The town of Binissalem in Majorca

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Introduction

Binissalem is a small farming town - mostly wine - west of the plain of Mallorca, although the city is administratively part of the County of Raiguer. The city has about 7,500 residents, "Binissalamers" who kept their traditional way of life, because the city is not affected by tourism (the nearest beach is 30 km). However, many residents work in Palma, a distance of only 25 km.

Etymology and toponymy

City Binissalem Mallorca - Crest of the city

The name Binissalem come from the Arabic "Bin Selim" ("the son of Selim") the name is fixed since the sixteenth century. The thirteenth to the sixteenth century, the town was named Robines, which means the center of Binissalem (see today Our Lady of Robines).

The patron saint of Binissalem is St. James , celebrated on July 25, the shield of the city wears a shell St. James.

In Castilian Spanish, Binissalem is spelled Binisalem.

Location

The town of Binissalem is located in the center of the island, on the ancient road connecting the two main Roman colonies of Mallorca, Pollentia northeast and southwest Palmera. Binissalem is on the road Ma-13A today doubled by the highway Ma-13, and the city is a bit away from the traffic flow that connects Palma (26 km) to Alcúdia (33 km), which gives it a certain tranquility. Binissalem is only 7.5 km Inca’s capital Raiguer.

The municipality of Binissalem adjacent municipalities of Alaró, of Consell, of Inca, Lloseta and Sencelles.

The region of Binissalem, located at the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana, is fairly flat and low (139 m on average), the highest peak of the Penyal des Bous (rock oxen), and between Alaró and Binissalem with 408 m.

Visits

Binissalem enjoyed great prosperity of the seventeenth century until the early nineteenth century, thanks to its wine production, this time the city retains many mansions that rich landowners had been built in the city, in addition mansions they owned their land. These homes are built with white stone of the region Binissalem (Pedra de Binissalem), the limestone quarries were almost as famous as his vineyard. Binissalem is the city of Majorca has the most mansions, after the capital, Palma. These mansions are found in the city center - now restored - around the imposing parish church of Our Lady of Robines, also made of the same white stone. They sometimes alongside more modern buildings, breaking the architectural style of the city center. The best known of these are the mansions of the Portella Can Gelabert and Can Sabater. But the others are worth a look: Ca n’Antic, Can Beltran, Can Corneta, Can Bugle, Can n’Enric Sureda, Can Ferrer, Can Garover, Can Garriga (with a long baroque façade), Cal General Morante (Baroque porch with octagonal columns) Can Marc (Baroque facade), Can Novell, Can Tiro de ses Bolles, which has a facade of Mannerist style… Also worth a visit instead of Pou Bo (Good Spring) with its ancient well, which was originally the center of the village, mentioned in documents dating back to 1341 and the wonderful door Cas Capità Bisso. For architectural heritage, the historic center of Binissalem was declared in 1983, the site of historic and artistic interest, giving it special protection.
The Church of Our Lady of Robines (Església de Nostra Senyora de Robines / Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Robines)
The construction of the first church of Our Lady of Robines back to the thirteenth century (1248), it was built - as so often - on an ancient mosque, the church was transformed in the late sixteenth century and early seventeenth century, while maintaining its Gothic style. Its bell tower, the Gothic Revival style, was completed in 1908, this tower is the landmark of the city of Binissalem, visible far from the plain. Nostra Senyora de Robines owes its name to the old name of the village, Robines. Inside, the main altar is Baroque altarpieces with the seventeenth century. The organ was built in 1854 by Antoni Portell, on the right of the gate, in the Capella de la Puríssima, is a polychrome sculpture of the Mare de Déu Morta (The Dead Mother God).
The House Can Sabater
The Can Sabater is a manor house dating from the fifteenth century and renovated in the eighteenth century, which was later the second home of a physician and writer famous Catalan Llorenç Villalonga (1897-1980). The writer, a supporter of the Phalange, spent summers there and spent the Civil War, this is where he wrote one of his most famous novels "Bearn o La sala de les nines". In 1996, the mansion, well preserved, was acquired by the Council of Mallorca and transformed into a museum Llorenç Villalonga (Casa Museu Llorenç Villalonga). Visit the Can Sabater to discover the daily life of one of the homes of teachers, with bread oven, wine tanks of the eighteenth century to the winery for crushing grapes at the foot of the stables… and the furniture comes from the Villalonga family. Concerts are held in the garden in summer. Address: Carrer Bonaire, 25 Hours: Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 14:00, also open from 16:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday and Thursday. Entry Fee: Free Phone: 00 34 971 886 014 Site on the Web: www.cmvillalonga.org
The House Can Gelabert de la Portella
Can Gelabert is a typical Majorcan mansion with a patio and decorated with frescoes in the Pompeian style rooms. The Majorcan writer Llorenç Moyà Gilabert (1916-1980), was born and lived in this house. The building was extensively converted between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, remains an impressive Gothic arch. The building is now owned by the city and hosts a temporary exhibition hall, a health center and library. The patio has become a playground for children. Casal de Cultura Can Gelabert Address: Carrer de la Portella s / n Hours: Monday to Friday, from 15:00 to 21:00, Saturday from 17:00 to 19:45. Entry Fee: Free Phone: 00 34 971 886 531
Wine Storehouse Ferrer (Ferrer Celler)
Several cellars of Binissalem - and other surrounding villages - can be visited, with or without an appointment. Is the most visited winery José Ferrer, founded by Jose Ferrer in 1931, the vines are still operated by the Ferrer family. Its wines are considered among the best in Mallorca. The bodega Franja Roja the Ferrer family is located at the south gate of Binissalem, Carrer del Conquistador, 103, near the road to Palma to Alcúdia. Shop hours: Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 19:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00. You can taste before buying (8-10 € bottle for ordinary wines). For the tour, it is best to call ahead. Phone: 00 34 971 511 050 Price of the tour: 5,50 € Site on the Web: www.vinosferrer.com

