TIB - Consorci de Transports de Mallorca

Capdepera Castle

To get to Capdepera Castle from the bus stop in the Plaça Constitució, follow the directions on the attached map.

The castle was designed as a fortified compound and was built in the 14^th Century by King Jaume II. The fortification served to protect the population at times when pirate attacks were more frequent.  In the 16^th Century there were 125 houses within the walls.  Later, however, it became uninhabited and in the 18^th Century it ended up as a military outpost until 1854, when it was definitively abandoned.  It remained in a state of abandonment until 1983 when the Castle became municipal property.  It is currently managed by a trust.  It has also been declared to be a site of cultural interest (SCI) and income from it is used to preserve and maintain municipal cultural heritage.

At the highest point of the architectural ensemble, we can see the chapel dedicated to Sant Joan, where the image of Nostra Senyora de l'Esperança (Our Lady of Hope) still remains.  At this particular point we can see the channel that separates Majorca from Menorca.  The En Miguel Nunis tower is next door, built on square foundations in the Islamic era.  The tower also has a windmill, known as Es Molí d'En Cofeta. An interesting fact is that it was in this tower that, in June 1231, the Capdepera peace treaty was signed, whereby Menorca came under the Crown of Aragón.

On the third weekend in May each year there is a medieval market inside the fort.

From Capdepera to Artà

To go from Capdepera to Artà, go back to the Plaça Constitució in Capdepera and catch the L411 that goes to Artà and Manacor.  The journey only takes 10 minutes.  Get off in Avinguda Costa i Llobera in Artà.

Sant Salvador d'Artà

In this case, also follow the directions on the attached map and go from the bus stop in Avinguda Costa i Llobera in Artà to Sant Salvador.

Since the 15th Century the shrine has housed the ancient image of Nostra Senyora de Sant Salvador, which is Romanesque polychrome wood and was restored in the middle of the 20th Century.  The image came from the church in Bellpuig (Catalonia).  Inside the fort, we can see the caretaker's house, which is the house where the person in charge of maintaining the shrine, and also two cisterns, one (17^th Century) in front of the entrance to the shrine and another to one side, lived.

It is interesting to note that this compound is also known as la Almudaina, in memory of the Muslim era.  However, according to some authors, the compound may well have been built later on.

After the conquest of Majorca (Jaume I in the 13^th Century), the compound continued to be used to protect local inhabitants.  Later on, in the 16^th Century, a series of works were carried out to improve the defence system.  This was due to the fact that, at the time, piracy and privateering were rife.

You can get to it by going inside the church of the Transfiguració and climbing the 180 steps of the stairs.  Make the most of the visit to enjoy the impressive views of Artà village and its surrounding area.