Alaró, Mallorca

It's believed that the land where Alaro resides was originally part of a large Arab farm called Oloron, although the town's first recorded history began with the Catalan conquest of Mallorca in the 13th century. Later, the town became famous for leather shoemaking. The municipality had up to 30 factories and more than 2000 people dedicated to this activity during its peak. Today, whilst the thriving shoe industry isn’t what it was, you can still visit the working factory shop of Tony Mora who is internationally renowned for his handmade cowboy boots.

An interesting fact for history buffs: in 1901, Alaro was the first town to have an urban electricity network on the island. One hundred years later, the Consell Insular de Mallorca named the tower of the old factory as a monument of cultural interest.

Alaro’s most famous tourist attraction is its ancient castle, the ‘Castell d’Alaro’, which sits 822 metres high on top of a mountain, on a rocky outcrop just outside of town. Although it's presumed there was originally a construction built for military purposes here, the castle’s ruins were built by Christian inhabitants to ward off invasions from pirates after the 13th century. The climb to the top is well worth it for the spectacular views over the valley and out towards the sea.

In the week preceding the 16th of August, Alaro hosts one of its biggest events in honour of its patron saint, known as the Festes de Sant Roc. Historically, it commemorates the eradication of the plague in the 17th century by the miraculous intervention of Sant Roc. Along with the usual street parties and concerts, there is a parade of chariots, a procession of giants Cabit & Bassa and, of course, the town’s own ‘Correfoc’, which involves firework displays and devil dancing.

Alaro also hosts a market on Saturday mornings, where you can buy all kinds of local produce including fresh fruit and vegetables, handmade jewellery, clothing and more.

Alaro is popular amongst cyclists, hikers and those keen to immerse themselves in authentic Mallorcan culture. Although the town is relatively quiet, you are on the doorstep to the Serra de Tramuntana and within easy reach of some of the island's best vineyards so there’s plenty to do.

Cycling
Being on the edge of the Serra de Tramuntana, Alaro can be a bit of a hub for cyclists in the spring, autumn and winter months. From here there are many routes you can take, whether it be gruelling mountain climbs or leisurely rides through the inland plains and around vineyard and almond tree territory.

Hiking
Hiking is a popular activity in Mallorca and there are plenty of trails on Alaro’s doorstep. The most famous hike is the route from Alaro to Castell d’Alaro which combines an epic climb with spectacular views out all the way across to the bay of Palma. This itinerary also includes the much loved Es Verger restaurant, which provides the perfect pit stop for lunch either on the way or on the way back. The hike takes just over 2 hours from the town up to the castle, depending on your pace, and is well signposted. For a shorter hike, there’s also the option to drive the hairy road up to Es Verger restaurant and indulge in a 40-minute walk to the castle, a popular choice for many on a Sunday. At the top of the mountain, there is a refuge where you can spend the night or just enjoy some lunch, a coffee or a cake.

Wine tasting
Alaro is perfectly positioned to get to some of the island’s best vineyards. There’s Bodegas Ribas, Bodegas Macia Batle, Bodegues Castell Miquel and Bodegas Angel all within close proximity. Most of these places offer wine tours and tastings, which can be organized by appointment.

Alaro is a town claiming too many good quality restaurants to name for its size. The most famous restaurant in this neck of the woods is Es Verger, otherwise known as ‘The Lamb Restaurant’, which was famously put on the map by chef and TV personality Rick Stein. Here you must order the shoulder of lamb slow roasted in beer inside the huge restaurant’s wood-fired oven.

In the town centre, Restaurante Traffic is in a prime position in the main square and dons quite a sophisticated façade which will more than likely catch your attention. Inside, the tables are traditionally fashioned with white tablecloths and the menu is varied from typical Mallorcan cuisine through to pizzas. Sa Tafona is also a highly reputable restaurant serving modern Asian fusion cuisine alongside some traditional Spanish and Mallorcan dishes. It has a lovely ambiance both inside and out on the terrace. Vila Cinc is another one on the edge of the main square serving hearty Mediterranean food at reasonable prices. Come here for fish, meat and pintxos.

There’s a good choice of accommodation to be found in Alaro and its surrounding area. Within the town itself, boutique hotels are the way to go. On the outskirts of town, you will find a promising selection of rural hotels, along with private properties in the form of fincas and villas available for holiday rentals.

Within town, Casa Rural Ca´n Beia is a converted 19th-century olive oil mill which retains much of its original features like exposed stone walls and wooden beams but has modern furnishings and a swimming pool. Outside of town, you can find rural retreats with more space to kick back and relax. The charming S'Olivaret Hotel is a luxury traditional hotel set in an old olive press. It’s surrounded by lush Mallorcan countryside, and boasts a restaurant serving up authentic Mallorcan cuisine, an old wine cellar and an infinity pool bragging stunning views.

By car
Situated about 30km from Palma’s Sant Joan International Airport, it takes between 20 and 30 minutes to get to Alaró by car. From the airport, take the Ma-19 towards Palma, then get on the Ma-20 ring road around Palma, before heading northbound on the Ma-13 up to exit 17. Off here, the Ma-2022 will take you straight into Alaro.

Public transport
It isn’t very easy to get to Alaro town centre by public transport from Palma, it can take around an hour due to changes. It is best to catch the T1 or T3 train to Consell/Alaro. Then, to get into the town centre, catch the TIB 320 bus line which leaves a couple of times per hour.