Santa Margalida, Mallorca, Things to do and see, hotels, market

The Arab era

During the Muslim period in Mallorca (ca. 700 – 1229), Santa Margalida belonged to the district of Yiynau-Bitra – one of the twelve districts, which were divided between different nobles and warlords.

The Arabian occupants gathered in kindred tribes all over the island, in farms and cottages scattered over the countryside. The main farm of this particular area was called “Abenmaaxbar”.

The Re-conquista and Middle Ages

Following the conquest of Mallorca by King Jaume I of Aragón, in 1229, the district of Yiynau-Bitra was given to the bishop of Tarragona (Catalonia), Ferrer de Pallerès. He soon gave the area its current name and promoted a church built to accommodate the needs of a new Christian community.

At the same time, the district was renamed Sineu-Petra – first mentioned in the writing on Mallorca’s division, Libre de Repartiment de Mallorca, in 1232.

The modern age

The 17th century saw strained times in Santa Magdalida, King Felipe IV granted the landowner Pedro Safortesa the title of Count, giving him feudal rights throughout Santa Margalida and the neighboring town of Maria de la Salut.

Pedro Safortesa was a strict man, he dominated and dictated as he wished and anyone who defied his commandments was punished with fines or imprisonment. After Pedro’s death, his only twelve year old son, Ramon Safortesa, took over the title and all the rights and responsibilities that came with this. Ramon was no different from his father, he ruled the district with a heavy hand, accompanied by his faithful police authority. Ramon Safortesa was nicknamed ‘The Evil Count’ by the people of the district, due to his extortion of high taxes, harassment and the exercise of power.

In 1647, the first revolt against the evil count, led by Balthasar Calafat, a local peasant who had had enough, began. The outcome of the revolt was a victory to Safortesa, whom had Calafat brutally executed in his own home in front of his wife and children.

However, not long after the murder of Calafat, the peasants organized yet another and much more violent assault on Safortesa and his men, this time with success. Safortesa had no choice but to abandon his finca and flee to the mountain to stay safe.

Santa Margalida today

Today, Santa Margalida is devoted to two sources of income, agriculture and tourism. The popular beach resort of Ca’n Picafort is a great asset to the municipality and makes for the biggest part of the income.

Famous people of Santa Margalida

Joan Mascaró Fornés (1897-1987), was one of the leading translators of the sacred texts of India. He studied Oriental languages at Cambridge University, and taught languages at the University of Barcelona. He and his family was forced to flee to Britain during the rage of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), where he spent 20 years translating Hindu texts – the so-called “Upanishads”.

Joan March i Ordinas (1880-1962), is probably the most prominent figure of Santa Margalida. March was a money driven man, whom engaged in all kinds of businesses. He is most renown for his establishment of the Banca March, which has made his heirs amongst the seven most wealthy families in all of Spain.