Webcam Mallorca. Alaro
The lively town of Alaro hides in a quiet valley between the southern slopes of the Tramuntana mountain range. Alaro is not as popular a tourist destination as the seaside resorts, but there is definitely something to see here. The medieval architecture, traditional light stone houses and narrow cobbled streets provide a stark contrast to Mallorca's bustling coastal areas.
Alaro grew out of the former Arab manor house of Oloron. It is an industrial town - in the Middle Ages there were 30 shoe factories, employing more than 2,000 people. Alaro was home to a large immigrant community, and in 1901 the town became the first settlement on the island with its own electric grid. Today, the world-famous Tony Mora Workshop, which makes handmade cowboy boots, is based here. Natural materials from calfskin to python skin are used in the production.
Alaro Castle stands in the Tramuntana Mountains at an altitude of 822 meters, surrounded by beautiful cliffs. The tower is placed on a strategic elevation between Palma and the northern town of Inca, in time to detect invaders and pirates sailing to the island.
The fortress was built before the conquest of Majorca. Two other defensive structures on the cliffs are Castel del Santuari in Felanici and Castel del Rey in Polenç. When the battle between the Moors and the Christians was nearing its end, small groups of Muslims took refuge in the three rocky castles and held their defenses for several years.
Now only five defensive towers remain of the castle, but it used to occupy almost all of Alaro Peak. One legend has it that King Jaime killed so many Saracens trying to take the castle that the cliffs turn bright scarlet at sunset, a reminder of the blood spilled.
