Playa de Muro Live Cam

Playa de Muro, located on the northern coast of Mallorca, is one of the island’s most beautiful and longest beaches. Spanning over 5.5 kilometers, this stunning stretch of golden sand is part of the larger Bay of Alcudia, a natural gem in the Mediterranean. Known for its crystal-clear waters, soft sand, and tranquil environment, Playa de Muro is a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.

History

The history of Playa de Muro and the surrounding area is deeply intertwined with the broader history of Mallorca. The island of Mallorca has a rich and varied history, influenced by many different civilizations, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, and Catalans. The region around Playa de Muro has evolved significantly over the centuries, from ancient times to becoming a modern tourist destination.

Mallorca's history dates back thousands of years, with the earliest known inhabitants being the Talaiotic people, who settled on the island around 2000 BCE. These ancient settlers left behind numerous archaeological sites, including stone constructions known as talaiots, which can still be seen across the island. Though Playa de Muro itself was not a significant settlement during this time, the wider region was home to several Talaiotic communities.

During the Roman period, which began around 123 BCE, Mallorca became part of the Roman Empire. The island was valued for its agricultural potential, and the Romans developed several towns and infrastructure projects. While Playa de Muro was not a major Roman settlement, the nearby town of Alcudia was a key Roman site known as Pollentia. Roman influence in the area can still be seen in the ruins of Pollentia, where visitors can explore ancient streets, a forum, and an amphitheater.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Mallorca experienced a turbulent period marked by invasions and conquests. The Vandals and later the Byzantine Empire controlled the island during the 5th and 6th centuries. However, it was the Moors who had a lasting impact on the island's development. The Moors arrived in Mallorca in 902 CE and ruled for over 300 years. They introduced advanced agricultural practices, irrigation systems, and new crops that thrived in the Mediterranean climate. While Playa de Muro was likely a quiet, undeveloped area during this period, the Moors' influence on the island's agricultural and cultural landscape was profound.

In 1229, the Christian reconquest of Mallorca was led by King James I of Aragon, who defeated the Moors and established the Kingdom of Mallorca. The island underwent significant political and social changes during this time, including the establishment of new towns and villages. Over the centuries, the region around Playa de Muro remained primarily rural, with agriculture and fishing being the dominant industries.

The modern development of Playa de Muro as a tourist destination began in the mid-20th century, following the end of the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent economic recovery. Mallorca, like much of Spain, experienced a tourism boom in the 1960s and 1970s. The island's natural beauty, Mediterranean climate, and proximity to mainland Europe made it an attractive destination for sun-seeking tourists. Playa de Muro, with its long sandy beach and calm waters, was developed to accommodate the growing demand for holiday resorts.

Today, Playa de Muro is a well-established tourist hotspot, offering a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury resorts to family-friendly hotels. The area has managed to retain much of its natural charm despite the influx of visitors, with a commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental preservation. The beach is part of the S'Albufera Natural Park, a protected area that ensures the region's rich biodiversity and natural landscapes are preserved for future generations.

Climate

The climate of Playa de Muro, like the rest of Mallorca, is classified as a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. This type of climate makes the region an ideal destination for beachgoers, particularly during the summer months when temperatures are warm, and rainfall is scarce.

Summers at Playa de Muro are typically long and hot, with average daytime temperatures ranging between 25°C and 30°C (77°F to 86°F). July and August are the hottest months, with temperatures occasionally climbing above 30°C (86°F). The warm weather during these months is accompanied by plenty of sunshine, with an average of 10 to 12 hours of sunlight per day. This makes Playa de Muro an ideal location for sunbathing, swimming, and other water-based activities.

One of the unique features of Playa de Muro is its relatively calm sea conditions, particularly during the summer. The beach is sheltered within the Bay of Alcudia, which helps to protect it from strong winds and rough waves. As a result, the waters along the beach are typically calm and shallow, making it a safe and popular destination for families with young children.

Winters in Playa de Muro are mild, with temperatures averaging between 10°C and 15°C (50°F to 59°F) during the day. While the region experiences more rainfall during the winter months, particularly in October and November, the wet season is relatively short and the overall climate remains temperate. Even in the winter, Playa de Muro enjoys several hours of sunlight each day, and the island rarely experiences extreme cold or harsh weather conditions.

