Pirate attacks in Mallorca and the defence towers
The pirates
I remember that when I was a lad, I was fascinated by pirate films. Long before that, in 16th- or 17th-century Mallorca, there was no television or cinema, but pirate attacks were a very real and frequent occurrence throughout the Mediterranean.
Mallorca at that time suffered particularly from these pirate attacks, with robberies, killings and the abduction of women that left a deep mark on life on the island.
Porto Colom, Estellencs, Banyalbufar, Santanyí, Pollensa, Sóller… all these coastal towns in Mallorca suffered attacks by corsairs and pirates, who usually came from North Africa or Turkey.
The defence towers
Spain was a world power at the time and, naturally, could not tolerate these incursions, so it was decided to organise a defence system. The initiative came from the Spanish Crown, and here in Mallorca, it was the multi-talented Juan Bautista Binimelis who designed a whole network of towers and watchtowers stretching along the entire coastline of the island.
These towers were usually similar in appearance to a flour mill, with a circular base and three storeys. They were manned by people who were paid for this role, known as torreros, and each tower had between two and four of these watchmen, who worked in shifts.
What happened when something unusual was spotted?
Well, a signal was sent by lighting a fire at the top of the tower; the smoke was clearly visible by day and the flames by night. The nearest tower would spot it and relay the signal in turn, until the alarm reached the Almudaina Palace in Palma.
The towers today
It is said that there were as many as 1,400 such watchtowers around the entire perimeter of Mallorca, although not so many remain. There are currently almost 50 towers of this type listed on the island; possibly the best known of all is the “Torre d’es Verger” in Banyalbufar. All these defence towers offer stunning views.
You’re unlikely to see any pirates these days, but what you will find is an island steeped in history, spectacular landscapes and unique traditions.
Mallorca was invaded time and again over the centuries, and one of the peoples who reached these shores during their raiding expeditions were the Vikings. Follow the link to find out more about the legacy they left us:Vikings in Mallorca
Vikingos en Mallorca
And since every culture is also expressed through its cuisine… we invite you to discover the most authentic flavours of Mallorca in our online shop.
