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Centrally located and only 25 minutes from Palma, Alaró is situated just off the Palma-Inca motorway. Lying at the foot of 2 striking butte-shaped mountains, whose rocky bare faces tower steeply above the surrounding forest and scrub, this sleepy looking mountain village appears to beat with a heart of it's own. Plaça Vila, the central square, overlooked by a medieval fortress-like church, comes alive on Saturdays - it's market day - offering fresh local produce and an array of arts and crafts, clothing, flowers and plants. Two rather old fashioned cafes and a modern bar offer a pleasant spot to sit, read a paper and enjoy a refreshment, whilst watching the throng of people buying their wares.
The village has preserved its old wash house where the village women used to gather to wash their clothes, (found near Solleric Street), as well as the old electric factory which was the source of the Island 's first electricity, which you pass as you enter the village.
Alaró is also a popular set off point for a number of very beautiful walks over the mountains and down towards the Orient Valley. Of particular note is the walk up to the ruins of the Castell d'Alaró, Moorish in origin, and rebuilt by Jaume I. Visible for miles around, the castle looks impregnable on its lofty perch, impeding the Aragonese invasion of 1285; when an Aragonese messenger suggested terms for surrender, the garrison's two commanders responded by calling King Alfonso III "fish-face", playing on the Catalan word anfos, which means perch. Unfortunately for them, when the castle finally fell, Alfonso had the two roasted alive. For those not quite so keen to take the quite strenuous walk, the road to the Castell d'Alaró is well sign-posted from the village, although the narrow winding road is not for the faint-hearted! You can park either at Es Verger, a rustic old farmhouse serving some of the best lamb on the Island, or slightly higher up. The final walk takes between 15-30 minutes to reach the top, leaving you to explore the fragmented ruins of the old fortress, as well as a tiny pilgrim's church of Mare de Déu del Refugi. Well worth a trip, the views are quite stunning and there is even a simple restaurant and bar to regain your energy for the return journey. It is also possible to stay overnight in very simple, but pleasant accomodation.
Shops and Services
You will find all essential services in this hill-side village, to include a medical center, dentist, chemist, vet, hairdresser, 3 supermarkets (including Eroski SYP and Aldi), fishmonger, expert for electrical goods, post office, 2 ironmongers, 3 bakeries, video/dvd rental, and a few others selling a variety of goods, from newpapers and sweets to bed linen. An interiors shop can be found just off the top end of the square, in addition to a very colourful and vibrant Australian children's clothes shop called Luna Luna which has recently opened on the square, and a contemporary art gallery called Addaya, all adding to the international flavour of this small village. There are a handful of restaurants (sadly, none of much substance) in addition to numerous Spanish bars.
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General - Alaró Town Hall - Alaró Market Day - Alaró Hotels
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| Population: |
approx 4.000 |
| Town Hall: |
Plaça Vila, 17 – 07340 Alaró, Tel. 971 510 000 |
| Post Office: |
Avenida Constitució, 26 |
| Market Day: |
Saturday |
| Train: |
Alaró is on the main Palma-Inca line |
| Best Hotel: |
S’Olivaret Hotel 4*, Alaró-Orient, Km 3 - 07340 Alaró, Tel. 971 510 889, Web: www.stilhotels.com
Hotel Can Xim/Resaurante Traffic, 07340 Alaró, Tel. 971 879 117, Web: www.canxim.com
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| Palma: |
approx. 20 minutes away  |
| Airport: |
approx. 25 minutes away |
| Beaches: |
the beaches of the West Coast of Alcudia and those on the South Coast are more or less equidistant, approx. 30 minutes away
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| Golf: |
Son Vida and Pollensa, 30 minutes |
| Schools: |
The Academy, Marratxi - see Services |
| Leisure: |
The Camp de Futból on your left as you come into the village offers a public swimming pool, football ground, bar and many more sporting activities for adults and children alike.
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Fiestas
This town truly certainly knows how to enjoy a fiesta, and at any opportunity will bring out their devils, demons and fireworks with a deafening bang! It's main annual festival is August 16. San Pedro and Los Damunts is also celebrated in a week long festivial around July 29, which include activities for children throughout the day, live music from Thursday-Sunday nights, dancing, parades and numerous other fun and festivities for locals and visitors alike. Very Spanish in its ways, the villagers have opened their arms to quite a large mixed international community; they have even started an International Fiesta, celebrating a "Town for All"– "Alaró és de Tots", celebrated on the Saturday around July 16 - Well done Mr. Mayor!
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