Portocolom – Sailing the traces of Christopher Columbus
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Portocolom Port Entrance with Lighthouse
Portocolom Port Entrance with Lighthouse
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Portocolom – Port View
Portocolom is one of the biggest natural ports on the Balearics. There are numerous private yachts and fisher boats lying in the port. In the background, the wooded hills of the Sierra Levante rise.
The beautiful natural port of Portocolom in the south-east of Majorca (30°24,9’N 003°16,1’E) is situated in front of mountainous coastal landscapes, it is surrounded by wonderful bays and has everything one need for a diversified leisure time. The port is very well protected, which makes it an ideal mooring place staying over night or for several days. The distance between Portocolom and the island capital town Palma is about 60 km. From the airport Palma Son Sant Joan you drive about 45 minutes passing the towns Campos and Felanitx, the way begins on the highway and leads then over a beautiful street through the countryside. On the seaway, the distance between Port de Palma and Portocolom is about 50 sea miles.
The bay of Portocolom is the biggest and widest natural port on Majorca. Years ago, the old fisher port used to be an important junction for local fish and wine handle. Nowadays, the port is mainly used for private boating. Yachts and leisure boats lie densely beside the numerous fisher boats. And still, Portocolom is one of the most important fisher ports on the island.
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Portocolom – Fisher Boats
Numerous fisher boats lie in front of the old town “Pueblo”.
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Portocolom – Boat Garages
There are dozens of “garages” along the waterline, which fisher use for their boats.
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Church in Pueblo of Portocolom
Arriving back to the port after a charter cruise, you can walk through the old town “Pueblo” of Portocolom. Historical building have been grandiosely renovated during the last few years.
As the most port towns, Portocolom has its own legend about its origins. And this legend is really special. It says that Portocolom is the disputed birth town of the famous seafarer Christopher Columbus. This is where the name Porto Colom comes from. The real origin of Columbus is still a matter of disputes among historians, however, it is documented that Columbus wrote all his letters in Catalan, which is the traditional language in Majorca, and not in Italian, which would have been more plausible for a Genovese. Walking through the streets of Portocolom, along the fisher boats, nets, boat garages and port taverns, one can imagine how strong the connection of the town inhabitants with the sea has been for centuries and still is. You can imagine that someone born here may well have the spiritedness of a great seafarer.
Apart from this disputed story, Portocolom has a beautiful old town area around the port, which is often referred to as the best preserved old town area in Majorca. It has a unique original atmosphere with typical Majorcan white and yellow houses with green shutters, geraniums in the gardens, pine trees and agaves on the shores and palm trees on the port promenade.
On the port promenade you will also find the best restaurants and bars, which belong to the best restaurants on Majorca. The restaurant “Colon” in C/Cristobal Colón (port promenade) is one of the in-places on Majorca serving haute cuisine. The fish restaurant “Sa Cuina” serves good fish and traditional Majorcan dishes. Bar d’es Moll is a good tavern with an internet access point.
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Portocolom Cala Marcal
Cala Marcal is situated some hundred metres southerly from the port entrance of Portocolom. The bay is perfect for sun bathing and snorkelling at good weather.
The urbanisation in the southern part of Portocolom around the bay Cala Marsal, is quite touristy area, however, it has a beautiful wide sand beach with turquoise-blue water. It is perfect for sun bathing. In the north-western part of the bay, there are two small sand beaches. The rocks near the port entrance are perfect are for snorkelling. The adventuresome ones can rent a canoe and explore the coastline on your own.
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Portocolom - Cala Sa Nau
Cala Sa Nau is situated about 1,5 sea miles southerly from the lighthouse of Portocolom. There’s a nice sand beach at its end. If the wind blows from the east, however, there can be unpleasant swell.
The fjord-like bay Cala sa Nau situated some 1,5 sea miles to the south-west from Portocolom is a good snorkelling area as well.
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Monastery Sant Salvador
The monastery of Sant Salvador on the 510 metres high mountain Puig Sant Salvador. The fantastic view reaches over the whole island at good weather.
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Puig Sant Salvador
From the Puig Sant Salvador there is a spectacular view over the area of Fellanitx
Staying some days in Portocolom, you can make several excursions to the heartland. For instance, to the Sunday market in Felanitx (11 km) or to the famous monastery Santuario de Sant Salvador (around 13 km) lying on the mountain Puig Sant Salvador. The monastery was founded in 1342, the present church was built in 1715 and has many precious paintings and adornments. The panoramic view from the 510 metres high mountain reaching over the whole island at good weather is fantastic. In the south you can even see the islands of the Cabrera group. You can even extinguish the 40 sea miles afar coastline of Menorca. Two Majorcan families run a restaurant in the monastery building, where you can taste simple Majorcan dishes and cold Majorcan beer.
The international charter company Veritas Yachting runs in Portocolom its second charter base. Exclusive charter yachts between 12 and 17 metres length can be chartered for sailing trips in the Balearics from the charter base of Veritas Yachting in Portocolom.
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