Places in Spain - Alcudia, Mallorca

Alcúdia is rightly proud of its 7kms of curving white beach that shelves gently into the sea with its thatched beach huts and sun beds, palm trees, beach-side cafés and restaurants. There's also a wide variety of water sports to be found on the beach. The bay has shallow water which makes it popular with families with small children.

Without any doubt, Alcúdia has adapted to cater for the mass British tourism industry. You can buy your daily British newspapers, drink pints of bitter, watch the live football on satellite TV, and even sit down at a restaurant that serves genuine English fish, chips and sausages.

Porte D'Alcudia (Puerto Alcudia) is the old fishing village which lies at the northern end of the beach. There are restaurants and gift shops lining the sea front, with more traditional, Spanish style shops and cafés on the street behind. You will find some excellent sea food restaurants, well worth seeking out, hidden away in the back streets. The sports marina has berths for all sizes of vessels.

What to see in Alcudia

Wherever you look in Alcudia, you will find remains of ancient civilizations, along with typical Mallorcan architecture. The narrow streets are lined with stone houses.

The beaches of Alcudia

Alcudia itself has no town beaches but to the north you will find the areas of Marina, Barcares and Mal Pas. The beaches here vary in quality and tranquility. The little coves can be isolated and provide peace and quiet. The long beaches are popular with kite surfers and families alike.

Fiestas in Alcudia

The year in Alcudia starts with the traditional Three Kings celebrations on the 5th January when the Three Kings arrive at the port to give presents to the children. The year in Alcudia is always packed with fiestas and celebrations, including;

January 16th-17th - The celebration of Sant Antoni Abat, the patron saint of animals, with the leaving of the devils from the Town Hall, the lighting of fires on the 16th and the traditional benediction of animals on the 17th near the Parish church of Saint James.

March/April - Easter week (Seman Santa) with impressive processions and church masses.

June 29th - The celebration of Saint Peter, the patron saint of the sailors. There is a procession on the sea where decorated boats accompany their patron to the sea and go for a walk in the bay. The preceeding week there are a many cultural activities.

July 1st-2nd - The celebration of the "Mare de Déu de la Victòria" takes place at the hermitage. On the eve there are the typical dance "Ball de bot" and a concert by the town orchestra. On the day of celebration there is a mass with flower donations and then everyone enjoys all kinds of games and races

July 25th - Saint James, the patron of Alcudia. The celebration lasts a week and during this time there are a lot of activities : concerts, open air dances, theatre, displays and religious ceremonies.

July 26th - Every 3 years there is the Procession of the Saint Christ in memory of the miracle in 1507 when the figure of Saint Christ started to sweat blood and ended a large period of drought

August 24th - The festivitiy of the Chinese lanterns where the youngest of the town will go through the streets and sing old Majorcan songs carrying their Chinese lanterns made of melons

First week in October - In the first week of October the Fira takes place, a trade fair with products from agriculture, the arts and crafts, industry and companies. On Saturday is a procession (from the street Estol del Rei En Jaume) of Majorcan people carrying figures of the Majorcan history through the streets of the town

December - The Christmas celebrations, including the very popular Midnight mass (on Christmas Eve), the sibylline singing, the competition of the nativitiy scene, other nativity competitions and the New Year celebrations