Sineu - Mallorca

Right on the earth of the Mallorca Island, the once capital of the Kingdom of Mallorca Sineu comes up as the perfect example of the rustic and small Mallorca villages. An interesting and ancient agricultural hilltop town boasting over 1000 years of history, whit less than 3000 inhabitants and plenty of many ancient buildings. Sineu comprises 47,70 square metres up on hill in the centre of the Island.

Sineu gives the visitors a perfect taste of Mallorca’s history. Remains like the Son Rossinyol and Son Vanrell "talaiots", from the megalithic era, its old names such as "Sinium" during the roman occupation or "Yiynau" during the Arab époque, the biggest parish church on the island Nostra Senyora de los Angeles, dating back from the 13th century, or the palace built by the order of Jaume II the King in 1309 on the remains of an antique Arab building to be his residence, can give the visitor and idea of the ancient culture the village carries inside.

Sineu is also proud to be the capital to the Spring Fairs (“Fires de Primavera" in mallorquin) with Sa Fira, celebrated every year during the 1^st Sunday of May. Also, every Wednesday during all year round, Sineu has it own market having place at the main square, well known by the locals all around the island and highly reccommed among other Mallorca markets.

While you will find some foreign people here, tourism is not yet excessive (the most of the people will speak in fact mallorquin), and it is still possible to sleep quietly on many of the small hotels around, such as the Hotel Leon de Sineu (Carrer dels Bous, 129; 07510 - Sineu, +34 971.52.02.11), a small (only height rooms) hotel built on a mallorcan house from the XV century, completely refurbished keeping the original structure and where only the bathrooms have suffered major improvements.

Those willing to try the authentic Mallorca dishes will found Sineu to be the perfect place, as it is plenty of "Cellers" (the typhical mallorcan restaurants) serving dishes as the traditional roast suckling pig (most known there as “lechona") or the lamb thigh (“paletilla de cordero"). A Best of Mallorca favourite is Sa Plaça, on the church square: ask for the "frito de marisco" (deliciuos), made of vegetables and seafood, a variation of the Mallorca typhical "frito".

Sineu is also really interesting for cultural strolls and gives well in place information to visitors so they can do it themselves with no need of a guide.

If you do come to Sineu during the warm season, sitting outside a bar and watch the time go by while you feel its peace and tranquillity is a must. And do not forget to try the "hierbas", the mallorcan liquor!.

Traditional Festivities, fairs and celebrations in Sineu

Among other thypical spanish celebrations (such as Christmas and New Year's Eve), Sineu as many other towns and villages of Mallorca (and Spain) celebrates its own festivities, which in Mallorca are usually during the summer. In fact, this is the best time and I only Palma de Mallorca can be remembred to do it during the winter.

Celebrations have their time during the 15^thof August with children entertainment, live music, fires and bon fires.

Other celebrations and fairs are:

• April the 25^th: Sant Marc, town's Saint.
• January the 17^th: Sant Antoni, celbrated also in many other places around the island with bon fires.
• 2^nd Sunday on December: Fira de Sant Tomas (St. Thomas Fair), dedicated to so called matances. This fair is dedicated to the well known sobrassada and all what the process involved on its production.

To arrive to Sineu you can either rent a car or take the trains which leaves from Plaza de España in Palma. Driving will take about 25/30 minutes but it will really worth the time.

Links of interest:

• Road map: how to arrive
• Detailed Map of sineu Streets
• Sineu official website, unfortunately only in mallorquin