Alcudia in Mallorca. Medieval tourist attractions and ancient ruins of Pollentia

Alcudia is an incredibly beautiful and atmospheric city in Mallorca, in its northern part. According to us, it is the most beautiful city on this Spanish island. It made the biggest impression on us, and we were the last to visit it. Alcudia is extremely picturesque, curious about its rich history and captivates with a somewhat mysterious atmosphere, and also delights with the beach. Much more intimate than other Majorcan cities, it is known for its well-preserved old town, surrounded by medieval walls on which you can walk. It is delightful!

Tourist attractions of Alcudia, what to see in Alcudia

Alcudia attracts tourists with its unique atmosphere and variety of attractions to discover. I am convinced that the city will captivate you and you will be happy to walk among these old walls, passing through the medieval city gates and ancient ruins. Here are the most beautiful sights and attractions to see in Alcudia!

Alcúdia Old Town

The Old Town of Alcudia is a real architectural gem. Charming narrow streets with houses dating back to the 13th century create a unique atmosphere. The heart of the city is an interesting town hall (Ayuntamiento de Alcudia). The current building dates back to 1929 and has a nice clock tower. It stands on the main street of Calle Mayor. It is the main promenade, with numerous streets that are decorated with harmonious sand buildings with green shutters and flower pots. Some alleys here are even sleepy, which only increases the values of this city, so different from the crowdedSoller or Palm.

Alcudia city walls and gates

The defensive walls of Alcudia are stunning. Well-preserved, they surround the old town and you can walk around them, looking down at the narrow streets of the old town in Alcudia and admiring the views of the Formentor peninsula, the serra de tramuntana mountains and the sea. The most important city gates are Porta de Moll (Porta de Xara) and Porta de Mallorca (Porta de Sant Sebastià), which are the symbols of the city. Their charm is undeniable. I recommend seeing both, because they open and close the old town, and you can walk from one to the other in a few minutes.

Church of St. James in Alcudia 

St. James'Church in Alcudia, or Església de Sant Jaume, is the most characteristic and impressive building in the city. The neo-Gothic temple was originally part of the watchtower of the city walls. The current building dates back to the 19th century, but is a reconstruction of a former fortified church that was destroyed to its foundations. Admission to the small museum inside the church is paid, it presents works of sacred art from different eras.

Ancient ruins of the Roman city of Pollentia

At one time, Mallorca was ruled by the Romans. In the second century BC, they founded the town of Pollentia. The city cultivates its ancient splendor when the Romans ruled over the island for 5 centuries. After buying a ticket in the area of ancient ruins, you will see a residential district, a forum and a theater, reportedly the smallest in Spain. The ruins, although they are mainly foundations, are very impressive. They are spread over a large area, which proves the size of this settlement. And we are talking about the times of the turn of our era and the earlier era. The ticket also entitles you to enter a small museum with exhibits of ancient origin, which is located next to the magnificent temple of the present city.

The remains of the ancient Roman city of de Pollentia lie just southwest of the old town. It is one of the main attractions of Alcudia, but also of the whole region. The amphitheater could once accommodate 2,000 spectators, and you will also see fragments of Roman streets and houses. It is a perfect place for lovers of history and archaeology.

Beach in Alcudia - Playa de Alcudia

Alcudia is also a seaside resort, known for its beautiful sandy beach. Platja d'Alcúdia (Playa de Alcudia) is the most beautiful open beach on the island. It is also one of the longest beaches in Mallorca. It stretches for about 10 km. It offers golden sand and crystal clear water, which has a beautiful color in the bay. It is ideal for families with children and people looking for relaxation in the sun. Wide sands from the west limit the port of Alcudia with yachts and restaurants.

You can continue to stroll by passing paid sun loungers for rent, but the beach is so wide that everyone will find a place to themselves here. There are water attractions and an interesting pier - modest, without barriers, but constituting an amazing scenery, just right for Instagram photos. There are also smaller, more intimate beaches in the area, such as Playa de Muro.

Where to eat in Alcudia?

In the old town of Alcudia you will find many restaurants that offer Mallorcan cuisine. Most of them accumulated on the promenade, especially on Placa de la Constitucio, i.e. the market square. We ate at Restauranta Satyricon. Coffee with a piece of cake cost us only 5.5 euros. This is very little for such an excellent place, because it is difficult to pay less in Poland.

Every Tuesday and Saturday there is a local market in Alcudia, where you can buy fresh fruit, vegetables, local products and handicrafts. This is a great opportunity to get to know the local culture and try regional specialties.

In addition, Alcudia is a place of many cultural events and festivals throughout the year. For example, the St. James Festival is held here. Such holidays are also a good opportunity to try local cuisine and local delicacies.

How to get to Alcudia in Mallorca?

Alcudia is about 56 km from Palma, the capital of Mallorca. The easiest way to get here is, of course, by car. The Ma-13 motorway leads from Palma to Alcudia and it takes about 45 minutes to get there. From Palma, you can also get here by bus, line 302. It runs on the route Palma de Mallorca – Alcúdia – Port d'Alcúdia – Playa de Muro.

Free car parks in Alcudia

Car parks in Alcudia are free, with a few smaller ones under the city walls and one large one next to the Roman ruins. We also stood in a free car park a few hundred meters from the beach, next to a gas station. This is an exception, because other popular cities in Mallorca have paid parking lots. Alcudia is a bit off the beaten track in the north, but I strongly recommend you visit it.

History of Alcudia

The history of Alcudia dates back to prehistoric times, even then it was inhabited by primitive people. In the second century BC, The Romans founded the city of Pollentia, which grew to become the capital of the region. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was repeatedly attacked by pirates and vandal tribes, which led to its fall. In the ninth century, under Muslim rule, this area gained a new name, Al-Qudya. It means "on the hill".

In the 13th century, when the island was conquered by James I of Aragon, Alcudia began to develop as an important commercial and defense center. In 1298, King James II commissioned the construction of defensive walls to protect the inhabitants from attacks. The construction lasted until 1362 and included 1.5 km of walls with 26 towers. Today, in the crowded Mallorca, Alcudia remains a town somewhat detached from reality. There are tourists from all over the world, yes, but there are much fewer of them, and the old town is sometimes even slightly sleepy, unrealistic.

Alcudia is a place that combines rich history, beautiful landscapes and local traditions. Thanks to its well-preserved architecture and numerous tourist attractions, it is an ideal destination for every tourist visiting Mallorca. Strolling through the old town, discovering secluded Roman ruins or relaxing on the beach, you can feel the unique charm of this place. It is one of the best places to relax during your holidays in Mallorca.

Accommodation in Mallorca

While visiting Mallorca, we slept in El Arenal, adjacent to Palma, the capital of the island. It is an interesting place with a bay, souvenir shops and many restaurants. It's not super quiet here, and our Hostel Atlanta accommodation wasn't very high, but compared to other accommodation on the island, it was really cheap here. We paid PLN 900 for 4 nights for 2 people. On the plus side, there is a communal and equipped kitchen with equipment, and a slightly poor bathroom.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Rent a car

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What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

• Formentor in Mallorca, distance: 14.3  km
• Soller in Mallorca, distance: 35.9  km
• Drach Cave in Mallorca, distance: 39.6  km
• Valldemossa in Majorca, distance: 45.5  km
• Palma de Mallorca in Mallorca, distance: 51.4  km
• Mallorca, distance: 51.4  km
• Cala del Moro in Mallorca, distance: 60  km
• The most beautiful beaches in Mallorca, distance: 60  km