Montuiri

About Montuiri

Perched on a hilltop and surrounded by quaint stone windmills, the medieval town of Montuiri is a perfect example of traditional, rural Mallorca. The town lies 30 km east of Palma, in central Mallorca on the main road from Palma to Manacor and also lends it name to the small municipality which covers the surrounding area.

Find out more about this charming Mallorca village with this abcMallorca guide to Montuiri.

History and Culture

Montuiri officially dates back to 1329 AD although there are signs of earlier Bronze Age settlements. This includes one of the most important archeological sites in Mallorca. The name literally means ‘mountain town’ in Latin and uses the well-known eight windmills of the Molinar district as the town symbol.

The windmills have not been used since the 1920’s but Montuiri still produces grain and almonds as it has been doing for centuries. Today Montuiri is a residential town and is considered one of the best places to live in central Mallorca.

Shopping in Montuiri

Montuiri is a good place to find fresh local produce plus some very good Mallorcan wines. This general area has a strong agricultural tradition so you will find high-quality products such as sea-salt, honey and olive oil.

Major Attractions in Montuiri

Walking around this pretty village you will see different examples of architecture going back to mediaeval times. Some buildings have a definite Moorish influence such as the ‘Velar de Sa Torre’, the ‘Alcoraia’ Salmudaina’ and ‘Es Rafal Aixat’. You will also see grander mansions which are a testament to the wealthy residents of the past, as this was once a popular town for money lenders.

A nearby site of great importance is the pre-historic ‘Son Fornes’ which dates back to 900 BC and still has dwellings and towers to see. It is accessed via the museum of Son Fornes which is based in the ‘ Moli des Floret’ building, a restored 18th century flour mill.

Also close to this town are the ‘Son Company’ and ‘Son Comelles’ cave houses which are also believed to be pre-historic. There are also many more sites of historical interest in areas nearby.

Within the town of Montuiri, the imposing, gothic church of Sant Bartomeu is worth seeing for its impressive interior.

The best views in the area are to be found at the top of the peak of ‘Puig de Sant Miguel’ where the sanctuary of ‘Santuari de la Bona Pau’ is located which dates back to 1395 on the site of a former hermitage.

Things to Do in Montuiri

Montuiri is worth seeing on foot. This is a charming village with many beautiful buildings and quaint shops and cafes.

One of the best golf courses in Mallorca is very close by at the championship green of Son Gual.

Montuiri is based in rural Mallorca and there are many excellent vineyards to visit in this area. The second wine region of Mallorca is based around the nearby town of Felanitx.

Restaurants in Montuiri

There are many traditional Mallorca restaurants and cafes to choose from within the town. There are also many excellent restaurants hidden away in rural Mallorca, particularly on the road from Palma to Manacor.

Hotels in Montuiri

As a mainly residential town there are few hotels in Montuiri, but there are some excellent converted fincas and boutique hotels in surrounding areas.

Events in Montuiri

Montuiri celebrates traditional Spanish fiestas but there are also some special events that are particular to this town.

In mid-August the patron saint of Sant Bartomeu is commemorated with the colourful folk dance, ‘the dance of the Cossiers’ for a week-long celebration.

Most important of all, is the annual Partridge Fair in December which takes place in Placa Major. Here you will find an array of local produce, livestock and arts and crafts for sale. There is also a partridge hunting competition with much fanfare using decoy birds.

Living in Montuiri

Montuiri is one of the most desirable locations in central Mallorca and as such there is not usually a great deal of property to choose from. It is made popular by its intrinsic charm, laid-back atmosphere and good access to the city of Palma.

Most of the homes available are examples of traditional Mallorcan architecture although there are sometimes a few modern villas for sale on the outskirts. A traditional town house here will cost around 300,000-400,000 euros. Historic fincas, country estates high-end villas can cost up to 2 million euros.

Nearby

Montuiri is located between the rural towns of Algaida and Villafranca de Bonany. Petra, Sineu and Porreres are also adjacent. The fairly large town Llucmajor is also close, but the cities of Palma and Manacor are within very easy travelling distance. Mallorca’s second wine region is centred around the nearby town of Felanitx.

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