Pollença monuments
Mare de Déu dels Ángels Parish
Church:
the Mare de Déu dels Ángels Parish Church is the
building around which the town of Pollença grew from the
XIIIth century, with the catalan conquest of Mallorca. The Parish
was founded in 1236 and handed over to the Knights of the Order
of the Temple by was abolished the Parish was ruled by another
military order, the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem,
until the XIXth century, when lost of properties were disentailed
and many other religious orders were cloistered. The existing
parish building was built during the XVIIIth century (1714- 1790);
it is a construction of basilical floor. The high altar is dedicated
to the Virgin Mary, patron Saint of the town.
Saint Domingo´s Cloister:
the church is of a basilical floor design with side chapels and
the choir at the base. The Dominicans began its construction in
1558. The conventual enclosure stands out, a baroque cloister
of regular design, surrounded by portico style corridors with
half point arches ober jonic columns. The church has ten lateral
chapels each of them decorated with an altarpiece of the age.
The “Nostra Senyora el rosary” altarpiece presides
over the church (1651- 62), with an image of the XVth century
of the “Roser- Vell”, from Joan Antoni Oms.
Joan March Gardens:
In the centre of the village, next to Saint Domingo´s Cloister,
there are some gardens with excellent examples of native vegetation.
A Medieval tower remains there belonging to a grand house located
in the same place.
Monti- sion. Saint Ignasi´s School:
Built on the slope of the Calvari´s mountain there is the
impressive Saint Ignasi´s School, built between 1698 and
1738. Monti- sion, as the whole building is popularly known, is
formed by a church and a cloister. Nowadays this building is occupied
by the Town Council and a school. The church is of basilical floor
design with lateral chaples. Although the creator of the design
of the building is not known, the architect Joan d´Aragó,
was responsible for the works from 1723 and the designer of the
inside decoration of baroque style.
Roser Vell:
The Roser Vell church has its origin in the XIVth century, here
the Virgin of the “Rosari” was worshiped. The church
is of basilical floor design with lateral chapels. Between 1500
and 1525 the two first lateral chapels dedicated to the Virgins
of “Remei” and “Dolors”, were destroyed.
In 1541 the other two lateral chapels were built. At the end of
the XIXth century Roser Vell was restored and acquired its current
aspect. Next to the church there is the house of the donor, where
a round main door decorated with diamond ends can be seen, which
comes from a house of the town…
Saint Jordi:
Saint Jordi´s church was built during the XVIth century
in the outskirts of the town, facing the sea. The place was not
chosen in an arbitrary way. It was the departure point of the
people from Pollença to the coasts when pirates were approaching
the town. Nowadays the church is of basilical floor design and
has a lateral chapel, opened in 1770, dedicated to Saint “Marcial”.
The presbytery is rectangular and decorated with a baroque style
altarpiece done by the sculptor Rafel Torres in 1653. The altarpiece
is presided over by a figure of the Virgin known as the Sea Virgin,
to remind that the image was found in Cala Ariant in the XVIIth
century.
The Calvary:
At the top of this little mountain with the same name there is
a little church built between 1795-99. The floor design is slightly
elliptical with a semicircular apse. To arrive to the church there
is a big staircase of 365 steps from where you can see a wonderful
view over Pollença. Inside the church there is a sculpted
group of the crucified Christ with the Virgin at his feet, from
the XIVth century.
Roman Bridge:
An old bridge, used to cross Saint Jordi´s torrent. Nowadays
it is known by the name of Roman Bridge.
Puig de Maria:
A sanctuary located at 330 metres, at the foot of the town, chapel,
tower and walls…, everything built between XIVth and XVth
centuries. The gothic style predominates. The church is of one
nave and preserves a popular image of the Virgin from the XIVth
century. It was an important monastery and it was abandoned for
a long time. Through this sanctuary there have been hermits, donors
and religious orders. It has a path of stones from the XVIIth
century. It is recommended to do the journey on foot.
“Alzineret” Caves (Sant Vicenç):
A prehistoric group of caves known from long ago. Nowadays there
are seven funerary artificial caves if a bigger group. They were
built around 1600 b.C. and belong to a culture known in Mallorca
as the Pretalaiotic. They are a protected group and can be visited
freely.
“Albercuix” Watchtower:
Built at the top of a mountain of 380 metres high from where you
can see a marvellous view of Pollença´s bay and Formentor´s
peninsula. The defence watchtower wqas built in the XVIth century
as part of the defence system of Mallorca against the pirates.