The town of Alaró in Majorca

The silhouette almost symmetrical Alaró mountains (822 m) and Alcadena (816 m), located face to face, are the most remarkable images of the municipality of Alaró. Puig de Sa Font Fresca (836 m) is the highest point, and Puig Ventós (274 m) the smallest of the eight corners of the town.

The name comes from the Arabic phrase Hisn al-rum (حصن الروم) "Roman fortress", derived from hisn (حصن) "castle" or "fortress" and al-rum (الروم), "Roman" or "Byzantine "preceded by the article" al ".

The castle is in ruins, but there is still a sanctuary of the seventeenth century, the Mare de Déu del Refugi and a haven for walkers who wish to spend the night, subject to some modest participation.

To visit the castle, he must reach the town of Alaró, then head of the valley of Orient to cross the road to the castle, signposted. Following this road you reach the hamlet of Es Verger located mid-slope, where there is a restaurant and parking. The walk starts here and continues until Es Pouet where the old stone path begins, the only way to reach the door of this magnificent castle.

In general, the Alaró castle is very popular with the masses of tourists, bus access is impossible.

The Alaró name Hisn al-arun, is in a text of Al-Zuhri, in which is described the conquest of the island by the Muslims in the year 903. Al-Zuhri mentions a fortress built on a high and lonely place, Hisn al-arun (حصن الارون).

It is unclear why the Arab governor Benahabat gave the castle without a fight, shortly after the Christian reconquest in 1231. Once again, the fortress was enlarged and modernized, it was now considered impregnable.

The documented history of Alaró begins in the thirteenth century, from the conquest of Majorca, and revolves around the castle.

Jaume II, King of Majorca, was the uncle of the king of Aragon, Alfonso II, but as king of Majorca, he was the vassal of the Crown of Aragon, but Jaume II was not loyal and secretly forged an alliance with France. Also, while the King Jaume II was in Perpignan (Perpinyà), Alfonso II of Aragon led a punitive expedition in Mallorca, Palma was conquered in a few days by the Aragonese Pere el Gran, 25 November 1285.

The Castell d’Alaró was the only way to resist, but eventually the castle was attacked Dec. 30, 1285. Its garrison, consisting among others of Ramon Ballester, Guillem Capello and Guillem Bassa, perished in the attack.

Legend has it that the noble Majorcan Capello and Bassa, after being captured, mocked King Alfonso, saying that Mallorca grouper (Anfos in Catalan, with the same sound that Alfons) is eaten with sauce. The king replied that their braised goat was delicious, and they were condemned by King Alfonso to be roasted alive on a spit over hot coals for not having recognized as king of Majorca and be loyal to King James. Hence the nicknames given to Guillem Capello, Cabrit ("goat") and Guillem Bassa, Brasa ("charcoal"). This barbaric act was the reason for the excommunication of Alfonso II the Pope.

Jaume II returned to his Kingdom of Majorca after an oath of loyalty to the Aragon.

During the final destruction of the kingdom of Majorca by Pere IV of Aragon in 1349, was also destroyed the Castell d’Alaró, the castle remained in ruins until now.

One of the most important economic activities in Alaró has been for years, and is still, despite the crisis, the shoe industry, in its moments of splendor she worked more than 30 factories and 2,000 people. Today, this economic activity was minimal, with only one large company in this sector.

Alaró also had large lignite mines, now closed, for the production of electricity, which, in recent years, belonged to the power company GESA (now part of Endesa).

Today, the town of Alaró, like many other villages on the island, has become a dormitory town most of whose inhabitants work in the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca and in the neighboring city of Inca.

Information and reservations: 00 34 971 182 112.