Travel guide – Alcudia
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Overview
The resort of Port d’Alcudia is situated in the north of Mallorca at the top of a long curving bay with an endless white sandy beach. It is two miles (three km) south of the historical old town of Alcudia, from which it takes its name. The sprawling, purpose-built resort, together with its neighbour Playa de Muro, stretches for five miles (eight km) either side of the coast road and is particularly popular with British, German and Scandinavian families. It has a fairly relaxed atmosphere; its spectacular beach is the major attraction, though it is also well placed for exploring the attractions around the north of the island.
Shopping
Alcudia doesn’t have a distinct shopping centre: shops selling buckets and spades and tourist trinkets line the beach road and the other small shopping areas dotted around the resort also cater for tourists. The satellite resort of Playa de Muro has an upmarket mall with some nice boutiques and the port area has a selection of designer shops. The supermarkets are good, stocking all the well-known brands along with cheap alcohol and cigarettes. The local market opens on Tuesday and Sunday mornings and the market in Inca, 15 miles (24km) inland, opens on Thursdays. Good buys include the porcelain and leather goods, but bargain hard.
Restaurants
Most restaurants in Alcudia cater for the unadventurous British palate with plenty of fast-food joints and cafés offering something with chips. There are also a few Italian, Indian and Chinese restaurants. The better restaurants are mostly in the port area, where diners can find some decent Spanish, French and seafood restaurants within a lovely harbour setting.
Nightlife
Alcudia has lots of bars, pubs and discos catering for most tastes but this is not the resort for those after some serious clubbing. Many of the hotels offer in-house entertainment ranging from flamenco dancers to comedians.
Activities
The activities in Alcudia are mainly focused along the spectacular five-mile (eight km) beach that fronts the resort. All sorts of watersports can be arranged from scuba diving to banana rides. There are tennis and squash courts in the resort and nearby attractions include a water park, a go-kart track and horse riding stables. Boats trips can be arranged to the stunning Formentor promontory where passengers can snorkel or simply take in the views. The nearby towns of Pollenca and Alcudia (old town) and the mountain village of Lluc are worth exploring in search of a little culture, while those looking to get away from it all can take a trip to the mountainous western side of the island.
Attractions in Alcudia
Lluc
About 20 miles (32km) beyond Soller, after a precipitous drive through the Serra de Tramuntana in the north of the island, is the remote mountain village of Lluc, in a valley that has been an important place of pilgrimage since the 13th century. Lluc became Mallorca’s most sacred site when a shepherd boy discovered a dark wooden statue of the Virgin in a cleft in the rock. The miraculous statue returned to its cave three times after being placed in the local church. Now the statue, known as La Moreneta, has been encrusted with precious stones and presides in its own chapel, receiving pilgrims and tourists who come to pay homage each day. On Sundays a traditional boys' choir gives a concert at 11am in the monastery complex where the statue resides.
Alcudia (Old Town)
The ancient town of Alcudia, not to be confused with the modern resort two miles (3km) to its south, has a fascinating and turbulent history. The Phoenicians and Greeks settled here and the Romans made it their capital in the 2nd century BC. Destroyed by the Vandals in the 6th century it was rebuilt again by the Moors before being liberated by King Jaime I of Spain in the early 1200s. The Spanish sensibly fortified the city; its massive city walls date from this era. Today visitors still enter the narrow streets of the old town through one of the two gates, which are guarded by large towers. Near the town, at Polentia, is a well preserved Roman amphitheatre and the Orator de Santa Anna, one of Mallorca's oldest churches.
Climate
Mallorca has an ideal climate for holidaymakers with little rain and average temperatures kept below 86ºF (30ºC) even in mid-summer. Temperatures remain nice in the spring and autumn and even in winter rarely drop below 50ºF (10ºC), though rain is more likely at this time of year. Water temperatures range from 64ºF (18ºC) in May to 79ºF (26ºC) in August making Mallorca ideal for watersports.
Health
There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised.
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