If you are traveling in the south-west of Mallorca, you should not miss this fantastic view with a great history: It is a good 20 kilometers south-west of Palma de Mallorca, above Santa Ponça, this wonderfully hilly place by the sea.
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The settlement of the Balearic Islands is said to have started here thousands of years ago, but not many people know this. Rather, the place is popular because of the numerous celebrities who now live here and have repeatedly been given television reports. The town, also called Santa Ponsa in Castilian, with a good 11,000 inhabitants wraps itself around a long bay and is surrounded by steep cliffs. Seafaring lovers can admire yachts in the marinas, golfers are well served on the surrounding exclusive courses.
A historically very important place? The multi-storey hotel buildings in the center of Santa Ponca do not necessarily suggest a significant history. But just a few hundred meters away it becomes more picturesque and a beautiful walk begins to one of the most historically important locations in Mallorca, the Cruz del Descubrimiento.
From Playa Santa Ponca, the small, fine sandy beach in the middle of town, it is less than two kilometers to this attraction with great history and a fantastic view. The path along the Avinguda Rei Jaume I initially leads a bit hectic past restaurants, hotels and shops.
We continue along the Via Creu to the tip of the Sa Caleta promontory in a small park: Here the mighty stone cross towers above all the hustle and bustle.
The scene is called “Cross of Disembarkation” because the honoree disembarked and stayed here with his troops. The high monument was dedicated to King Jaume I, who is said to have landed with his forces at Santa Ponsa on September 12, 1229 to liberate Mallorca from African rule. After all, the island, with its location between Europe and North Africa, served the Moors as a strategically perfect naval base. Now the end of the Moorish rule was heralded. The year 1229 is considered to be the founding year of the Kingdom of Mallorca, which until 1715 included small parts of France as well as the other Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera.
At the monument itself there is no souvenir kiosk or sandwich shop: fortunately there is nothing here to disturb the breathtaking view of the crystal-clear water, the harbor entrance and the Santa Ponsa basin. Below, the Club Náutico lies peacefully as a cozy haven in its natural bay, which seems to be watched over by the Cruz del Descubrimiento. It is worth planning time to linger for this place.
The spot with the magnificent view has a very special aura.
And when you stroll through the marina afterwards, you can
enough opportunities to stop by.
Incidentally, every year on the first weekend in September, the battles of the liberator with his Christian troops against the Moors are re-enacted on the beach of Santa Ponça. Anyone who can then be part of the staged reconquest of Mallorca will have caught a good moment: At this time of year it is no longer as hot as in July or August, and the largest streams of tourists have also left.
Then the aura around the Cruz del Descubrimiento can be particularly enjoyed.