From Wikitravel

Pollenca is a town in Mallorca, one of Spain's Balearic Islands. Nestled at the feet of the Serra de Tramuntana, the mountain chain along Mallorca's northern coast, it is a very attractive traditional Mallorcan town which is a world away from the package holiday resorts found elsewhere on the island.

[edit] Get in

Pollenca is in the north-east of the island.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• The Good Friday procession from the church at the top of the hill to the church in town. And on any other day of the year, you should climb the 365 steps from the church in town to the church on the hill. Beautiful view from there. The fourteen stations of the Cross can be followed (reverse) on the narrow road going from the hill down to the main city square.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Get a nice cold beer in the main square on market day and sit back and enjoy the view.

• Climb to the top of Puig de Pollença. The name Puig de Pollença or Puig de Maria refers to the hill as well as to the ancient hermit nun's monastery on its top. Its first origins reach back to 1348. Main parts of the complex have been built in the 15th century. After 1564, it was only sporadically used as monastery, while the church had been maintained during all the centuries as a pilgrim church. The last nuns left the convent in 1988. Since then, it is used as a hostel. Its location high over the town of Pollença and the old, venerable but simple buildings together with the view on the coastline, the Serra de Tramuntana and the wide plane give quite a mystical atmosphere. In the outer yard, there are several fireplaces and tables for one-day-visitors and there is a bar and restaurant service provided by the keeper family - Prices are moderate.

• Walk on the Cami Vell del Far (the old track to the lighthouse). A 3 to 4 hours walk for good hikers in the wild nature of Cap de Formentor. Drive to Port de Pollenca and then direction Cap de Formentor. At km 13, you'll find on the left side a big parking for your car. Put good hiking shoes on and take water and food with you. Go back on the road, to find the start of the walk, marked Cala Murta. Walk down for about 30 minutes to Cala Murta on a good dirt road. Cala Murta is a beautiful little beach. Now go back on the dirt road for a few hundred meters. On the right side of the track, you'll see a picnic area with a few tables. At the end of the picnic area, you'll find the starting point of the path to the Coll de la Creu. There's no sign, just follow the cairns. A few hundred meters later, you'll see the Cami Vell del Far winding up to the pass. Try to follow the stone track as much as possible, avoiding shortcuts which destroy the track. Remember the people who have built this track by hand, many years ago. Once at the pass, you can lunch, and then go to the second pass (easier than the first one). From the second pass, just follow the track down to the road. Take the road left, pass through the tunnel and reach your car a few hundred meter further.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• There is a very good market in the main town square on Sundays.

Pollensa Market

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Food Shops

• Ice Cream
  • Gelats Valls (on the main square). Very good ice cream in many flavours although only open on Sundays during the market. edit

• Bakeries
  • Pasteleria Il Giardino sells good cakes and other pastries. Closed on Mondays.
  • There is also a more typical panaderia on the Plaça Vella. They sell excellent local pastries. Taste their turnovers, their cookies with chocolate filling or their spinach flans.

• Groceries
  • Ensenyat, fine delicatessen grocery. Carrer Alcudia 5. [1]

• Supermarkets
  • Eroski, out of town, on the road to Puerto Pollensa. This supermarket has everything you need for your stay. Open Mo-Sa & Su morning.

[edit] Restaurants

• Clivia, Avenida Pollentia 7 (south of the main square), ☎ 971 53 36 35. A fine restaurant in the main shopping street of Pollença. Good fishes (sea bass, lobster) and meat (excellent confit of lamb shoulder). Appropriate clothing advised (no short nor tee-shirt). Reservation recommended. Two-course meal with wine €50.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Hostel in Old Monastery at the top of Puig de Pollenca, ☎ 971184132 - 639958096. You can get one of the former nun cells as single/double rooms or dormitory. The rooms in the upper flat give a great view of Pollenca and the surrounding countryside and are furnished modestly with an electric heater, a desk and a chair. The rooms in the lower flat are very basic, limited to only a bed and desk. Toilets and (solar heated) showers are available. The big goal is the perfect infrastructure for self-suppliers. You can use a big (really big) kitchen with fireplace. Bring your own dishes with you. The 15th-century refectory is a very contemplative (but coolish) lounge. Double rooms €14 or €19 for the room for a night, dorms €5 pppn. During the high season, reservations are very useful.  edit

[edit] Hotels

Pollenca has some well regarded hotels for a break, they tend to be smaller than the big resort hotels, and friendlier too. Some of the favourites include La Moraleja, Son Brull Hotel and Spa and Hotel Daina.

[edit] Get out

• Port de Pollenca - the nearest beach, (its also a very good beach!)
• Alcudia - give the package holiday resort a miss, and head to the Roman ruins around the old town.
• Palma de Mallorca - Mallorca's capital, full of things to do, and places to see (the Banys Arabes are fantastic)
• Soller and Port de Soller - don't drive there direct! Go to Palma and catch the Soller train - the best way to see Mallorca!
• S'Albufera Natural Park - a fantastic place to come and see the fantastic birdlife that exists on Mallorca.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!