Skip to main content

ALMOINA SQUARE

Plaça de l'Almoina

This square of Pollença is small in size but big on history

This square has witnessed major events and features a rooster, the symbol of Pollença, on its coat of arms

Its name means 'alms', as it was the location of a house used for many years to store and hand out the money and wheat that the University (forerunner of today's town councils) offered to the town's poorest peasants. What's more, San Vicente Ferrer (1) preached in the square in 1413, which is commemorated by an image of the saint that can be seen on one of the façades.

But most locals will know the square as the site of a battle fought between villagers and the corsairs who ambushed Pollença on the night of 30th May 1550. Thanks to the hero of this story, Joan Mas, masterfully organising local militiamen, the villagers emerged victorious despite being clearly overshadowed by the enemy. However, they lost many of their cohorts in a battle that is commemorated every year on 2nd August, coinciding with the festival of the patron saint of Pollença, Our Lady of the Angels.

The fountain that graces the square was built in 1827 as part of the first set of public fountains in the town. At the top stands a rooster, the symbol of Pollença since medieval times. It's not entirely clear why this bird was chosen, but even today it still features on the town's coat of arms along with three cypress trees.

(1) San Vicente Ferrer: Born in 1350 in Valencia (the city he is patron saint of), this Dominican monk, who studied and taught philosophy and theology, was known for preaching peace and advocating the unity of the Catholic Church. He is credited not only with great intelligence and public speaking skills, but also a large number of miracles which, according to tradition, he performed simply by raising his index finger, a gesture that often appears in images of the saint. He died in the French town of Vannes in 1419 and was canonised in 1455.