Pol·lèntia

Top choice in Alcúdia


Ranging over a sizeable (but walkable) area, the fascinating ruins of the Roman town of Pol·lèntia lie just outside Alcúdia's walls. Founded around 70 BCE, it was Rome's principal city in Mallorca and is the most important archaeological site on the island. Pol·lèntia reached its apogee in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE and covered up to 20 hectares – its sheer geographical spread (most of it not excavated) suggest it was a city of some scale and substance.

In the northwest corner of the site is the Sa Portella residential area – with the foundations, broken pillars and remains of the walls of domus (houses) separated by two streets. The best-preserved of the houses is the Casa dels Dos Tresors (House of the Two Treasures), a typical Roman house, centred on an atrium, which stood from the 1st to the 5th centuries CE. The 14.4cm bronze head of a young girl was found in the Casa del Cap de Bronze (House of the Bronze Head) nearby. A short stroll away are the remnants of the Forum, which boasted three temples and rows of tabernae (shops). Finally, you can walk another few hundred metres to reach the fascinating 1st-century-CE Teatre Romà (Roman Theatre), which seems to be returning into the rock from which it was hewn. The semi-circular orchestra at the front and the cavea (where spectators were seated) still survive. It wasn't until the late 19th century that the remains were identified as being a theatre. The theatre alone, with a diameter of 75m and a former capacity of around 1000 spectators, is worth the entrance fee.

Visitors are free to wander among the ruins.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Alcúdia attractions

1. Museu de Sant Jaume

0.06 MILES

This museum, housed in the large eponymous Gothic church, contains a collection of priestly vestments, paintings and religious items.

2. Museu Monogràfic de Pol·lèntia

0.07 MILES

This one-room museum has a fascinating but limited collection of statue fragments, coins, jewellery, household figurines of divinities, scale models of…

3. Ca’n Domènech

0.11 MILES

One of Alcúdia's finest, this large, grand and noble building has a largely unadorned facade.

5. Ca’n Fondo

0.14 MILES

This stolid and imposing building with classical carvings around its 1st-floor windows is a short walk north of the turning with Carrer de Sant Jaume.

6. Ca’n Canta

0.16 MILES

A fine old home with stunning carvings around its 1st-floor windows, just west of Plaça de sa Constitució, opposite the entrance to Carrer dels Albellons.

7. Porta del Moll

0.24 MILES

A magnificent sight at the east end of the old town sporting two towers, this solitary 14th-century gate is one of the two surviving gates of Alcúdia.

8. Medieval Walls

0.3 MILES

Although largely rebuilt, Alcúdia's fine city walls are impressive. Those on the north side are largely the medieval originals while near the Porta Roja …

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