as many of the fiestas that take place during the year.
There are an array of restaurants and cafe bars around the square and you are really spoilt for choice. It's also the location for Club Pollensa; the local social club which has a small theatre inside and events held throughout the year. They serve food and drink and all are welcome.
Some of our other favourite eateries around the square are:
Il Giardino - An Italian/Mediterranean restaurant that is many regular visitors’ favourite. If you’re lucky, it's the place where you may catch a glimpse of a famous face. Richard Branson has been spotted here and Antonio Carluccio was a frequent visitor.
Onze (Q11) - A relative newcomer but one that has quickly established an ever-increasing following.
Can Moixet (Cafe Español) - An authentic local bar serving tapas, bocadillos and Pa amb oli.
Sant Jordi is the patron saint of knights and soldiers and the chapel was built in the 16th century. It was a place for the town's militia to congregate prior to going to the coastal areas and watchtowers to defend the town against the pirate attacks that were becoming more prevalent during this time. When it was built, the location was on the edge of the town which was deliberately chosen as the closest point to the coastal areas where attacks would be launched.
Inside the church, there is an impressive high altar and a Baroque-style altarpiece featuring a statuette of the Virgin del Mar in recognition of an image that was discovered in Cala D'Ariant in the 17th century. The chapel has a typical basilica floor plan with a side chapel that was built in 1770 and dedicated later to San Marcial. The building alongside the church was originally a hospice and in 1849 became the home for the Sisters of Charity.
The chapel sits alongside the small Plaza Sant Jordi and the Hotel Son Sant Jordi, which is open all year round and home to the La Placeta restaurant, where you can enjoy a coffee, lunch or dinner al fresco or inside. The restaurant serves typical Mallorcan cuisine.
Whether this historic landmark was actually built in Roman times is unknown. The first record of the bridge was made in the 15th century, and Pollensa as a settlement was recognised in its current location in the 13th century.
However we do know that the Romans were in Mallorca between 115BC and 415AD, and some think it may have been built as part of an aqueduct. We also know it has stood there for hundreds of years, longer than any other bridge in the town. In the summer it's just a dry riverbed beneath the bridge, but when the rain comes the water absolutely pours underneath.
The Calvario Steps in Pollensa, also known as the Via Crucis, are a set of 365 stone steps that lead up to a hilltop chapel in the town of Pollensa on the island of Mallorca, Spain. The steps are lined with cypress trees and offer beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
The Calvario Steps have been a pilgrimage site since the 18th century and are traditionally climbed on Good Friday. Along the way, there are 14 stone crosses representing the 14 Stations of the Cross, which depict the events leading up to Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
At the top of the steps, there is a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which dates back to the 18th century. The chapel contains a statue of the Virgin Mary and is a popular spot for visitors to take in the panoramic views of the town and the Tramuntana Mountains.
The Calvario Steps are a popular attraction in Pollensa and are a must-visit for anyone interested in history, architecture, or religious traditions.
A small square with a big history, ‘Plaça de l’Almoina’ means ‘place of the alms’. The house alongside the small square was used to hold commodities such as wheat, crops and money in the past.
The local authority, then known as “universities”, would distribute what was needed to the poor people of the town. It was basically an early version of a food bank and run like a charity.
The Plaza has one of the original fountains that were installed around the town for the
people of Pollensa, this one dating back to 1827. They were made possible by the
assignment of a spring on the Ternelles Estate by the Desbrull family.
To most locals, this plaza is known as the point where the famous battle of 1550 commenced on 30th-31st May, when the town was raided by Ottoman corsairs from North Africa. The infamous Dragut and 1500 of his privateers (Pirates) invaded the town and took the woman and children as prisoners.
Joan Mas, Pollensa's most famous heroine, woke up the men of the town who fought a fierce battle with the Moors to regain control of the town. They then proceeded to free the women and children, many of whom had been held captive in the Oratory de Sant Jordi.
Today there are several cafes, bars and restaurants surrounding the small plaza and it's a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by. The restaurant Font de Gall, which is named after the fountain, is situated a few metres along the road towards the town hall. The Gall (cockerel) that sits atop the fountain is the emblem of Pollensa, and you will see its image in many places around the town.
The building of the convent and cloisters were started in the 16th century by the Friars of Sant Dominicans. Work began in 1558 and it was completed in 1616. The friars occupied the property for just over 200 years, having originally been stationed at the Oratory Roser Vell.
