Activity Reviews in Pollenca — 3 of Our Favourites

We met outside the Pollenca Tourist Information office at 10 am and Martin our guide arrived and introduced himself to the group. There were roughly 30 of us altogether from pensioners to toddlers. Martin explained that we were going to see 8 highlights and points of interest in Pollenca without further ado we began the tour where we were stood at the Saint Domingo Cloister.

Stop 1. Built between 1558 and 1616 the baroque church and convent is now the location of Pollenca’s famous classical music festival and has also hosted the Pollenca contest of modern art.

Stop 2. Situated in the Convent is the Pollenca Museum which houses the winning pieces of that modern art contest from 1962 to the present. Other points of interest, which Martin drew our attention to, were the Gothic room, the Atilio Bovery Collection and the Buddhist Mandala which was presented to the city of Pollenca in 1990 by the Dalai Lama.

Stop 3. We stepped outside of the museum and into the Joan March Gardens, displaying a wonderfully preserved medieval gothic tower which our Guide explained to us was a defensive watch tower from which fires could be lit to signal incoming invasion to the other watch towers in the area.

Stop 4. The ‘Mare De Deu Dels Angels’ or Our Lady of The Angels Parish Church, this is the largest church in the city and the point around which the city originally grew. Beginning in the 13th centaury the construction and renovation of this church has been an ongoing process with the current parish building being built in the 18th century. A mixture of baroque and gothic styles the building is strikingly plain from the outside belying an extremely richly decorated and well maintained interior.

Stop 5. Calvari. We ascended the 365 steps up to the chapel at Calvari which houses the sculpture of the Lord’s Mother kneeling at the foot of the cross, carved from one single piece of stone it is believed to be dated from the 13th or 14th century. From the view point at the top of the steps you can see out across the country to the coast from Cala Sant Vincenc to Puerto Pollensa, Formentor, and PortD’Alcudia, a view which makes the 365 steps worth the trouble. On the way back down we took the road instead and passed the 14 stone crosses which mark the route.

Stop 6. The Saint Ignasi School, ‘Monti-sion’ the church and convent built by the Jesuits between 1698 and 1738 and extensively repaired by Joan d’Arago from 1723, the building now houses the town hall and a state private school.

Stop 7. The Alms Square ‘Placa De L’Amonia'. So named for the Alms house situated in this tiny square which was a benefit institution that helped the poor people in the 18th century. The square is also the place where the first confrontation occurs in the reenactment of the Moors and Christians battle, celebrated every August 2nd.

Stop 8. We ended our tour in the main square Placa Major, 3 hours after we had begun. Slighty toasted from the sun and brains engorged from so much information we took our leave from Martin, thanking him for the wealth of knowledge he had imparted upon us in such a short space of time.

Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable imparting far more information about each site than I could possibly hope to relay here, and he knew how to keep the crowd interested mixing stories of grave-robbing, scandal, modern interest and the ever fashionable Knights Templar into his talks. He could answer any questions we had and was willing to discuss anything that interested the group, and he could have done it in 4 languages.

The walking involved was negligible until the 365 steps up to Calvi, however Martin merely showed anyone who couldn’t do the climb the point to which we would be returning in 20 minutes or so and the rest of us pressed on with Martin halting the group every now and then, ostensibly to point out sights but I think more so that the older members could discreetly catch their breath. I would recommend leaving the children behind, although they managed the steps fine, it is rather more information than action and the families with children in our group left midway through.

A great and extremely educational morning out that I would recommend to everyone who wants to learn about the culture of the town. The best part about it was that it was all actually free; I was expecting to pay entrance fees as we went along, but although donations were appreciated at some of the stops (and many of our group tipped the guide at the end) there was no expectation to and no hidden or fees to worry about.

If you enjoy this kind of tour Alcudia also run a similar one, just ask at the Tourist information for more details.

The hill is a prominent feature in the landscape of the area and its monastery, the ‘Santuari de la Mare de Déu del Puig’ peeks out from the treetops watching over the town below and coaxing any curious traveller to make the ascent. Being one such curious traveller, I set out from Pollensa one afternoon to see what the climb had to offer.

Leaving Pollensa, the trail is easy enough to find simply following the signpost to the Puig de Maria which leads off the main road (Ma-2200). From here there is a single path to follow which leads all the way to the top. The climb itself is relatively short at just over 2km and can be happily negotiated in around 45 minutes. The first part of the walk is up a narrow mountain road, steep in places, with trees offering shade and relief from the sun most of the way, later becoming a rustic cobbled path which spans the last ten minutes to the summit.

Arriving at the top, you will find that the small monastery and chapel and their surroundings offer a pleasant stop off for a breather and some lunch. Construction on the site first began in 1348 with the majority of the buildings dating to the 15th Century. Their principle use over the years has been as a pilgrim church before turning to their current use as a hostel following the departure of the last nuns in 1988.

