Alcúdia

Alcúdia sits at the northern tip of Mallorca, on a peninsula that separates two large bays. It is one of the most complete municipalities on the island: a walled medieval old town, the most important Roman site in Mallorca, a harbour and an extensive beach area, and quiet residential districts beside the sea. That sum of history, coast and nature —with the s'Albufera nature park very close by— makes it especially attractive both to live in and as a second home, with established international demand.

Alcúdia's hallmark is its old town, surrounded by a 14th-century medieval wall in excellent condition, with historic gates still standing. Beside it lies Pollentia, the most important Roman city in Mallorca and, in its day, the Roman capital of the Balearics, with the remains of its forum and theatre. This historical weight sets Alcúdia apart from other northern destinations geared only to beach tourism: it is at once a living heritage site and a coastal destination, which gives it a very solid identity all year round.

The municipality combines several atmospheres. The old town and its surroundings offer village houses with character inside and around the walls. Port d'Alcúdia is the great tourist and commercial axis, with a broad beach and a dense supply of apartments and services. On the other side, areas such as Bonaire, Mal Pas and Alcanada are quieter, more exclusive residential districts, with villas, sea and a restful atmosphere; Alcanada also has its golf course facing the lighthouse. The interior and the surroundings of the municipality complete the supply with more rural housing.

Alcúdia is one of the northern municipalities with the most life of its own outside the season, thanks to the weight of its historic centre and its resident population. It keeps local shops, a market —on Tuesdays and Sundays, very lively beside the wall—, schools and health services, and a community that combines local residents with settled families and international residents. The port offers a wider and more seasonal range of leisure and restaurants, while the residential areas bring quiet. It is a setting well suited to families and to those looking to live all year round close to the sea and to nature.

The natural setting is exceptional. The beaches of the bay of Alcúdia are extensive and calm, ideal for families, and very close by lies the s'Albufera nature park, the largest wetland in the Balearics and a paradise for birdwatching. The Alcúdia peninsula and Cap des Pinar offer routes and more secluded coves, and boating plays a prominent role. To beach and nature are added the cultural life of the old town and its Roman and medieval heritage, as well as golf in Alcanada. It is a municipality that allows a very varied way of life.

Alcúdia lies in the north, connected by road with Palma and with the rest of the island, and with buses to the capital and to neighbouring municipalities. Its port is also the sea link with Menorca. It is a location somewhat removed from the centre and the south of the island, something to bear in mind depending on the use of the home. Within the municipality, a car is advisable for moving between the old town, the port and the residential areas, although the urban centre and the beach are comfortable to cover on foot.

The supply is broad and diverse. In the old town, village houses with character predominate; in the port, apartments and penthouses near the beach; and in Bonaire, Mal Pas and Alcanada, villas and houses in quiet residential settings, many with sea views. The rural surroundings contribute country estates and houses. Resale housing, the renovation of historic buildings and some new build coexist, with particular interest in properties close to the sea, with views or in the most select residential areas.

The Alcúdia market combines stable residential demand with strong appeal for the international buyer, especially in residential areas such as Bonaire, Mal Pas and Alcanada, where the highest price segments are found. The old town and the port offer more varied price options. The weight of second homes is significant, and the supply of long-term residential rental is more limited than the sales supply, with the seasonality typical of a coastal destination.

Alcúdia suits especially those who value the combination of history, beach and nature, families looking for calm beaches and services all year round, and second-home and international buyers, above all in its residential areas. Worth weighing up: the distance from Palma and from the south of the island, the greater tourist density of the port in season, the convenience of a car for moving between the different areas, and the fact that the most exclusive residential districts concentrate greater demand and price. It is one of the most balanced and complete municipalities in the north of Mallorca.