Pollença

Municipality in Balearic Islands, Spain

Pollença Flag Coat of arms
Location of Pollença in Mallorca
39°52′38″N 3°0′59″E / 39.87722°N 3.01639°E / 39.87722; 3.01639
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Balearic Islands
Province	Balearic Islands
Comarca	Serra de Tramuntana
Judicial district	Inca
Government
• Mayor	Martí March (PSOE; 2023)
Area
• Total	151.65 km² (58.55 sq mi)
Elevation	47 m (154 ft)
Population (2018)^[1]
• Total	16,189
• Density	110/km² (280/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	07460

Pollença (Catalan pronunciation: [poˈʎɛn.sə]) is a town and municipality in the northern part of the island of Majorca, near Cap de Formentor and Alcúdia. It lies inland, about 6 km (4 mi) west of its port, Port de Pollença.

History

The origin of the name "Pollença" can be traced back to the name of the Roman settlement of "Pollentia", the excavated remains of which lie several kilometers away, at the modern municipality of Alcúdia.

Throughout its history, Pollença was a site of significant military confrontations, due to its prominent geographical position. From resisting the Christian conquest and the expedition of King James I of Aragon, to becoming the last stand of King James III of Majorca, the area witnessed intense conflicts.

It was founded in the 13th century some 6 km (4 mi) from the coast, in an effort to avoid pirate attacks. Various encounters with corsairs occurred, including the notable confrontation with Ottoman corsair Dragut in 1550, where the Pollença locals displayed remarkable bravery. The event is commemorated annually on August 2nd.

Main sights

Most houses were built in the 17th and 18th centuries and many streets are very narrow and compact, a legacy from the medieval era. The central square, called Plaça Major, has numerous outdoor cafés and is dominated by a large 13th-century church Esglèsia de Nostra Senyora dels Àngels (Our Lady of the Angels) which was built by the Knights Templar.

One of the town's most distinctive features is the 365-step stairway north of the square; this leads up to a chapel on top of the hill known as Calvary. On Good Friday this is the setting for the most dramatic parade of the year. First, on the road winding up the back of the hill, there is a reenactment of the Stations of the Cross. This is followed by a mock crucifixion on top of the hill after which the figure of Christ is ceremonially removed from the Cross. There is a sombre, torchlit parading of the body of Christ through the town led by hundreds of people in cloaks, masks and pointed hats and done in total silence save for the slow beating of a drum.

The town also has a 19th-century bridge of Romanesque design that crosses a stream to the north of town.

Most visited sights in Pollença town: Plaça Mayor, Plaça Vella, Can Llobera, Convent, Joan March Gardens, Calvari and Roman Bridge.