Uttings Eden

Puerto Pollenca, Northern Mallorca

A POTTED MALLORCAN HISTORY Human occupation goes back to around 3000 B.C. Experts have determined the first islanders lived there somewhere between 1300 and 1000BC with remains of fortifications and burial chambers from this period found on the island. There's a well preserved Bronze Age settlement at Ses Paisses at Artia in north east Mallorca The Carthagenians, aided later by the Greeks and Pheonicians, ruled the island until 123 B.C The Romans, however, were the first to really create the basis of modern civilisation when the conquered the island in 123BC and made it a Roman colony. They landed on the coast at the spot where Alcudia stands today. Naming it Pollentia - meaning "power" - it was for centuries the capital of Balearis major, the name the Romans gave the island and was one of two major centres they built. The other was Palma in the south, today's capital, which was settled at about the same time. The Romans remained on Mallorca for five and a half centuries building the first towns, building the first roads and introducing Christianity too. They were replaced by the Vandals, Goths and finally the Moors who ruled the island for 300 years. It wasn't until the 15th century that Mallorca became part of Spain.

MALLORCA FACTFILE

It has been popular with tourists for over the 100 years. In that time over 215 million visitors have been welcomed to the island. There are 5,547km (3,439 miles) of coastline. More than 3,640 square kilometres of the island is natural parkland. 554 km of it is coastal. Over 176km of designated cycle routes have been created. with around 400km of trails for those who love hiking. 18 golf courses have been built. 41 marinas host over 17 000 berths. There are 35 vineyards. Annual rainfall on the island is slight, varying between 1,400mm (55in) in the mountains to only 300mm (11.8in) on the southern plain. Mallorca's present population stands at over 600,000,

SO WHERE ARE WE?

Puerto Pollenca is situated on the northern tip of the island some 45 minutes drive from Palma and its airport. With the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range as a backdrop, which shelters the town, it's the perfect holiday spot with a beautiful sandy beach, harbour, yacht club and a large square around which bars, restaurants and shops abound with a diversity to suit all tastes and pockets. Sailing and windsurfing in the bay are particularly popular, but you can try waterskiing if you're desperate to make some noise. The town and surrounding area has always been popular with the British who have visited this part of the island for nearly 90 years. Puerto Pollensa is a fairly recent creation and you won't find atmospheric alleyways and historic churches there; for that you will have to travel five kilometres inland to the old town of Pollensa itself. IT was established in Roman times.

THE PHOTO GALLERY

Puerto Pollenca Beach	Now that's a Sandcastle

The Seafront

Decorating locally made Pottery	Main Square
Pine Walk	The Harbour
Home Page	Top of Page