Sant Elm

Villages

Sant Elm has gone from being a fishing village that lived on fishing and salting to being an important tourist center, with all the services of a first class destination, but far from the overcrowding of larger towns. The beach is protected by the islet of Es Pantaleu. Thanks to its presence even when winds blow from the southwest, west or northwest the waters of the beach are quite calm. Only with strong winds from the west or southwest the waters of this beach become rough. This beach and its surroundings are steeped in history. It was here that the armada of King James I of Aragon anchored in 1229 as the first step in the conquest of Mallorca. According to tradition, the first royal mass was celebrated on the Pantaleu islet. There they had the help of Alí del Pantaleu, a Muslim who was against the Vali of Mallorca and who provided valuable information to the Christians about the situation of Mallorca and the location of the defending army. With his information they decided to make a night landing on the beach of Santa Ponsa, where the conquest really began. This historical heritage is reflected in the construction of the castle of Sant Elm, several defense towers, and the nearby monastery of La Trapa.