Alaró, the pioneering village of electricity in Mallorca
In recent years, the term ‘electrification’ has been used a great deal, particularly when discussing cars and reducing their emissions. But true electrification took place much earlier, and in this regard the village of Alaró was a pioneer in Mallorca, several years ahead of the capital, Palma.
When Mallorca still used oil lamps
Today it seems perfectly normal to us to come home and switch on the lights. But until 1901, at least here on the island, homes were lit by oil or kerosene lamps. This oil was mainly obtained from farms on the island, which produced as much or more for lighting as they did for daily consumption.
The Perelló brothers and the idea of bringing electricity to Alaró
It was two visionaries, brothers Gaspar and Josep Perelló, who, following several business trips to Barcelona, discovered this innovation and embarked on the venture of installing the first power station in Mallorca. The Perellós were oil and soap merchants, but they saw the opportunity to bring modernity to Alaró and decided to drive this ambitious project forward.
Mallorca’s first power station
IThey had to overcome the reluctance of many local residents, but after months of planning, construction and installation work, the power station was finally inaugurated on 15 August 1901. It operated using a coal-fired boiler and a steam engine to generate electricity.
In 1902, the Alaró power station expanded its market and began supplying Consell as well, and from 1903, Binissalem, the two neighbouring villages. However, following various financial difficulties, the company only lasted until 1916, when it was bought by La Palma de Mallorca – Compañía Mallorquina de Electricidad.
What remains today of that pioneering power station?
Little remains of the original power station, but if you visit Alaró and walk along Avenida Constitució, near number 10, you will still find a remnant of that pioneering initiative. Within a small park stands an elegant octagonal tower, restored in 2002 to mark the centenary of the power station’s inauguration.
Alaró, a town always ahead of its time
Alaró was also a pioneer in other areas: it was the first town in Mallorca to have a cinema, in 1903, and the first to have a black mayor (Guillem Balboa Buika, originally from Guinea) in 2017. It has traditionally stood out for its cutting-edge footwear industry, with more than 30 different factories.
Alaró today
Nowadays, Alaró is a quiet, charming town with a high proportion of foreign residents – a sign that this village has always been, in some ways, a progressive place.
If you visit the area, don’t miss a climb up to Alaró Castle, which stands on an impressive cliff, the Puig d’Alaró. And after this excursion, as you’ll probably be a bit tired, head over to the Plaza de la Villa, sit on the terrace of one of the restaurants and enjoy the colourful yet relaxed atmosphere.
And for a moment, imagine what a huge change it must have been in 1902 to go from the dim light of oil lamps to powerful electric lighting. A true symbol of modernity for that era.
The cover photo shows all that remains of the Alaró power station: its tower.
Alaró and the Mallorcan entrepreneurial spirit
As you can see, Alaró has been a fine example of how Mallorca has managed to look to the future without losing sight of its roots. That same blend of tradition, authenticity and entrepreneurial spirit lives on today in many products made on the island. Discover a selection of authentic Mallorcan products here.
Alaró is a land of pioneers in Mallorca, and in the rest of Mallorca there have also been illustrious pioneers. Sometimes characters of humble origin who had a vision and a lot of illusion and followed their dream. Follow the link to know the case of a farmer from Llucmajor: The precursor of the helicopter
The precursor of the helicopter
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