We caught the bus from Palma €6.80 to the old town of Pollensa on the north coast of Majorca.
Pollenca is a delightful place to wander around. The town is filled with characterful lanes that wind around little squares – you will notice how spotlessly clean the whole place is. The main square, Placa Major is home to the 18th century Nostra Senyora Del Angels church with it’s rather fabulous rose window.
The Convent de Sant Domingo is the other main church in Pollenca. It was built between 1588 and 1616 and has a baroque cloister with four portico corners. The cloisters are home to the Museum of Pollenca and contains the remains of prehistoric sculptures shaped like bulls, as well as a mandate (Tibetan sand painting) given by the Dalai Lama in 1990. It also houses a collection of contemporary art and works by the artist Atilio Boveri. The cloisters of the convent are the venue for Pollenca’s celebrated classical music festival. The convent also hosts the wonderful Pollenca Art Fair each year at the beginning of November. Next to the convent lie the gardens of Joan March with its 17th century tower.
The Dionis Bennassar Museum is loacted in a typical Mallorcan house and is filled with the painter’s works and personal belongings.
The Pont Roma (Roman bridge) on the edge of town gives a clue to Pollenca’s long history and its name dates from the 14th century, when settlers from Alcudia named the town after their former Roman capital, Pollentia (the ancient name for Alcudia).
Among its many other historic buildings is a former Jesuit convent which is now the town hall. From here you can reach the Calvari church with its ancient wooden cross and views of Puig de Maria by climbing the 365 steps which are lined with cypress trees. Fantastic views up to the Bay of Pollenca and over the plains of Majorca can be enjoyed from the top. The Calvari steps are the scene of a moving procession each Good Friday, when a figure of Christ is removed from a cross and carried down the steps by torchlight.
A truly lovely day that both my wife and I really enjoyed.
