Alcudia City Walls

The Alcudia City Walls date back to the fourteenth century, following the Spanish conquest of the island of Majorca. In 1974, the Alcudia City Walls were declared an Artistic Historical Site together with the remains of Roman city Pollentia.

Alcudia City Walls history

Alcudia was recognised by the Romans as a strategic location with proximity to the sea. The Romans used the Alcudia bay beaches to capture the island in 123 BC, shortly after founding the cities of Palma and Pollentia. King Jaume II of Aragon, in 1298 founded a new town in Alcudia including a church, graveyard, priest’s house and town square.

Similarly acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of Alcudia, Jaume designed a protection system: the city walls, protecting the townspeople and establishing a stronghold in north-east Mallorca against attackers.

Building was initiated at the end of the 13th century and finished in 1362 eventually consisting of a reinforced square structure of about six metres height, with twenty-six towers dotted along the 1.5km perimeter and a moat.

The walls were popularly used during the 16th century German Peasant Revolt as a refuge. The Reformation allowed ordinary people to interpret scripture themselves, deciding feudal lords had no right to enslave them which ultimately lead to a Lutheran revolt in 1524-5.

The Mallorcan nobles took refuge within Alcudia’s walls until Holy Roman Emperor Charles V squashed the revolt. He later declared Alcudia the ‘Faithful City’ in 1523.

Under the reign of Felipe II in the 16th century, a second star-shaped fortification was built of low bastions to position and resist artillery attacks. The Renaissance walls were later demolished to clean up during epidemics and expand the town.

Alcudia City Walls today

Today you can walk around the walls in no longer than an hour, taking the Street “Cami de Ronda” immediately behind the uppermost exterior wall or battlement along the parapet walk, admiring the views on the right hand side with the La Victoria Peninsula.

A market also runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays by the Porta del Moll o de Xara gate, which connected Alcudia to the 18th century harbour.

Getting to Alcudia City Walls

The town within the walls is pedestrianised, so the walls are easily walkable. From Palma, Alcudia is a 50 minute drive along the Ma-13, and there is nearby parking at the Avinguda Princep d’Espanya. The nearest bus stop is on the Av. La Marina, bus route 322 and a 500m walk from the walls.