Pollensa (in Spanish) and Pollença (in Catalan) is one of the most popular areas of North Mallorca and is referred to as the ‘old town’ compared to the newer town of Puerto Pollensa by the seaside. The heart of the town, of course, is the Plaça Major where there are restaurants, cafes and the weekly fruit and vegetable market held on Sunday mornings. Pollença is tucked away in the North of the island and has a population of around 17,000 which includes neighbouring towns of Port de Pollença and Cala San Vicente. The name Pollensa was given due to the Roman settlement of ‘Pollentia’ in Alcudia and the main street in Pollensa is named after it, Vía Pollentia.
The town was founded in the 13th Century and like many Mallorcan towns was built inland to avoid pirate attacks. One of the first built and most prominent features of Pollensa is the Calvari steps, 365 steps leading up to a small chapel. From there the villas have been constructed along the steps and then the Church on the Plaça Major. The main church on the square was built on a site owned by the Knights Templar and is called ‘Esglèsia de la Nostra Senyora dels Àngels’. Pollensa celebrates two main celebrations, firstly that of Sant Antoni which falls on 16th / 17th January and secondly “La Patrona” or Patron Saint Festival, with the mock battle of “Moros i Cristians” (Moors and Christians), the hero Joan Mas and the brave Pollencins confront the pirate troops, remembering the dawn of the 31st May 1550.