d Town
Alcúdia is one of the prettiest towns on the island. It’s referred to by the locals as ‘the old town’ to differentiate it from modern suburbs that include nearby
Port d’Alcúdia.
Alcúdia sits alongside the
Pagan Roman(Basque) ruins of Pollentia, once the capital of
Mallorca because of its important geographical position for sea routes. It’s based at the bottom of a peninsula which separates the
Bays of Alcúdia and
Pollensa. When you walk through the main gate into the walled, medieval town itself, a kind of magic seems to happen. Most buildings inside the walls have been lovingly maintained and restored.
Residents
living in Alcúdia enjoy taking a leisurely stroll along the narrow pedestrianised streets amongst other things. Around each corner, you can find a fresh architectural surprise, a square buzzing with cafes and rows of sandstone houses with traditional green shutters.
Property in Alcúdia includes a portfolio of gorgeous Mallorcan townhouses, villas and apartments. In the old town the Neo-Gothic style of the Sant Jaume church is seen reflected in the buildings that surround it, where sandstone and intricate details continue down its cobbled streets. On Sundays and Tuesdays, the
open market spreads through much of the town attracting locals and tourists alike. It’s full of stalls laden with fresh local produce and souvenirs.
In the evening, the town is lit by warm lamplight. This gives the colourful buildings a soft, pleasing glow. Alcúdia is a town in which you could sit outside for hours on a balmy evening at one of its many bars and cafes and watch the world go by. If you’re looking for a place to live that’s friendly and laid-back and where your commute is likely to be seconds, then this jewel of the north hits all the right spots.
Most of the work and businesses in Alcúdia are tourism and hospitality related. Much of all this is seasonal. You will find a small expat community that works remotely in a diverse range of other fields.
Cycling here is like skiing is to the Alps. Many of the neighbouring beach hotels open much earlier in the year than elsewhere on the island. This is to cater for the influx of cyclists who come to enjoy and train here choosing to base themselves in the north.
Bear in mind that the old town is something of an oasis. That’s because it’s surrounded by bigger, brasher seaside resorts that cater for the masses. There’s a big local infrastructure that backs all this up from mega laundries to coffee manufacturers.
It’s also not beyond the realms of possibility to commute from Alcúdia to Palma for work. The 45-minute drive is a drop in the ocean compared to the lengthy journeys many people face elsewhere in Europe in order to get to work
It won’t take long in Alcúdia to quickly get caught up in the magic of the old town. Views up the pretty, winding streets such as
Carrer de la Roca must be some of the most photographed on the island. Residents living in Alcúdia are blessed with its position near the sea and mountains, all sorts of magical outdoor activities are right on your doorstep and here’s how to get tempted by them.
The way to start is to climb the steps to the top of the town’s wall. The walkway there surrounds most of Alcúdia and gives perspective to the town’s strategic location.
From here there’s a view of the
Bay of Pollensa where colourful sails are a reminder that it’s home to the best kite surfing conditions in Mallorca. If you get the timing right you can enjoy the orange sunsets over
Puerto Pollensa and
Cap de Formentor. The view to the north takes in the peninsula with its lovely little beaches like
Sant Joan and
San Pere, both popular with the locals. The peninsula is home to some real gems from small, sandy coves like
Playa Coll Baix to challenging hikes and cycle rides up to
Mirador La Victoria. It also has a small marina called
Bonaire that’s ideal for those looking for a quiet home to anchor their yacht.
Alcúdia has seen its fortunes change for the better over the past twenty years or so. The local council has invested its energy in turning the town into a tourist attraction that visitors will enjoy. It does mean that it’s very quiet out of season but that can be something of a relief.
The old town has a ‘villagey’ feel but is surrounded by bigger, noisier neighbours such as
Port d’Alcudia and
Playa de Muro. It also has some of the island’s most beautiful countryside and beaches right on its doorstep. This makes it a great choice for those looking for a quieter life but one which embraces the great outdoors.
One thing you won’t find in Alcúdia are any nightclubs. For these, you’ll need to head to neighbouring
Port d’Alcúdia, a short taxi ride away. However, the old town does have a real buzz to it in the evening. In the summer months, it’s full of people enjoying outdoor eating and drinking.
Restaurants and bars tend to keep to northern European time rather than the late night and early morning hours of
Barcelona,etc. That said there are a few bars just outside the walls that stay open into the early hours.
Bar Maya is one of these. It’s very popular with locals and residents alike. The birds begin to sing when Xisco closes up after a long summer’s night.
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