Sa Pobla, Mallorca, Things to do and see, hotels, market

Between 455 and 534, Mallorca was occupied by Vandals who incorporated the Balearic islands under Byzantium. For almost a century, the islands were depending on Byzantium. However, in the 7th century Muslim tribes started incursions all over the Mediterranean region, which eventually led to the conquest of Mallorca and the other islands in 902. Between 534 and 902, there are no records of any significant occupation.

During the Muslim period, Sa Pobla belonged under the jurisdiction of Inkan (Inca), and was controlled by the tribes of Marniza and Sindina. The Muslims gave it the name Huayar-Alfhas, which translates into something like ‘water of the meadow’. This could very well have corresponded to the s’Albufera area. The presence of the Muslims is quite noteworthy in the area of Sa Pobla, as the old qanats, wells and fountains, but also names of farmhouses such as Talapi, sa Marjal and el Rafal.

Following the Catalan conquest of Mallorca (1229 – 1232), king Jaume I distributed the island amongst participants of the campaign, who then distributed their areas amongst their knights. There is not much information available about whom received the lands of Crestatx, however, there are registrations of inhabitants from 1241 in the area. Sa Pobla was not officially established until the beginning of the 14th century, after king Jaume II of Mallorca allowed for the current urban nucleus to be established along with the first parochial church dedicated to Sant Antoni de Viana. Soon after, the original small community of Crestatx died out.

Already in 1368, Sa Pobla had grown to a size that allowed the new town to separate from the municipality of Campanet that at that time was the ecclesiastical center.

The following two centuries were dominated by social conflicts which turned to violence, first the Revolta Forana and later the rise of the Germanies. The conflicts had been underway already from 1391, when a mob of peasants assaulted a group of Jews in Inca blaming them for poor economical situation.

Between 1450 and 1453, the Revolta Forana (Revolt of the Foreigners) broke out, a fight between classes. The forenas (foreigners) was a term used of the small landowners and day workers. They felt outraged that merchants, horsemen and nobles had too much influence and privileges, and wanted better living conditions. The other side, however, was not willing to give in, and so, a confrontation was emerging.

Multiple battles were fought and blood was shed all over the Mallorcan countryside. Eventually, the king had to interfere, but it was not without consequences for the population, many lives was lost in those years.

70 years later, a new mobilization of angry opposition against high fiscal pressure arose, this time guilds of artisans. The rebellion was called Germanies, a movement that included the entire Mallorcan population. The Germanies was far more organized than the foreigners, and placed themselves in strategic positions all over the island. Especially on the main road to Alcúdia and the lands of Sa Pobla was key locations of the armed Germanies. On November 3rd 1522, the battle of Son Fornari took place. Armed inexperienced peasants stood side by side in the meadows of Sa Pobla facing the royal army sent by the king of Aragon. Of course they were completely defeated and more than 1,000 men lost their lives that day. Prisoners and dead bodies were strung up in the trees along the main roads to set an example.

The beginning of the 18th century was characterized by social nervousness, as the War of the Spanish Succession broke out leaving the markets in Europe in a fragile state of condition.

However, in the 19th century Sa Pobla started to see an increase in agricultural production making use of the dry soil, which accounted for almost 74% of the lands. Olive trees, cereals, figs, almond trees and carob trees made for the most of the production. In the last half of the 19th century (1872), a commercial exploitation of the s’Albufera wetlands allowed for more seeding and led to further increase in production. In the local area of Sa Marjal, estates such as Son Fornari, Son Amer, Son Marc, Son Vivot and Es Ullalets, were fully occupied.

Later in the late 19th century, new cultivation techniques replaced old ones. A transformation of the agricultural industry allowed for new industries to be introduced in Sa Pobla, such as production of machinery, mills, wineries etc. The importance of the industrial life of Sa Pobla was clearly recognized when the railway connection of Mallorca was set to connect Sa Pobla with the rest of the island. This led to further increase in living conditions in the area.

With the introduction of electricity in the town on July 24, 1912, Placa Major (main square) was lit every night. Later, in 1920, the first telephone service operator was installed in Sa Pobla, and already in 1936 it had 85 subscribers.

In 1931, the newly appointed mayor of Sa Pobla, Miquel Serra Siquier, boosted the construction of the current water networks in the town, as well as bringing life to the cultural and sporty activities.

Following the civil war and the power of the regime, unions, politic parties and democratic elections was banned all over Spain. Sa Pobla with its many working class inhabitants suffered great decrease in living conditions.

With the introduction of commercial tourism in the 50’s, Mallorca was facing a whole new societal structure. Traditional occupations in agriculture and industry, which for centuries had been the main source of income in Sa Pobla, was suddenly reduced to a minimum due to the demand for services.

Today, decades later, Sa Pobla has started to see some increases in tourism, but is still mainly an area of agriculture and construction. The location close to Pollenca, Port d’Alcúdia and Platja de Muro, however, allows for good job opportunities in tourism.