History of Binissalem
Binissalem's history - From Moorish farm to wine capital
The history of Binissalem can be dated back to the Talayotic culture about 2,000 BC. However, it was probably the Romans who started cultivating the soil in the area after their conquest of the island from the Carthaginians 123 BC. At that time, the area of Binissalem was part of the main road connecting Palma with Pollen-tia, the two biggest cities built by the Romans.
During the Moorish dominance of Mallorca from about 902, the area belonged to a district known as Qanarussa, where the three farms Robines, Beni Salam and Beni Rasjell was the only habitations in the area. The Moors implemented agricultural and horticulture techniques for efficient cultivation and extraction, to grow grapes, olives, figs and cereal.
Post the Catalan conquest of Mallorca (1229 – 1235), the king ordered a church build on the very site where there was a mosque, in the area called Robines, which was found north of the current town. However, in the year 1300 king Jaume II of Mallorca moved the church to its current position, as well as the urban nucleus.
The town and congregation started growing, people from the mainland was offered land and slaves for a low price in a campaign to get people to move to Mallorca. It did not take many years for the new town of Binissalem to prosper from the flourishing agriculture the area could deliver. Already at this time, the Binissalem was known for its wine production, it was the only place it was produced.
Up through the Middle Ages, Binissalem saw a series of civil wars between peasants and feudal power.
In the late 1700’s, the wine production starts to take off again. New techniques and oenological knowledge allowed Binissalem develop and produce wines which was in high demand not just in Mallorca, but also from the mainland and from many other places in the Mediterranean region.
However, things turned dark again as a terrible epidemic of phylloxera in the late 19th century caused all vineyards, almond and olive groves to be burned to the ground. The many landowners had no choice but to sell their properties and move to other parts of Europe or even South America to seek new opportunities.Today, you can stroll the streets of Binissalem to see how many amazing mansions there is from that time, evidencing the former wealth of this area.
In the beginning of the 20th century things starts going in the right direction again, vineyards are being cultivated, agriculture and horticulture flourishes, stone quarries and lignite mines becomes a great part of the industrialism, as well as shoe making.
Today, Binissalem has its main income from wine making, agriculture and stone quarries.
