What to expect
Sant Pere, Saint Peter, is the patron saint of fishermen, and in Port d'Alcúdia his feast day on 29 June is still carried by the fishing community itself. The centrepiece is the sea procession on the evening of the feast day: the figure of Sant Pere is carried from the church to the harbour and placed on a fishing boat. Accompanied by a flotilla of decorated boats, from the small Llaüt to excursion ships, it makes a loop through the Bay of Alcúdia while music plays on the quay and people wave to the boats. Many families in the town have lived from fishing for generations, and for them this evening is the most important of the year.
Around the feast day, the Ajuntament d'Alcúdia organises a festival week in the harbour quarter: concerts and Verbenes on the Plaça, Habaneres singing, a communal sardine grill, a children's programme, sports tournaments and a closing fireworks display over the water. The atmosphere is noticeably more familiar than at the big festivals in Alcúdia's old town; it is mostly locals celebrating, plus holidaymakers from the nearby hotels who stumble in by chance and stay.
If you want to see the maritime Mallorca beyond the postcard motifs, Sant Pere in Port d'Alcúdia is one of the best dates: real fishing boats, real fishing families and a festival that was not invented for tourists.
Practical tips
- Getting there: By bus from Alcúdia, Can Picafort or Palma (TIB lines stop right at the harbour). If you come by car, the side streets behind the harbour promenade are your best bet for parking, though it gets tight on the festival evening.
- Crowds: Well attended but not overrun. For a spot at the quayside for the sea procession, arrive about an hour before it starts, usually around 7 to 8 pm.
- Costs: The procession, concerts and fireworks are free. At the sardine grill you usually pay a small amount of a few euros for a plate and a drink.
- Best viewpoint: The mole at the fishing harbour offers the best view of the boats setting out; the fireworks can be seen from anywhere along the promenade.