The hostel provides bar and restaurant facilities for visitors looking to buy refreshment, whilst the area around the monastery is great for picnickers with dedicated picnic tables and barbecuing facilities available. The restaurant serves a small range of local dishes including Pa amb Oli, local seafood and a selection of more well-known dishes which will keep the kids happy. Accommodation in the hostel is basic but, at €22 per night for a twin room, offers a superb opportunity to experience historic tranquillity and unrivalled views for those less concerned by luxury.

As aesthetically pleasing as the monastery is in itself, it's the panoramic views overlooking the surrounding countryside which, for me, were the real highlight of this trip. Once you emerge from the thickest of the trees which cover the hillside, the town of Pollensa with its prominent landmarks opens out before you, set against the backdrop of the Tramuntana Mountains. To the south-east, in the distance lies the town and bay of Alcudia and to the north-east the glinting waters of Port de Pollensa and the Mediterranean beyond.

However, the best and least obstructed views of the port can be seen a little lower down the Puig than the summit. Shortly before arriving at the monastery, there is a path that forks off to the left (this path is slightly less established than the cobbles but still easy to follow) which will lead you round to a small ruin. Here you find yourself outside of the treeline and can enjoy the vista in all its glory.

Despite the steepness of the climb in places, its length means that it is suitable for all ages and well within the capability of children. It is possible to drive a certain distance up the ascent to the point where the road turns to cobble. However, this is a very tricky drive with very limited parking so I would suggest walking is favourable.

All-in-all, this is a great activity offering views, history and a bit of exploration; a great way to fill an afternoon!

The walk is fantastic for witnessing stunning views of Majorca's countryside and the local towns of Pollenca, Port de Pollenca and Alcudia, not to mention it is a great workout for the legs. It takes around 40-45 minutes to slowly saunter to the top where there is a lovely monastery and restaurant to stay for a meal or a quick drinks stop.

The Puig de Maria is a modest 330m high, the road leading up the Puig is 2.2km long and winds up through the trees giving both shade from the sun and glimpses of the scenic views below. The route takes you up a road for most of it but the last part has no vehicle access and is a more rocky path. There aren't any parking facilities here so what most visitors do is leave their car in Pollensa, in the car park by the Repsol garage which you'll see just by the main road.

Upon reaching the summit of the Puig de Maria, you are greeted with traditional sandstone buildings housing a monastery and chapel. In 1348 the chapel was constructed and a monastery was added to this 14 years later, where nuns from the local area stayed. The nuns lived and worshiped at the monastery until 1576 when they were ordered to leave and moved to Palma de Mallorca, the islands capital. The monastery still retains traditional decor with tiled floors and small windows so to not let in too much light or heat. There is a magnificent dining room within the monastery as well as a small chapel. The Santuari de la Mare de Déu del Puig is one of several sanctuaries on Mallorca - you can read about the others in our Churches & Sanctuaries page.

Once at the top of the Puig, if you are feeling a little peckish, there is a small restaurant which serves simple, traditional Mallorquian cuisine. Dishes such as ‘Pa amb Oli’ - bread with serrano ham, cheese, tomato and oil; ‘Frit’ - finely diced vegetables with liver, served warm and ‘Els Cargols’ (snails) - served with a generous helping of aioli (garlic mayonnaise) are all featured on the menu. This no-fuss dining is ideal after a trip up the Puig as it allows you to re-fuel, sample the local food and then head back down to Pollenca town.

The restaurant is open for breakfast between 8.30am-10am and serves traditional foods such as ensaïmadas, croissants and juices. Lunch is served from 1pm-3pm with dinner starting at 8pm and finishing at 10pm. As the restaurant is quite small, it is a good idea to phone in advanced to reserve a table, especially if you are a large group. This gives the chef a chance to get everything in stock and to prepare your food before you arrive. If you do go for dinner then it is a good idea to take a torch for the way down, there is no lighting on the path and by the time you leave the restaurant it will be pitch dark outside. The kitchen is closed on Mondays so to avoid disappointment, prepare your trip a different day if you are wanting a meal or snack prepared for you at the top or alternatively you can take your own picnic and sit on one of the stone benches outside the monastery.

If you’ve enjoyed too many jugs of sangria during dinner and cannot face stumbling down the hillside then there is accommodation available for around 20€/night for two beds. This accommodation is very basic so do not expect air conditioning, or an en-suite.

My main advise for climbing the Puig would be to wear sensible shoes such as trainers. Although the walk is not challenging, the path can become very rocky and slippery towards the top and wearing sandals or flip-flops could make an easy walk much more tricky and dangerous. Avoid going up the Puig during the midday sun during the summer months, going in the evening around 8pm will be a lot cooler and a more pleasant experience. Make sure you take plenty of water with you but most of all take your time and enjoy the views. This is a great opportunity to enjoy piece and tranquillity so take the chance to savour it.

The phone number for the Puig de Maria is (+34) 971 184 132.

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