Sant Pere, an ode to maritime traditions

Every year without fail, on 29 June, the festival of Sant Pere, patron saint of sailors, is celebrated in Mallorca. A celebration that was deeply rooted in the idiosyncrasies of the Mallorcan society of the past. Many municipalities celebrate the feast of their patron saint during these dates. Coastal towns like Port d’Alcúdia, Port de Pollença and Colònia de Sant Pere, and other inland towns, such as Esporles and Búger, are proof of the importance of this saint to the culture of the island.

On 29 June a must-see maritime procession June takes place in honour of the saint in Port d’Alcúdia. The boats are festooned for this special occasion, and they accompany the image of the patron saint on its passage through the tranquil bay of Alcúdia. During the preceding week, the Port hosts all kinds of cultural and leisure-related events including cercaviles (parades) featuring the Gegants (Giants) of Alcúdia, and various musical and gastronomic events.

There is also a cercavila in the Fiestas de Sant Pere of Port de Pollença, in this case with Pollença’s band of bugles and drums. A popular sardinada, exhibitions of ballroom dancing and ball de bot (typical dances of Mallorca and Menorca) and the Mercadet of Sant Pere are some of the activities you can enjoy if you decide to visit this beautiful town during these dates. The same is true of Colònia de Sant Pere, a town that lets you choose from a wide range of activities designed for the whole family, including craft exhibitions, sports competitions or fireworks.

Meanwhile, Esporles and Búger enliven the festival of their patron saint with a comprehensive programme with events ranging from a charity market, outdoor cinema or lively, fun street parties guaranteed to leave you with pleasant memories.