Campos

Campos, Mallorca

History

Nowadays, Campos has borderlines in common with the following municipalities: Llucmajor, Porreres, Felanitx, Santanyí and Ses Salines. The village of Campos was founded at the beginning of the XIV century, derived from the “Ordenacions” of Jaime II King of Mallorca, when the main villages and towns of the island were established. The origin of the name of the municipality is before the Muslim conquest and which gives us the idea that on the island a Romance language existed beforehand.

Geography

The main urban cores are the village of Campos and two coastal regions: Sa Ràpita and Ses Covetes.

Places of interest

The church of Sant Juliàwas built between the years 1858 and 1873. The building is of a Neo-Classical style. The old bell tower of the XVI century is still conserved as well as some chapels from before the XVIII century. On the inside a large arch and the luminosity of the white walls with golden details are outstanding features. The parish museum can be found within the ecclesiastic trust.

The town of Campos has an urban defence system formed by seven square-shaped (in the base) defence towers which protected the village from enemy attacks by preventing the entrance to the interior. They are distributed in the historical centre and were built in the XV century.

The municipal auditorium was the church of the old hospital of Campos. It was built in the XVI century of Gothic style with cross vaults.

In the XVI century the Convent of Sant Francesc was founded. The Baroque facade and the altarpieces on the inside are certainly worth mentioning. The cloister has an interesting historical and artistic value.

The oratory of Sant Blai is one of the first churches of Mallorca, as it was built after the conquest and has a primitive Gothic style of small dimensions. The Oratory has a garden area, which was a cemetery before.

The beach known as the Es Trenc has a great natural value as well as for its landscapes, as it is a sandy zone with totally intact sand dunes. At present the area is being studied with the possible intention of converting it into a Nature Reserve.

The natural protected area of Es Salobrar is the area of most ecological value of Campos. Many species of birds visit and live in this zone. The rush, the tamarisk, and the marine fennel have become part of the natural and special landscape which is of a great interest.

The only hot spring spas in the Balearic Islands are those of Banys de Sant Joan de la Fontsanta, in the municipality of Campos. Its red soil is which makes it possible for the caper plant to grow naturally there (and is its typical summer scenery). Together with the locality of Llubí, they are the only two places where capers are produced in a natural way.

Economy

The economy of this municipality has been linked since it was founded to agriculture. Its lands are fertile for which reason, for some years there has been an agriculture based on crops needing an irrigated water system.

Transport

The road communications with Palma and the rest of Mallorca are guaranteed thanks to the service offered by the TIB, Transport de les Illes Balears (of the Balearic Islands).

Golf Courses

The nearest installations to Campos for the playing of this noble sport are those of Vall D’or and those of Marriott Son Antem.

Special Events

The patron Saint of the municipality is San Julián. The day of San Julián is the 9th of January, when the festivity is celebrated locally.

The 3rd of February is San Blas, and in the “llogaret”, a great party with the same name is celebrated, with paella in the square and a Mass in the chapel of San Blas. It is normally celebrated the following Saturday.

The second Sunday of May, the May Fair is celebrated, it is especially known for and stands out for the cows that are in the street known as “Ses Rondesso” that the locals of the village and the tourists can see them. There are many other exhibitions such as that of cookery and that of wines and cheeses.

The 15th of August the “Mare de Deu d'Agost” the popular ‘verbenas’ (dances) are celebrated. Festivity Panxa Rotja (red tummy owing to the colour of the reddish earth) for the young there is Revival as well as a great dance with various performers and a big firework display.

The third Thursday in the month of October the Fair of October is celebrated. On the Friday there is the Firó d'Octubre and on the Saturday the Feria medieval.

Since October of 2008, in the Fair of October, the Fira de sa sobrassada is celebrated (type of Majorcan sausage made from pork meat) in the square with the name Plaça de Ca'n Pere Ignasi.

The 26th of November the festivity of Santa Catalina is celebrated with bonfires as the main feature. The people celebrate around the bonfires which have been previously prepared by various entities and associations of the village.

Impressions

To walk around the streets and squares of Campos is to know and become aware of the authentic Mallorca. The character of its people, simple and proud of being Mallorcan, can be noted in the air. Campos as a village still maintains the typical conversations around the bar tables whilst playing cards or dominoes, the cries of the women selling local agricultural products and the children that run and play in its streets and squares.

Campos