The main church has a basilica design with 10 side chapels, each of which has ornate original altarpieces. It was ceased in 1833 by the Spanish government, who at the time were confiscating many buildings owned by the Catholic Church to raise money due to the financial hardships of fighting many wars and lost colonies at the time.
The building was returned to the local council a few years later. Since then it has served as a hospice, Guardia Civil Barracks, school, library and museum amongst other purposes.
Nowadays, the convent hosts events such as the annual wine festival and the Pollensa International Classical Music Festival, which sees some of the world's most renowned classical musicians, opera singers and orchestras congregate in Pollensa for a 6-week festival that has been running for over 60 years.
The old square known as ‘Plaza Vella’, situated on the west side of the church, was the main hub of the town until the Plaza Major was built in 1850. It is home to the annual ‘U Pi’ fiesta in January, where a pine tree that has been cut and brought down from the Ternelles Estate is erected for the locals to try and climb.
Even though it's far too small to accommodate the thousands of people that attend, Pollensa locals will not veer from the tradition of holding this historic fiesta anywhere but where it started.
You will find the historic Manor house of Can Llobera overlooking the square, which was home to the Llobera family who were one of the richest local families during the 19th century. The building is now home to the local library and archives and includes photographs from the well-known local photographer Guillem Bestard.
The Roser Vell Chapel can be found at the entrance to the town when approaching from the south. Although its origin is unknown, it dates back to the 14th century and is dedicated to the Virgen del Rosario.
The chapel became the settlement place for the Dominicans who obtained permission to establish themselves there during the 16th century between 1576 and 1588, shortly before obtaining the land from the Desbrull to build the larger Sant Domingos Cloisters. The Dominicans remained at Roser Vell until Sant Domingos was completed in 1616, and it was then updated and modernised in the late 19th century.
There is an impressive baroque-style altarpiece dating from 1651 in the chapel, made by the Majorcan sculptor Joan Antoni Oms, which includes a carving of the Virgin from the 13th or 14th centuries. Outside in the courtyard, there is a well that is still preserved for public use.
Outside of the Sant Domingos Cloisters, you will find the Joan March Gardens and the
Desbrull Tower. The trees and plants in the garden are all indigenous to Mallorca and provide some welcome shade on hot days.
The Gothic tower belonged to the manor house that was owned by the Desbrull family, who were part of the original settlers in Pollensa (Knight Templars) in the 13th Century. The manor house and Ternelles Estate remained in the Desbrull family for hundreds of years, until it was sold to Joan March Ordinas who owned a business empire which included Trasmediterránea shipping and their financial arm Banca March
Although Joan March was jailed for arms and tobacco smuggling, he escaped jail and fled to Gibraltar. At one point he was once the 6th richest person in the world. The family own numerous Palaces and Fincas including several in Mallorca and are alleged to be worth over 2 billion Euros.
The Son Brull Hotel can be found approximately 3km outside of Pollensa, and it is best to drive or take a taxi there. The original building dates back to the 12th century when it was built as an “alqueiria” which means an Arabic Farmhouse or stables.
The building which can be seen today was constructed In the 18th century by the Jesuit Monks who lived off the land and would accommodate tired travellers at the monastery for rest and recuperation. The locals would refer to it as ‘the farm with many windows’.
In 2003, the former monastery was restored by a local family and is now one of the leading boutique hotels on the island and a member of the renowned Relais and Chateaux group. The hotel is well worth a visit, where you can sit on the terrace enjoying a coffee or cocktail, sample a fine dining experience in the converted olive mill restaurant, or enjoy a more relaxed lunch or dinner in the hotel's bistro.
If you enjoy sightseeing when you’re on holiday then Pollensa is a fantastic place to visit. There are plenty of different places to visit around the town, and whether you want to find out more about the area’s history or just fancy admiring some impressive architecture, there’s more than enough to fill several days of exploring.
If you’re planning a visit to Pollensa and are looking for somewhere to stay in the area, Vida Villas has a fantastic selection of accommodation to choose from. Browse our selection here, or get in touch and talk to our team about what you’re looking for.
Best Things To Do To In Pollensa
Image Credits:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/pollenca-old-village-on-island-palma-2010916790
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/torre-de-can-desbrull-po
