Alaró castle, between legend and reality
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| Text: Aina Bosch, Photo: Toni Gómez y Miquel Company |
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The route to Alaró castle is one of the most spectacular hikes in the beautiful mountain area of Sierra de Tramuntana. The view of Mallorca to be had from it is simply extraordinary, covering the plain of Es Pla, the bay of Palma, Alcudia and the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. It is one of the few viewing points from which one can make out the whole island.The remains of the ancient castle of Puig dAlaró date back to the Muslim era. It was the refuge of resistance against the Arab conquest.
Its walls gave rise to the legend of the nobles Guillem Cabrit and Guillem Bassa, defenders of the rights of Jaime I in the face of the reunification pretensions of his brother Alfonso III of Aragon. The Mallorcans refusal to surrender provoked the wrath of the Aragonese king, who swore he would roast them alive one day. The castle surrendered due to famine shortly afterwards, in 1286, and it is said that Alfonso III fulfilled his enraged promise, roasting Cabrit and Bassa over a slow flame in Alarós Plaza del Lladoner. We do not know for sure if the story is true or not, but popular imagination holds them to be martyrs and canonized them; worship of them was included in divine office in Mallorca, and continued to form part of it until the year 1635. |
| To gain access to the mountain that instigated this story one must reach the village of Alaró, and then carry on towards the village of Orient and take the road that leads to the possessió of Es Verger. At this point one can choose either to start the hike on foot, or continue on up in ones vehicle until coming to the small levelled area of Es Pouet. If you do decide to go on foot, you will be able to enjoy a pleasant walk amongst typical olive groves. This track rises almost imperceptibly, so the hike along it turns into a delicate Mediterranean stroll. The track swings to the right and joins the path that starts in Es Pouet. |
| The last stretch of the route has to be covered on foot, and runs along a path which is cobbled for a fair amount of the way, for around twenty minutes. The vegetation also varies notably, as we penetrate cool groves of pines and holm-oaks which make the steep rise up to the summit more pleasant. |
| If you still have enough energy left, after enjoying the views from the top and the remains of the castle you can walk to the cave of Sant Antoni, which lies around 30 minutes from the chapel. The cave entrance is hidden beside the remains of a castle watchtower, so you have to look carefully to find it. It is definitely worthwhile searching for it, because it offers a different point of view of the impressive Mallorcan landscape, one we can enjoy with more tranquillity. |
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