360° degree panorama Church of Sant Jaume, Alcudia
Parish church of Saint Jaume. Alcudia.
It is a small cathedral forming part of the defence wall of the city. It has one of the biggest rose window all over the island and still keeps the medieval belfry.
Alcudia is an historic town with Roman and Moorish influences.
The area where Alcúdia is located has been inhabited since the bronze age, but it is with the arrival of the Romans the city makes its entry in the history books. The Romans used the beaches of Alcúdia bay when they captured the island in 123 B.C. Shortly after this the capital Palma was founded and then the city of Pollentia. From Pollentia it was possible to view both the bay of Pollenca and the bay of Alcúdia. Pollentia served as a guard for other invaders. The city was also mentioned in Rome since they here produced excellent fabrics that was used in the most exclusive togas.
After Rome had lost its position as a dominant power in the western Mediterranean area Pollentia was attacked by pirates and several times by the Vandals. Finally the city was abandoned and the remaining population left to create a new town at a more protected and safe location. This town became Pollenca and the area where Pollentia had been was left in ruins.
After the invasion of the Moors a farmstead was created very close to where the ancient village of Pollentia had been. The farm was called Alcúdia which is Arabic for "on the hill". In 1229 the Moors were defeated by king Jaume I of Aragonia who overtook the power of the area. In 1298 King Jaume II bought the farmstead Alcúdia and founded the new town. A church, a grave yard, a house for the priest and a square was created in the same year. The construction of the walls was also initiated at the same time and finished in 1362. The city plan that was made at the time is the same that Alcúdia still has. During the renaissance the walls were reconstructed and a second wall was constructed outside the old one. This wall is today torn down and only details show where it once was.
During the 16th century pirates attacked the city several times. The population became less and less and there was from time to time a risk that the city would be abandoned totally. In 1779 a decision was taken to support the city by constructing a harbour. This really improved the economy of Alcúdia and the village was saved. But it remained a rather small and poor village.
