| Alcúdia | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
| Gate of the city walls | |||
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Alcúdia
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Balearic Islands | ||
| Province | Balearic Islands | ||
| Comarca | Raiguer | ||
| Judicial district | Inca | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Coloma Terrassa Ventayol (PP) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 60.05 km2 (23.2 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 15 m (49 ft) | ||
| Population (2009) | |||
| • Total | 19,071 | ||
| • Density | 317.6/km2 (822.5/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 07400 | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Alcúdia (Catalan pronunciation: [əɫˈkuðiə]) is a municipality and township of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is the main tourist centre in the North of Majorca. It is a large resort popular with families.Most of the hotels are located in Port d'Alcúdia and Platja d'Alcúdia along the 14 km long beach that stretches all the way to Can Picafort. In Alcúdia the old town is well preserved with houses dating back to the 13th century. The old town is surrounded by a medieval wall.
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The area where Alcúdia is located has been inhabited since the bronze age, but it is with the arrival of the Romans the city makes its entry in the history books. The Romans used the beaches of Alcúdia bay when they captured the island in 123 B.C. Shortly after this the capital Palma was founded and then the city of Pollentia. From Pollentia it was possible to view both the bay of Pollenca and the bay of Alcúdia. Pollentia served as a guard for other invaders. The city was also mentioned in Rome since they here produced excellent fabrics that was used in the most exclusive togas.
After Rome had lost its position as a dominant power in the western Mediterranean area Pollentia was attacked by pirates and several times by the Vandals. Finally the city was abandoned and the remaining population left to create a new town at a more protected and safe location. This town became Pollenca and the area where Pollentia had been was left in ruins.
After the invasion of the Moors a farmstead was created very close to where the ancient village of Pollentia had been. The farm was called Alcúdia which is Arabic for "on the hill". In 1229 the Moors were defeated by king Jaume I of Aragonia who overtook the power of the area. In 1298 King Jaume II bought the farmstead Alcúdia and founded the new town. A church, a grave yard, a house for the priest and a square was created in the same year. The construction of the walls was also initiated at the same time and finished in 1362. The city plan that was made at the time is the same that Alcúdia still has. During the renaissance the walls were reconstructed and a second wall was constructed outside the old one. This wall is today torn down and only details show where it ones was.
During the 16th century pirates attacked the city several times. The population became less and less and there was from time to time a risk that the city would be abandoned totally. 1779 a decision was taken to support the city by constructing a harbour. This did really improve the economy of Alcúdia a bit and the village was saved. But it remained a rather small and poor village.
Already in the 1920:s the first tourists arrived to Mallorca and also to Alcúdia. This was though in a very limited scale and the economy of the village stayed weak. In the beginning of the 70:s it started to be clear that the future of Alcúdia would be in tourism. 15 years later the old harbour of Puerto de Alcúdia had developed into a mayor resort for European tourism. In the 90:s the construction boom calmed down and several regulatons was put in place to secure the quality of the resort. The focus is on visitors searching for both relaxation and activity. A golf course has been constructed and both bicycle and hiking trips has been arranged. The old town has been preserved and pedestrianised. It has due to this become one of the most visited villages in Majorca.
The old town has a 14th century wall and it is possible to step up on the wall and follow it almost all around the village. There are remains of a Roman town just outside the medieval town walls, in front of the Church of St. Jaume, belonging to the ancient city of Pollentia (see also the Italian Pollentia) . There is also a small Roman theatre. North of the Town is a bull ring from the 19th century.
The old town also host a marked both on Sundays and Tuesdays all the year. Inside the walls there are several popular restaurants and bistros famous for good home-cooked food in small settings. In Port d'Alcúdia most of the restaurants are located around the marina. Most of these restaurants are only open in the tourist season.
Further north and west are some coves and beaches ideal for sunbathing, swimming or snorkeling. The beach at Alcúdia is c. 14 km long and stretches as far as C'an Picafort. Alcúdia joins on to Playa de Muro which is home to S'Albufera; a natural park that is very popular with bird-spotters.
Alcúdia is celebrating the festival of St. Jaume every summer. It goes on for nine days at the beginning of July. Before the festival starts the town is decorated and each street picks out a theme for that years look. During the festival several traditional evening festivities are arranged in the old town such as the Night of the Romans where the streets are full of locals dressed in traditional ancient Roman dresses. There are also out-door theatres, sport tournaments, exhibitions and the traditional bull-fight. The fiesta is finishing with La Noche de Sant Jaume, a fireworks display and philharmonic concert by the old walls.
Every three years takes place the Triennial of Sant Crist, a religious procession where the population slowly walks barefooted through the town in silence, for several hours. The origin of this procession dates back to 1507. According to tradition, the image of Sant Crist sweated blood and water, thus putting an end to a drought. The next Triennial is in 2013.
Alcúdia is home to UD Alcúdia who play at Els Arcs, which has a capacity of 1,750.
Alcúdia is home to one of Europe's largest hotel complex's, Bellevue. With 8 swimming pools and 17 apartment blocks the complex is set in 150000sq m of gardens.