The municipality and residential town of Campanet is approximately 40 kilometres northwest of Palma, nestling in the foothills of the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range. The village has for the most part, ignored the tourist developments that have taken place throughout the rest of the island, and is one of the few untouched authentic Mallorcan villages that still exist.
A minute of History:
The original name of the town Campanet is believed to be a combination of the Latin word "capanna" and the Arab plural "kapanat", which together have a literal translation into English as "a collection of huts". Local historians are keen to point out that this indicates that there has been human settlement in this area since prehistoric times.
Attractions:
One attraction that is certainly worth a mention is Ses Fonts Ufanes, which are spectacular water springs that appear in the fields and woods around the Caves of Campanet after heavy rainfall in the Puig Tomir area of the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains. The flooding from these springs empties into the stream Sant Miquel that crosses the plains of Sa Pobla until it enters the S'Albufera wetlands around Playa de Muro on the north coast of the island.
Events:
Campanet may be one of the smaller towns on the island with only 2,500 residents, however this does not diminish their love of the fiesta. The first event of the year is the fiesta of Sant Victoria, which over the years has grown into an 8 day long celebration that is centred around the second Sunday in July. The only other fiesta that Campanet celebrates is in recognition of Sant Miquel the patron Saint of the town which takes place on the 29th of September. As with all Mallorcan fiestas, there's usually a colourful parade through the town along with a variety of concerts and sporting events.
Facts for Travellers:
Although the village does hold a weekly fruit and produce market every Tuesday morning throughout the year, shopping is really very limited to a small supermarket that only sells the everyday essentials. So when considering a holiday here it is strongly recommended to consider car hire too, as public transport is very limited and taxis almost non-existent.
Places to visit:
Walking around the village during the day is quite relaxing; the narrow streets all seem to lead to the main square and the imposing parish church. One thing you may easily miss is the Well of d'en Gatell, which is situated at the entrance to Campanet on the road from Selva. The first documented records of this well date back to the 13th Century, and it continued to be used as a communal well for the village until the mid 1960's.
If you hire a car to explore more of the island, certainly worth a visit are the Caves of Campanet. These were only discovered 1945 by a local man, who was actually digging a well at the time. The caves have an average depth of around 50 metres, containing several small lakes, and are renowned for the fineness and quality of their formations. They are open throughout the year from around 10:00 each day.
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