There are countless popular and traditional “fiestas” because nearly every month of the year sees a reason for celebration in one of the resorts that belong to the town. The festival calendar is quite full.
This is the most popular local festival. A huge crowd of people congregates in the streets to follow the procession of the dancing demons and to gather round the bonfires to grill the spicy paprika sausage “sobrassada” and the black pudding sausages called “botifarrons”.
Read moreOn the evening before the festival the demons meet and the bonfires are lit. 17th January is the saint’s holy day and the domestic animals are blessed at the “Beneïdes” in Capdepera (parade of floats and horses), while the recital of the “Cant de l’Argument”, accompanied by the music of the “codolada” tells the story of the most important events of the year. (The following weekend, the festival is repeated in Cala Ratjada.)
LessEaster is an important religious festival but also a popular attraction and the colourful processions are a tradition that dates from medieval times. The representatives of the local brotherhoods turn out in solemn procession through the streets.
Read moreThe most important events are the processions through Cala Ratjada and Capdepera on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The week of celebrations culminates on Easter Sunday with the procession of the “Encuentro” (“meeting”), where the resurrected Jesus meets with his mother. The following week on “Domingo del Ángel” (literally “Sunday of the Angel”) it is tradition to eat home-made little meat pies.
LessThe castle and town of Capdepera are transformed into a medieval market, a lively affair with artisans, knights, fakirs, snake charmers and jugglers.
Read moreThree days of fiesta, during which time the clocks in the Castle and town of Capdepera are turned back to the Middle Ages. The usually good weather in May lets everyone enjoy the spectacle of this all-day festival and the town of Capdepera lends itself well to the medieval atmosphere. For those who have no wish to walk to town, a tourist transport mini-train runs to the Market from Cala Ratjada, while this service is provided by buses from Canyamel, Font de sa Cala and Cala Mesquida.
LessThe saint revered as the Virgin of Carmen is the patron saint of seamen. One of the key features of the festival is the traditional Mass celebrated on the quayside and the procession of fishermen with the figure of the Mother of God.
Read moreThe fiesta celebrated under the heading of Carmen is the primary seamen’s festival in Cala Ratjada, as the Virgin of Carmen is the patron saint of the seamen. On her holy day, 16th July, the harbour of Cala Ratjada gets all dressed up for the party. It is a unique and amazing spectacle: The boats are all adorned with flags and flowers and they all follow the boat carrying the statue of the virgin and leave harbour in procession. During the festival week a large number of events are organised: dancing, concerts, a half-marathon,...
LessDuring the festival time in Canyamel a number of events take place for the public to share and enjoy, like dancing, concerts and various open air activities.
Read moreThe little coastal resort of Canyamel marks its fiesta with a celebration of Mass in the little chapel, a well-visited dinner in the open air, dancing, fireworks and games for children. This is a day when children and grown-ups alike can enjoy cultural events, games and entertainment in the open air, a wonderful way to pass a few animated days in the holiday atmosphere.
LessParty time for the people, these are animated days when all kinds of activities take place in Cala Ratjada with something to appeal to everyone.
Read moreConcerts, firework displays, theatre groups, folk dancing, children’s games and competitions invade the streets and fun and bright lights abound in the summery days and nights. The party never stops, every corner of Cala Ratjada has its special moment.
LessTogether with the traditional festival activities, a mosaic pattern of games, cultural and sporting events animate and encourage young and old, locals and visitors to take part and give the fiesta a new aspect of popularity.
Read moreIn the course of two weeks of festival, there is a constant flow of people in the streets all anxious to sample the very varied activities offered. Due to the temporal and spatial closeness of this fiesta with the festivals in Cala Ratjada, for the last few years they have been celebrated together. A magical event worthy of special mention is the “Nit del Foc” (“night of fire”) in Capdepera, with its night-time procession of demons with torches, wheels of fire, strings of firecrackers, fireworks, etc. On this night the street lights in medieval Capdepera are switched off and hundreds of people run through the streets to the sound of gunpowder explosions, dancing to the beat of the demons’ drums. It is an impressive spectacle, a vision from hell.
LessThis gastronomic fair is open to everyone who wishes to enjoy the delicious taste of a wide variety of little dishes prepared by expert chefs and all using the principal ingredient of the llampuga, the blue fish of the Mediterranean.
Read moreIn the harbour of Cala Ratjada this culinary fair takes place and is dedicated to the llampuga, a blue fish (also known as dolphin fish or mahi-mahi) which is especially tasty here due to the wonderfully clean bright water in the channel between Mallorca and Menorca. This gastronomic festival is organised by the fishermen and the owners of local hotels and restaurants. In addition to showing the versatility of the fish and the inventiveness of the chefs, it is evidence of the dynamic force driving Capdepera, a town capable of combining the origins of a fishing hamlet and the high level of culinary expertise available in the local restaurant establishments. In the days leading up to the Sunday on which the fair has its culminating point, other gastronomic activities also take place. These range from a tapas competition to a taste of sausage and genuine German beer...
LessThe festival of Esperança, “Our Lady of Hope”, is the living proof of an active and vital town that is conscious of the heartbeat of history in the festivals for the people: tradition, legend and history melt together as the background of this fiesta in Capdepera.
Read moreEsperança is a figure of the Virgin much revered by the people of Capdepera, as according to the old “Legend of the Fog” she was the one who saved the ancient inhabitants of the Castle from a pirate attack. Every year at the festival for the Virgin of Hope, this legend is commemorated by reading the “Sermon of the Fog” and with a procession. The evening before a very popular Mass known as “Completes” is celebrated and many people attend.
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