Petra in Majorca

The villa of Petra in Majorca It is very representative of the interior of this Balearic island. Surrounded by vines, almond and fig trees, it has some three thousand inhabitants who have known how to preserve their traditional habits away from the mass tourism.

Petra was founded by the King James II of Majorca in 1300, although, as proven by the archaeological sites distributed throughout its municipal area, it was already inhabited in prehistoric and Roman times. It was also important during the Arab domination with the name of Bitter, from which the current one comes. If you want to discover everything that Petra has to offer in Majorca, we encourage you to continue reading.

The church of San Pedro

The entire historic center of Petra is listed as A Cultural. It is made up of narrow, cobbled streets that are framed in old and stately houses. We advise you to walk through them to soak up their atmosphere. Also that you approach the Father Serra Square, authentic neuralgic point of the town next to Ramón Llull and full of bars with terraces. His name refers to Friar Junipero Serra, a native of the town, which we will talk about later and which has a statue in its center.

But Petra also has many monuments of interest. One of the most outstanding is the imposing St. Peter's Church, one of the largest in all Majorca island. Construction began in the XNUMXth century, although it was not finished until the XNUMXth century. However, it responds, mostly to the Gothic style. Its plant is basilica, with a single nave and several side chapels. Among the latter, it stands out that of the Rosary, which is baroque.

Also, inside it houses an impressive set of altarpieces from all periods of enormous artistic value. He also keeps a baptismal font from the XNUMXth century with an octagonal plan and due to the sculptors michael abraham y Old John.

The Bonany sanctuary and other religious monuments

The other important church within the urban area of ​​Petra in Majorca is that of the Franciscan convent. It was built in the XNUMXth century and shows Renaissance features. It also has a basilica plan with a nave and chapels on the sides and is covered with a barrel vault. Inside, the plinths and frontals of the main altar, made of ceramic, stand out. And above all, your set of baroque altarpieces. Among the latter, the Major stands out, the work of Gaspar Oms, that of San Francisco, that of Santo Cristo and that of the Virgin of the Angels.

But the other great religious monument of Petra is the Bonany Sanctuary, which is located on the mount of the same name. With its 317 meters of altitude, it separates the town from its neighbors San Juan y Villafranca de Bonany. It was built in the XNUMXth century to house a virgin found in the area. However, the current building dates from a reconstruction of the XX.

Near the hermitage there is a stone cross, the work of a local craftsman. John Vives which commemorates the last sermon that Junípero Serra gave before leaving for America. On the other hand, during Easter, the three aforementioned towns meet in the area to celebrate a pilgrimage. As you can see, this Franciscan friar is one of the prominent sons of Petra in Mallorca. Therefore, the time has come for us to talk to you about his house in the town.

House and museum of Fray Junípero Serra

Curiously, Junípero Serra's house is not the one where he was born. He moved there with her parents and siblings when he was still a child and always considered it her home. However, the reference was lost and the house passed through different hands until, already in the XNUMXth century, it was identified by the local historian Miquel Ramís. Once restored as it should have been in the XNUMXth century, it was opened to the public.

However, this house, which is in the Barrancar Alt street, one of the oldest in the town, does not house the museum dedicated to the figure of the Franciscan in Petra. This is located in a beautiful 1955 building designed by the architect Gabriel Alomar in regional style. The wall facing the public thoroughfare has an entrance under a semicircular arch and large barred windows. Also noteworthy is the side porch with garden pillars.

El Fray Junípero Serra Museum not only allows you to see models of the missions that the clergyman founded in America, some as important as San Gabriel, San Diego o saint Louis, all in California. In addition, it is the headquarters of the Center for Juniperian Studies, dedicated to spreading the life and work of Serra.

The House of the Villa and other constructions of Petra in Majorca

The building that currently works with the City Council is the old hospital built at the end of the XNUMXth or beginning of the XNUMXth century. Later, it was the headquarters of the University of Villa. Already in the XNUMXth century, it was reformed and the clock tower that you can still see today to become a Consistory. Precisely, in the Plenary Hall there are several paintings that represent the illustrious sons of the population. Once again, among them stands out that of Fray Junípero, which is from the end of the XNUMXth century, but also that of his nephew and equally religious. Fra Miquel de Petra.

On the other hand, in d'en Font street you will find the building of the Old Schools, built in 1927 and designed by the architect Guillem Forteza. The triple arcade of Tuscan columns on the main façade and also the porticoed interior patio with the same style stand out. As for the sides, they also have semicircular arches that frame large windows.

We also advise you to come and see the old railway station. It is an 1879 construction in exposed stone that is made up of several buildings. It is considered the most representative example of XNUMXth century industrial architecture in Petra. Likewise, the "station trees", five hundred-year-old plane trees that you will see next to it.

Finally, the municipal theater Es Quarter It owes its name to the fact that it was built in the twenties of the last century as a barracks for the Benemérita. It is an austere building with a U-shaped plan and two floors. But, once we have seen the main monuments of Petra in Mallorca, the time has come for us to talk to you about its beautiful surroundings.

The natural environment of Petra in Majorca

As we told you, the Mallorcan town is surrounded by vineyards, almond trees and beautiful vegetation. In other words, its surroundings make up a wonderful natural environment. If you want to know it, the entire municipality is furrowed by rural roads that allow you to make beautiful hiking or mountain biking trails.

In this regard, the area of ​​the aforementioned mount or Puig de Bonany, which has several signposted itineraries. The most classic route on foot is the one that starts from the aforementioned railway station and reaches the sanctuary at the top. It is about ten kilometers long and passes through places like the Peu del Bonjesus or the fountain of the virgin.

You can also do what goes from Cova Llarga to Valletta, In this case, part of the New Schools and has a similar length. However, it presents a higher level of difficulty than the previous one. For its part, the one that goes to the petra torrent It is somewhat longer, with about fourteen kilometers.

But you can also do route from Petra to Ariany, which passes through the path of Son Reixach. Likewise, they are about ten kilometers and it has a low difficulty. If you do it, you will see three places classified as of interest. Its about sun street, public well from the path of Son Gineu and the Church of Our Lady of Atocha in Ariany.

This is another town in the municipality that is also very pretty, with its cobbled streets of medieval origin. The aforementioned temple was built in the XNUMXth century and stands out for its neo-Gothic elements and its imposing bell tower. However, you can also see in Ariany the houses of the Marchioness and the Nuns, the s'Auberg building or the traditional windmills.

Mountain bike routes

On the other hand, as we said, you also have magnificent routes to do on a mountain bike in the area. Among them, you can do the circular that leaves and arrives at Petra passing through Sa Vall, Es Bosch Vell, Son Serra, Sa Cabana and Son Guillot. It is almost forty-five kilometers long and is of moderate difficulty.

Likewise, the one that leaves Petra and passes through Son Guillot, Santa Margalida and María de la Salut is circular. Among other places of interest, you will pass by Ses Rotes Noves of Mont Blanc, an archaeological site from the pre-Talayotic period. Finally, you can also take the route that goes through the whole south part from the municipality of Petra, which is easier, since it only has twenty kilometers.

In conclusion, we have shown you what to see and do in Petra in Majorca, one of the most beautiful towns in the Balearic islands. But, before you leave, be sure to try its delicious gastronomy, with dishes such as Frito Mallorquín, which has pork or lamb liver, potatoes and peppers, or the tumbet with esclatasang (a very tasty mushroom). Come and discover this beautiful island villa.