Santa Margalida

Santa Margalida is a town, municipality, and village in Mallorca, known for its authentic rural atmosphere, agriculture, and the important festival of the Beata procession. The municipality, in the north of the island, includes the coastal towns of Can Picafort and Son Serra de Marina.

Santa Margalida is located in the north of the island and is known both for its historical and rural heritage and for its growing tourist development, mainly through its coastal towns. It is located in the traditional district or region of Llano de Mallorca (Es Pla de Mallorca). It is an ideal town for those seeking a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of the more touristy areas, with accommodation options such as fincas and rural houses.

Economy

The economy of Santa Margalida is mainly based on the service sector (tourism) and the primary sector (agriculture and livestock). Tourism is concentrated in the coastal area of Can Picafort and Son Serra de Marina, while the inland town of Santa Margalida is characterized by its agricultural activity, with crops of cereals, almonds, olives, and carob trees.

Main features of Santa Margalida

Agriculture and rural environment: The municipality is surrounded by farmland, especiallycereals, olive trees, almond trees, and carob trees, and the main town center retains anauthentic atmosphere.

Archaeological heritage: It is home to theimportant necropolis of Son Real, with sites dating back thousands of years, and numerous ethnological elements such as the Pou d’Hero andold mills.

Architecture: The architecture of Santa Margalidais predominantly religious and Baroque in style, with the ChurchParish Church of Santa Margalida as its main example,built on a 13th-century foundation. There are also civil elementswith stately homes, such as La Casa den Verga Jove, andexamples of military architecture, such as the coastal towers.

Tourism: The coast of CanPicafort and Son Serra de Marina has developed into an important tourist area, with a wide range of hotels, accommodation, and restaurants.

Toponymy

The place names of Santa Margalida come from the dedication of the parish church to Saint Margaret of Antioch, which was built on the site of an old farmstead in the areacalled Hiachat or Yach inthe 13th century, after the Catalan conquest. The name evolved to refer tothe entire village, which is also popularly known today as “la Vila.”

Location of Santa Margalida

Santa Margalida is located in the north of Mallorca, 48 minutes (50 km) from Palma, and can be reached by car from in about 37 minutes (approximately 50 km). There are also public transport options, with direct buses from Palma or train and bus combinations from Inca.

Getting to Santa Margalida by car

From Palma de Mallorca: The route is about 49.8 km by road and takes approximately 37 minutes by car.

From Inca: It is about 20 km and the journey by car takes around 17 minutes.

Getting to Santa Margalida by public transport

From Palma de Mallorca by bus: You can take lines 302 and 316 from the Estació Intermodal. The journey takes around 1 hour and 23 minutes.

From Palma de Mallorca by train and bus: You can take the train from Estació Intermodal to Estació T3 in Inca and then take the 316 bus. This journey is a little longer, approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes, but it is cheaper.

From Inca: The most direct option is to take the 316 bus. The journey takes about 20 minutes.

Getting to Santa Margalida by taxi

A taxi ride from Palma to Santa Margalida will cost approximately 45€ to 60€ and take around 35-45 minutes, but this may increase due to traffic, especially during rush hour. The distance is around 35 kilometers, although the price may vary depending on the fare (weekday/holiday/nighttime), traffic, and time of day.

Historical summary

The history of Santa Margalida dates back to the Talayotic period, with important archaeological sites such as the Son Real Necropolis, and underwent Roman and Muslim influence before the Christian conquest in 1229. After the conquest, the district of Muruh, which covered the area, was divided and distributed. The municipality developed thanks to its rich agriculture, with cereal crops, but today its economy depends on tourism, especially in the coastal area of Can Picafort, which began as a small fishing village and became a leading tourist center for the island.

Places of interest in Santa Margalida

Old town: An inland village with traditional architecture, stately homes, and the Parish Church of Santa Margalida.

Parish Church of Santa Margalida: Originally built in the 13th century, it is a building of architectural interest with a rose window and a decorated façade.

Plaza de la Vila: The center of the village, where the weekly market is held.

Finca Pública de Son Real: An area with a necropolis dating back almost 4,000 years and a Mallorcan estate, representing an important archaeological heritage.

Necropolis of Son Real: An important archaeological site with remains from the Talayotic and Phoenician periods.

Old stately homes: Historic buildings such as Casa den Verga Jove can be found here.

Festivals and markets

Weekly market: Every Tuesday and Saturday morning in the Plaza de la Vila.

Fiestas de la Beata: A unique celebration on the first Sunday in September, which includes the procession of the Beata, the demons, and the breaking of vases.

Patron Saint’s Day: Celebrated in mid-July in honor of the patron saint, Santa Margalida.

Cycling tourism: It is a good starting point for cycling routes through the interior of the island, combining rural landscapes and the sea.

Hospitality and Tourism in Santa Margalida

Santa Margalida offers a variety of hospitality and tourism services, from restaurants serving local and international cuisine in the town center to accommodation options in the surrounding area, such as Can Picafort. The municipality is also positioning itself as a smart tourist destination through digitization initiatives and boasts natural and cultural attractions such as Playa de Muro, the S’Albufera Natural Park, Karting Can Picafort, and historic buildings.

Accommodation Santa Margalida

Santa Margalida offers a variety of accommodation, from hotels and vacation homes to boutique hotels that combine history and modernity. The nearby area of Can Picafort, on the coast, has popular hotels of different categories, motels, and more.

Gastronomy

The gastronomy of Santa Margalida is characterized by its offering of traditional Mallorcan cuisine and more modern options, including tapas in local cafés, dishes with fresh fish, and signature dishes that fuse local and international flavors. The gastronomy in this picturesque municipality in Mallorca is a reflection of the island’s cuisine, with locally sourced ingredients and typical Mallorcan dishes.

And that’s it for this brief overview of Santa Margalida, Mallorca. We hope it helps.

By the way: Are you coming to Mallorca on a tourist trip? If you find it helpful, you can also check out our travel guide to Mallorca and more tourist information about the island