Sunday September 1, 2024
Today was a day off from tennis, so I decided to hike to the Alaro Castle. I wasn’t sure when I started that I would complete the hike, as it was pretty long and around 2000’ in altitude gain (the castle is at a height of 822 meters). But I did complete it successfully!
There are two ways to reach the trailhead to the castle: walk from Alaro, which I did (though there are multiple routes, some via the tiny town of Orient), or via a narrow, potholed road with many switchbacks. Keep in mind that this is a two-way road though it’s barely wide enough for one car. I walked from the center of Alaro up the road…I didn’t have the correct footwear to try any adventurous alternatives, though I saw signage to other routes. I walked first through the narrow streets of Alaro, then up a rural lane dotted with houses and old olive orchards before reaching the narrow lane that led to the Es Verger restaurant. From there it was about a 45 minute hike up to the castle ruins.
Alaro Castell dates back to Moorish times, from the 900s at least. Along with Castell del Santueri in Felanitx and Castell del Rei in Pollença, it’s one of the three rock castles in Mallorca. (I’ve vistited the Castell del Santueri but the Castell del Rei requires a permit to visit.) Alaro Castle has been involved in epic battles, both in the 900s and in the 13th century.
The path to the castle isn’t too difficult, though a bit slippery (wrong shoes). At the top the view is spectacular, even on an overcast day as was the case today. There were some people at the top but not too many. I wandered around at the top for a bit before descending to the aforementioned Es Verger for lunch. They specialize in roasted lamb and pork but I had my favorite Mallorcan dish, Padron peppers, and a salad. Bread, olives and the omnipresent Mallorcan aioli were served alongside and everything tasted very good after the long hike!
The hike back from the restaurant only took a little over an hour, but I left at 10:30 and returned close to 5pm…a long day but worth the hike.
The next two days will involve lots of tennis training and not much else (other than a hunt for parking in Alaro!).
Well done, Carolyn. I’m not familiar with Alaro. Your photos make it look appealing.
The town is a typical Mallorcan one though full of cyclists due to its location near the mountains and Orient. The negative is that parking is very difficult as is common in the small towns here. If you park on the way into/out of town it’s only 20 min to Global, though perhaps a walk to the parking across from the gas station.