Culture

Pollentia, a town-planning model of the time

The first news of Pollentia dates back to the 16th century when a veiled Augustus bust was accidentally found. This Augustus Velat is of great significance and is the starting point of a body of studies which are still in progress. The first systematic excavations began in 1923. Professor G. Llabrés Quintana was granted an official permit and government financial assistance to undertake the digging. The Civil War drew the research to a halt. It was later resumed and have continued until the present day with the participation of significant figures including Martín Almagro, Miquel Tarradell, Daniel Woods and Antoni Arribas.

During the second half of the 20th century the excavations took place at La Portella site and the following has been dug out:

The house of the two treasures: the best kept house where it is easily recognizable the ground plan arranged around the atrium. The main facade looks out to the Arcade Street (calle porticada) which still preserves the columns that supported the arcades.

The house of the bronze head: in this house was found the head of a young girl (Cap de nina) in bronze. You can still see it at the monographic museum of Pollentia.

The house of the northwest: There's not much preserved of this house just the foundation on which sits part of the city walls built in the 3rd century.


Nowadays the research carried out in Pollentia focuses on the forum, where once the main square, the Capitoline temple and a number of taverns (tabernae) were. This area, which has recently been opened to visitors, has brought new light about the organization of the city in that epoch. The combined work of archaeologists, architects and other specialists has stated that Pollentia was a perfectly planned city, following the roman town-planning rules, which were discovered in this city, and which have been corroborated by comparing them with other cities of the same period, such as Pompeii.

Opening hours

Roman City of Pollentia

Open from Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm.
On Saturdays and Sundays from 10'30 am to 1pm.
Mondays and bank holidays closed.
Tel. (+34) 971 89 71 02 & (+34) 971 18 42 11
URL: www.pollentia.net / Email: patrimoni@alcudia.net

Monographic museum of Pollentia

C/ Sant Jaume, 30. CP: 07400. Alcúdia
Open from Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm.
On Saturdays and Sundays from 10'30 am to 1pm.
Mondays and bank holidays closed.
Tel. (+34) 971 54 70 04
URL: www.pollentia.net / Email: patrimoni@alcudia.net

HOW TO GET THERE

By car, on foot, by bike:
- La Portella is in Avinguda del Príncep d'Espanya opposite Sant Jaume's Church, in the centre of Alcúdia.
- The Monographic Museum is in Carrer Sant Jaume 30, right behind Sant Jaume's Church.

Bus:
Autocares Mallorca to Alcúdia center
http://www.autocaresmallorca.com

Taxi:
Ask the taxi driver for Pollentia / Alcudia town centre
- Taxis Amics d´Alcúdia. Tel. (+34) 971 54 96 91
- Taxis d´Alcúdia. Tel. (+34) 971 54 97 66 & (+34) 971 54 98 70

LINKS

Cultural routes: Roman city of Pollentia