Above the town of Alaro, on a rocky mountain, you will find the ruins of Alaro Castle and a chapel with a breathtaking view of the Tramuntana Mountains and the island's capital. The first foundations of the castle were built in Moorish times, but the ruins you can see today date back to the 15th century.

The most famous legend associated with the castle tells of 2 knights named Cabrit and Bassa who defended the castle against the soldiers of King Alfonso III of Aragon. They were eventually burned alive when Alfonso captured the castle. This was supposedly their punishment for pretending to confuse the king's name with the local fish "anfos" and shouting "We like our anfos grilled best".

In Mallorca these 2 knights are considered martyrs.

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How to get there?

The popular hike leads from the town of Alaró and takes about 2 hours, once you reach the top of the hill, 822m high, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view. During the summer months, there is usually a refreshment shop open. Be prepared with sturdy shoes, the path is passable but steep and you would have a really bad time in sandals. See the hiking map for the route from Alaró to the castle.

If you want to get even closer to the castle, it is possible to drive up to the Es Verger restaurant, where there is a small free car park. From there you can walk to the castle in about 30-40 minutes.

If you go here by public transport, you must first take the train to Consell-Alaró station, where the frequent bus line 342 runs to the centre of Alaró.