Montuïri, Mallorca, Things to do and see, stays and markets

ENJOY AN EXCURSION TO THE TALAYOTIC VILLAGE OF SON FORNÉS

Son Fornés is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent excavations done in Mallorca. An entire prehistoric village from the Talayotic era has been excavated on this site. The Son Fornés is particularly interesting because of its well-preserved three talayots, round structures built in the 9th century BC used for lookouts and habitation, prehistoric architecture if you will.

Son Fornes Talayotic settlement

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF SON FORNÉS

Before or after visiting the archaeological site of Son Fornés outside Montuïri, you want to go and visit the museum belonging to the site. At the museum, you will learn about the Talayotic culture unique to the Balearic Islands and, see the amazing artifacts found at the site. The museum is found in the stunning old flour mill, Molí des Fraret.

Visit the archaeological museum of Son Fornes

ESGLÉSIA DE SANT BARTOMEU

In the heart of Montuïri town you will find the parish church, Sant Bartomeu. The church offers a lot of beautiful Gothic and baroque details in the exterior, and inside you can enjoy the beautiful works of art, among others. a beautiful gallery of paintings by Jaume Martorell, from 1775. The stairs up to the church are called ‘es Graons’, and have 12 steps, like the path of the cross.

EXPLORE THE MEDIEVAL URBAN CORE OF MONTUÏRI

Only but a few places does like the urban core of Montuïri, look just like it did centuries ago when it was built. Walking along the uneven cobbled main street of Carrer Major with rustic house facades rising on each side, makes it feel like you are in an open air museum of medieval architecture. But the truth is, that this old town is just very well-preserved and boasts authenticity. Some of the most interesting points of interest here, is the parish church, rectory, the town hall, the old posada (inn) of Can Socies de Tagamanent.

VISIT THE HILL OF SANT MIQUEL AND THE HERMITAGE OF BONA PAU

Enjoy a scenic excursion to the hill of Sant Miquel, a place declared Natural Area of Special Interest. At the summit, you will find the historical hermitage of Bona Pau dating back from 1396, where you can enjoy a refreshment at the cafeteria accompanied by the stunning views over the Mallorcan countryside.

DISCOVER THE OLD MILL DISTRICT

The economical upturn of Montuïri from the late 17th century led to new opportunities in production of cereals which the construction of windmills is evidence of. These beautiful old mills stand as landmarks of the entire area, and it is almost impossible to imagine the scenery without them. The most interesting of them, is the Molí d’en Fraret, a very well-kept mill that also houses the archaeological museum of the Son Fornés Talayotic village.

THE KING’S WELL AND OLD LAVOIR

On Carrer del Rei, you will find another point of interest in Montuïri, namely the King’s Well. This old well dates back to the 14th century when King Jaume II of Mallorca constituted the town. Next to well, you can explore the medieval lavoir (washhouse) used for washing clothes.

Pou del Rei

About the area of Montuïri

No other municipality in Mallorca reflects most historical eras of the island as Montuïri, it is like an open air museum of cultural heritage. The municipality is located in the most mountainous area of the Pla region, the southern part.  Montuïri covers a surface of 4.109,24 hectares with 322,29 of those protected areas. The municipality borders the other municipalities of Algaida, Llucmajor, Sant Joan, Santa Eugènia, Sencelles, Lloret de Vistalegre and Porreres, giving it one of the most central locations on the island. As of 2018, the population is at 2.867 inhabitants.

History of Montuïri

The first human occupation in the area goes back to the 9th century BC, evidenced in the amazing Talayotic village of Son Fornés, one of the most remarkable excavation sites in Mallorca.

However, the Talayotic village of Son Fornés is not the only example of prehistoric occupation in the municipality. There has also been discovered several caves, natural and artificial, used as hypogeums (burial sites).

The Talayotic culture disappeared from Mallorca around the 5th century BC, most likely due to extreme fires.

After the Talayotic culture, we can refer to a Post-Talayotic period in Mallorca, a period of Vandal dominance. Instead of building fortified villages and constructions like the Talayotic people, the Vandals lived in shelters dispersed all over. This type of settlements lasted until the Roman dominance from 123 BC.

