- Alcudia fortress: ruins of the 13th century - a fortress surrounding the city.
- Main point of interest: the Church of Saint Jaime.
The city of Alcudia is located 3 km from the sea (right on the coast there is a satellite city named Port Alcudia). The name in Arabic means "on the hill", although the settlement here was founded even before the island was established Moorish domination: after the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines appeared and founded the city almost next to the former Roman Pollentia .
A bit of history
In 1229 Majorca was captured by the troops of the Aragonese King Jaime I, and from this moment the revival of Alcudia began. The fortress of Alcudia was of great strategic importance - it protected the island from the pirates who were outraged at that time. The construction of the city wall began in 1300, after King Jaime II issued a decree on town planning.
Construction was almost 100 years old. The fortress wall was reinforced with 26 towers six meters high; under the wall was a moat, which also survived to the present day. Rather, the ditch was covered with earth and dug out as a result of archaeological excavations in 2004, together with the remains of the Vila Roja elevating bridge. The bridge has been restored, and today theatrical performances and concerts are arranged around it.
The decoration of the wall is its gates, one of which - the gate of Vila Rocha - has not survived to the present day (they, according to historical information, were the most vulnerable, and therefore most often they were attacked). The gates of De Chara and the gates of Saint Sebastian (they are also called the gates of Mallorca) can still be seen today. The Mallorca's gate was on the side of the road connecting Alcudia with the "royal road". They were restored in 1963 under the guidance of the architect Alomar. The gate of De Chara is on the opposite side, they open onto the Port of Major.
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From the fortress bastions to the present day only two have reached - Vila Rocha and De Chara, and from the later fortification, erected under Philip II at the end of the 16th century - one more, San Fernán, which at one time served as an arena for bullfighting. In addition, you can admire the church of Saint Jaime. It is quite new - erected in 1893 on the site of an old church, which was rendered unusable due to the fact that its roof was used as a watchtower. The church is decorated with a sculptural image of Saint Jaime, in his honor the altar in the choir is made. The parish museum works at the church.
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You can climb along the city wall and wander through the very town, which is very picturesque. The only nuance is that it is better not to visit the fortress in the very heat.
How to get there and what else can you do in Alcudia?
You can get to the city of Alcudia from Palma by buses 365 and 352.
After visiting the fortress, you can walk along the local narrow streets, visit one of the many cafes - there is an ineffable atmosphere of comfort. You can buy oils, fruit dressings for salads, a variety of vinegars (including figs and mangoes). And, of course, to swim in the sea.