Alaró () is a small

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

in the district of

Raiguer Raiguer () is a comarca (county) located in the north-central part of Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands of Spain. It runs parallel to the Serra de Tramuntana district from the town of Marratxí to the town of Sa Pobla. Like the rest of the Ma ...

Majorca Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest island in the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain and located in the Mediterranean. The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Bal ...

, one of the

Balearic Islands The Balearic Islands ( es, Islas Baleares ; or ca, Illes Balears ) are an archipelago in the Balearic Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago is an autonomous community and a province of Spain; its capital is ...

, Spain, Europe.

History

Alarò's origin dates back to the Islamic period. The documented history begins in the thirteenth century, during the reconquest of Mallorca, with its Castillo de Alaro being the center of this. The Castillo de Alaro was built by Christian inhabitants to ward off invasions from pirates. The town was the first to have an urban electricity network on the island. This event happened on August 15, 1901. Currently, electric distribution is unified with the rest of the island, but as a sign of how important it was for the island of Mallorca, on May 8, 666, the Consell Insular de Mallorca marked the tower of the old factory as a monument of cultural interest.BOE
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Geography

Alaró is bounded by Buñola, Escorca, Lloseta, Mancor de la Vall,

Binissalem Binissalem is a small municipality in the district of Raiguer on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands, Spain, and the centre of the island's wine region of Binissalem DOP. Transport Binissalem's railway station is served by frequent services f ...

, Consell and Santa María del Camí.

Protected buildings in Alaró

Alaró has a catalog of properties which are protected because of their special characteristics.

Country estates

The municipality's most characteristic image is that of the twin peaks, Castell and s Álcadena, which inspired numerous legends about kings and witches. This panorama is a landmark when entering the village from Consell. However it is also possible to reach Alaro by taking the secondary Ragieur road, the Santa Maria road or by way of Lloseta where there is another kind of scenery to enjoy, perhaps not so spectacular but certainly picturesque. There are many country estates along these secondary roads, evidence of the

rural economy Rural economics is the study of rural economies. Rural economies include both agricultural and non-agricultural industries, so rural economics has broader concerns than agricultural economics which focus more on food systems. Rural developmen ...

that existed until the advent of tourism: Son Antelm and Son Fiol, on the Santa Maria road, Sa Teulera, on the Coanegegre-Alaro road, Son Penyaflor and Son Curt on the Castell road. Son Palou was an important family of the area. Manor Son Palou was their country estate. Son Forteza, Son Guitart and Son Grau are on the way to Lloseta.

Economy

One of the most important economic activities in Alaró for years was the shoe industry. Alaró municipality once had up to 30 factories and more than 2000 people dedicated to this activity. Today, that industry has been reduced to a minimum, with only one major company in that sector. There were also important lignite mines, now closed, relevant to the activities of electricity generation and distribution. For some time they belonged to the electric company GESA (now part of the Endesa group). Today, the town of Alaro, like many others on the island has become commuter town, with most of its inhabitants working in the capital of the island (Palma de Mallorca).

References

2. Govern Balear, Alaro Guide to Es Raiguer

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alaro Municipalities in Mallorca Populated places in Mallorca