During the Muslim era (902 – 1229/32), the area of Montuïri belonged under the district called “Muntuy” which also included the municipalities of Algaida and Llucmajor. From the Muslim time, places like Alcoraia, Sabo or Sabor, Rafal Aixat and Mudaina are the most clear toponyms. The Muslim people settled in farmhouses and lived in small tribes.

The Catalan conquest of Mallorca (1229 – 1232) led to a new constellation of districts, as the lands were distributed among knights and supporters of the conquest. It is a bit uncertain which lands of Montuïri belonged to who. However, in 1300, when Mallorca was a kingdom under King Jaume II, the village of Montuïri was established. The king offered 1.775 m2 of land to new settlers, who was given the right to cultivate the soil in return of rents and taxes.

The 14th, 15th and 16th century were all characterized by sad and dark times. First with the plague in 1348, and later the societal conflicts of peasants uprising against the massive tax loads of the lords.

Especially the social conflicts between peasants and lords had big influence on the social structure of the island. It started in 1450, when a mob of small landowners and day-workers felt mistreated and suppressed by the social elite that owned much more land and rented out land to the peasants. The Droughts and lack of know-how made it difficult to make a living, which the bigger landowners took advantage of. With little or no influence, the peasants turned to violence. For three years, blood was shed all over the Mallorcan countryside until the peasants had been defeated. This led to even more tax loads and higher rents, and some even lost their rights to cultivate and forced to leave their homes.

The conflict didn’t end here, however, because in 1520 the conflict arose once again. This time it was the movement of Germanies, an amateur army of artisans. The movement quickly gained support from all over the island, gathering an army of more than 3.000 men. Unlike most other towns in Mallorca, Montuïri was the only one getting looted by the Germanies. The reason is uncertain, but could have been due to the strategic location. In 1522, King Carlos I’s royal troops arrived in the bay of Pollenca to support the nobles in the fight. It did not take the trained soldiers much time to put an end to the unskilled amateur army, it all ended with the battle of Son Fornari in the marsh outside Sa Pobla. The remainder of the Germanies fled to Sineu and went to assault Montuïri again.

The years, even century, following the Germanies were tough; decrease in population and increased fiscal pressure to cover from the damages caused during the years of conflict. Montuïri almost did not have any landowner, just day-labors. According to a cadastre from 1578, there were 24 possessions which counted for almost half of the agricultural wealth of the area (48.450 pesetas out of 100.456).

During this period, vineyards, shrubberies and forests were planted in the municipality, an initiative that in the 17th century proved to be a good decision. In 1685, the number of possessions had reached 39 of which the most profitable belonged to the nobility of the town and to the convent of Santo Domingo in Palma.

Undoubtedly, the 17th century was one of the most remarkable in terms of economic growth. New opportunities arose, the population increased and new infrastructure was built. Some of the best examples from that time are the mills of Montuïri, especially the Molí d’en Fraret, which marks the industry of cereals.

Most of the economical upturn in Montuïri continued well into the 19th century, more precisely to the first Carlist war of Spain. In 1836, the prime minister of Spain, Juan Àlvarez Medizàbal, confiscated all convents and monasteries and auctioned them to private investors in order to raise money to support Isabella II. This caused the Santo Domingo to lose the the properties in Montuïri.

In regards to the Second Republic, the public school in Montuïri was established and named after the mayor of that time, Joan Mas i Verd.

Up until the middle of the 20th century, Montuïri has been comitted to agrarian cultivation. However, in more recent times, new sectors and industries has expanded the economical specter such as tourism and other service industries.

Algaida hotel and activities

Ariany hotel and activities

Ca’n Picafort hotel and activities

Costitx hotel and activities

Lloret de Vistalegre hotel and activities

Llubí hotel and activities

Maria de la Salut hotel and activities

Montuïri hotel and activities

Muro hotel and activities

Platja de Muro hotel and activities

Petra hotel and activities

Porreres hotel and activities

Sant Joan hotel and activities

Santa Eugènia hotel and activities

Sencelles hotel and activities

Sineu hotel and activities

Vilafranca de Bonany hotel and activities