By Antoni Salvà (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The municipality of Llucmajor has a wide variety of remarkable landscapes which contrast mountainous areas, such as the Randa massif, with impressive coastal cliffs, beaches, the municipality´s many torrents and the plain on which the village of Llucmajor is located. Llucmajor boasts the island´s most extensively developed cycling tourism network, which includes routes that pass through Cap Enderrocat, Cap Blanc, Cala Pi, the sanctuary of Gràcia and S´Èstanyol.
The mountainous zone, whose main elevations do not reach 500 m, belongs to the protected nature area that rings the Randa massif, which dominates the Pla district. Holm oaks, Aleppo pines and grasses decorate the hills, while the broad valleys that lie between them abound with wild olive trees and olive, carob and almond tree plantations.
Other officially protected areas are those around Son Gual and Xorrigo ravines, also in the Pla district. A number of endemic flora populates the zone, as do various species of waterfowl.
At the coastline there are areas such as S´Arenal known as well as Patja de Palma, over four kilometres of coastline between Palma de Mallorca and Llucmajor, Cala Pi a serene shelter where a number of vessels put into port and Racó de Sarena, the coastline of Llucmajor is dominated by cliffs soaring to heights of over 100 m.
Cap Blanc and Cap Enderrocat are points on the coast where the calcareous platform of the Llucmajor shore meets the sea. A number of waterfowl and birds of prey make their habitat in these areas, which have been declared waterfowl sanctuaries.
The many vestiges of the talayotic period make Llucmajor an especially interesting place to visit for lovers of prehistoric history. The talayot of Capocorb Vell is the most famous of all the island´s archaeological sites, not only because it was one of the first to be excavated, but also because of its carefully preserved state of conservation.
The square lay-out of the village of Llucmajor originated in the fourteenth century. The many stone façades adorned with curious door-knockers that can be found on its narrow streets imbue visitors with a medieval feeling.
Nevertheless, the most interesting examples of Llucmajor´s cultural legacy are two religious buildings: the parish church of Sant Miquel, which was built between 1781 and 1853, and the convent of Sant Bonaventura, which dates from the seventeenth century. There are also several Neo-Classic and Modernist buildings around Plaça d´Espanya: the Town Hall (1882) and old Marketplace building (1915), today a fish market, are some examples.
The Sanctuary of the Mare de Déu de Gràcia was founded at the foot of Sa Falconera in the Randa massif at the end of the fifteenth century. Built as a small hermitage in 1449, it was replaced by a larger church in the eighteenth century.
There are several watchtowers in the municipality of Llucmajor at Cala Pi, S´Estalella and Cap Blanc-, vestiges of a defence system which was established all throughout Mallorca, in response to pirate and corsair raids in the sixteenth century.
Inland, remains of a large mill that existed in the area can also be seen; Molí d´en Gaspar, now restored, attests to its presence.
Winter fiestas begin in Llucmajor with the fiesta of Sant Antoni (Saint Anthony), patron saint of animals. Bonfires are lit in the village streets, around which villagers roast different kinds of pork sausages, sing songs and play the ximbomba, a primitive rhythm instrument. Musical parades accompanied by cabezudos, giants with typically large heads, parade through the streets in S´Arenal and in S´Estanyol and there are performances of ball d´aferrat, a typical folk dance. Animals are traditionally given a blessing the following day in front of a statue of the saint.
During the second week in August, Llucmajor celebrates the fiestas of Santa Cándida, the most important of the numerous summer celebrations that take place in the municipality. The religious acts in honour of this saint combine cultural events, concerts and folk dance performances. The lively musical parade through the streets led by giants with typically large heads (gigantes y cabezudos) accompanied by the municipal band is of particular interest.
In Llucmajor, the autumn fiesta cycle, one of the island´s most popular, begins on September 29, Saint Miquel´s day, with the first Fira de Tardor (Autumn Fair). A wide variety of products can be found on the second and third fair days, which take place on the two following Sundays. Gastronomy week, a handicrafts and industrial products exhibition, country fair and cattle competition are some of the events which make up the celebration.