History, geography, arts, traditions, flora…

History
When the distribution of land, after the reconquest, the Moors farms Robines, Beni Salam, Beni Rasjell and others were assigned to the Viscount of Bearn. The village is named first Robines but Beni Salam gained importance and gave his name to the locality.

Economy
Viticulture

The region of Binissalem has excellent conditions for growing grapes, and it is located on a plateau at altitudes between 125 m and 300 m, and is protected against the winter cold, wet winds from the north by Serra d’Alfàbia. The soils are thin and poor in nutrients, with layers of limestone on clay, which contributes to the retention of groundwater. The climate is a Mediterranean maritime climate, with hot summers and short mild winters. Excessive heat in the summer is the main problem growers face. Rainfall occurs mainly in autumn in the form of thunderstorms.

The cultivation of the vine began at the time of the Roman Empire in the first century AD, Pliny comparing wines of Mallorca with the best wines of Italy. During the Muslim occupation, and despite ban the Koran, the continued cultivation of the vine, and when King Jaume I conquered the island in 1230, the Moor Beni Abet gave him grapes of excellent quality. In the fourteenth century the production of wine was already considerable.

Production increased again in the second half of the nineteenth century, after the French vineyard was devastated in 1862 by the American phylloxera, and that France had to import wine from Spain and Italy to meet its domestic demand. The export of wine Mallorca peaked in 1890 with 300,000 hectoliters, there were around 27,000 ha of vineyards in Mallorca. But in 1891, the phylloxera reached the island of Majorca, destroyed vineyards and was one of the major causes of emigration between 1891 and 1895. During the first half of the twentieth century, the total vineyard area varied between 5000 and 8500 ha, with the introduction of American vines resistant to phylloxera, bearing grafts European varieties. The cultivation of the vine had given way to a culture of almond.

The viticulture found the strength in the second half of the twentieth century with the tourist demand for quality wines. In 1991, the region was the first region Binissalem Mallorca to get the Denomination of Origin ("Denominació of origen") before the "D.O. Pla i Llevant" Region Porreres. The "D.O. Binissalem" covers the common Binissalem, with an area of 400 hectares of vineyards, but also covers the municipalities of Santa Maria del Camí, Sencelles, Consell and Santa Eugenia.

The local red grape, Manto Negro, represents about 50% of red grapes planted, the others being Cabernet Sauvignon, Callet, Tempranillo, Monastrell, Syrah and Merlot. The local white grape, Moll (also known as the White Prensal) represents about 70% of white grapes planted, the others being Macabeo, Parellada, Chardonnay and Moscatel.

Traditions
The Grape Harvest Festival (Festa del Vermar or Sa Vermada) takes place on the last Sunday of September. A typical dish Binissalem the "Fideus des Vermar" - a stew made with lamb meat, noodles, olive oil and red wine and so on. - Is prepared for this occasion, the festival gives rise to dances, parades and a few libations…

Practical Information

Rail transport
Binissalem station is served by frequent services from Palma to Inca, continuing to Sa Pobla and Manacor. Similarly, buses connecting Palma Inca stop in Binissalem, at two stations on the Carretera de Palma.

Market
The weekly market is held on Friday morning.

Hotels
The Scott Hotel
Although Binissalem is not a tourist destination, the city has one of the best boutique hotels in Majorca to Scott’s hotel.

Scott’s Hotel is located in the center of Binissalem on the Place of the Church in an old dilapidated mansion, dating from 1783, which has been beautifully restored in 1995. The Scott’s Hotel is an oasis of luxury. The 18 rooms have a refined and individually decorated, excellent bedding, goose down pillows and Persian carpets and the hotel has a small pool and a Roman very flowery patio.

Address: Plaça de l’Església, 12

Phone: 00 34 626 486 644 (in 2013, the hotel was for sale Scott and accept more bookings).

Site on the Web: www.scottshotel.com