Polença is a small town situated in the northern part of the Spanish island of Majorca. It was first settled in the 5th century and, in common with many Spanish coastal towns, is located about 5 kilometres inland from its port, Puerto Polença. This was done to help safeguard the town from pirates and other marauders.
Unlike many places on the island the old buildings of Polença have not been completely replaced by high rise hotels and apartment blocks and many of the 17th and 18th century buildings remain, along with their narrow streets.
Even older is the 13th century church of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles which is located in the town’s main square, the Plaça Major. From the church there are 365 steps, the Via Crucis, which lead up Calvary Hill to El Calvari church. This is the scene of an important festival which takes place on Good Friday, when the Crucifixion of Christ is re-enacted. The festival closes with a torchlight procession down the steps to Polença.
Visitors who manage to climb all the steps will be rewarded with panoramic views of the Bay Of Polença.
For the arts lover Polença has much to offer. A school for painting was established in 1913 by Anglada Camarasa and the town now has many art galleries and shops selling paintings. Music is also well-represented by the annual Festival of Polença, which was founded by the violinist Philip Newman in the early 1960s, The festival, which is usually spread over the months of July and August, attracts performers from all over the world.
The Museum Marti Vicenç, which is located near the bottom of the Calvari steps, is devoted to the textile technology developed by Vicenç and has many examples of the vibrant and colourful textiles in Galeries Vicenç.