Spring and autumn are transitional seasons in Playa de Muro, with moderate temperatures and a mix of sunny and cloudy days. These seasons are ideal for visitors looking to avoid the summer crowds while still enjoying pleasant weather. In the spring, temperatures begin to rise in March and April, making it a good time for outdoor activities such as hiking and exploring the nearby S'Albufera Natural Park.

The Mediterranean climate of Playa de Muro also has a significant impact on the region's flora and fauna. The S'Albufera Natural Park, which borders the beach, is home to a diverse range of plant species, many of which are adapted to the island's dry summers and mild winters. The park is also a haven for birdwatchers, with over 200 species of birds recorded in the area, including migratory species that use the park as a stopover during their journeys between Europe and Africa.

Geography

Playa de Muro is situated on the northern coast of Mallorca, within the larger Bay of Alcudia. The beach stretches for over 5.5 kilometers, making it one of the longest beaches on the island. It is divided into several distinct sections, including the popular tourist areas near the town of Muro and the more secluded, natural stretches closer to S'Albufera Natural Park.

The beach itself is characterized by fine, golden sand and clear, shallow waters. The gentle slope of the shoreline ensures that the water remains shallow for a considerable distance from the shore, making it an ideal spot for families with young children or those who prefer wading and swimming in calm waters. The sea here is known for its clarity, with visibility often extending several meters below the surface, making it a popular spot for snorkeling and swimming.

One of the most significant geographical features of Playa de Muro is its proximity to the S'Albufera Natural Park, which is one of the largest and most important wetlands in the Balearic Islands. The park covers an area of around 1,700 hectares and includes a mix of marshes, lagoons, and sand dunes. The wetlands are fed by several small rivers and streams that flow into the park, creating a unique ecosystem that supports a wide variety of plant and animal life.

The surrounding landscape of Playa de Muro is relatively flat, particularly along the coast. Inland, however, the terrain becomes more varied, with rolling hills and small mountains that form part of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, located to the west of the beach. This range, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, adds to the natural beauty of the region and provides opportunities for hiking and outdoor activities for those looking to explore beyond the beach.

Overall, the geography of Playa de Muro, with its stunning beach, clear waters, and proximity to a unique wetland ecosystem, makes it one of the most attractive destinations on the island of Mallorca. Whether visitors are looking to relax on the beach, explore the natural beauty of the S'Albufera wetlands, or enjoy water sports, Playa de Muro offers something for everyone.

The pilgrimage to the shrine of San Salvador in Oviedo

The lands of León were the area from where the pilgrims embarked in the direction of San Salvador Church in Oviedo. This 9c church housed the treasure of eastern relics which had been brought from Toledo in the face of the Muslim invasion and which -according to the legend- came from Jerusalem.

Although in the Liber Sancti Jacobi or Codex of Calixtus, Aiméric Picaud did not mention the pilgrimage to Oviedo as a stage of the main branch of the Pilgrims' Way, there is not the slightest doubt that San Salvador and its Holy Chest were connected with the pilgrimage from the start.

The veneration of San Salvador's relics in Oviedo was initially of a local nature and had its beginnings in the 9c. It reached internacional proportions towards the end of the 11c. Many documents are preserved in proof of the relationship between the pilgrimage to San Salvador and that to Santiago de Compostela. In 1228 King Alfonso IX enacted a constitution in favour of the pilgrims of Santiago and San Salvador in Oviedo, while in Las Partidas Alfonso X el Sabio described the pilgrims as «those on a pilgrimage to Santiago or to San Salvador in Oviedo».

Since the 12c, therefore, the Holy Chamber, San Miguel's Chapel of which had been built at the behest of Alfonso II to house the Holy Chest, has been an important sanctuary and centre for pilgrims, which channelled the great current of pilgrims who left León in order to venerate the Oviedo shrine on their way to St Jame's tomb.

After staying at the Hostelry of Santa María de Arbás, founded by Alfonso VII in the 12c and one of the oldest along the Way with its -still preserved- beautiful Romanesque Collegiate Church, the pilgrims crossed the Pajares Mountain Pass, the natural gateway between Castile and Asturias.

They entered Asturias by way of Puente de los Fierros, which preserves a chapel, rectorate and bridge, and Campomanes, which had a hospital in the 12c. In Pola de Lena, the traveller should not miss the nearby hermitage of Santa Cristina de Lena, one of the most beautiful examples of Asturian preromanesque. It was built in the reign of Ramiro I in the 9c, which was the period of splendour of the style, officially declared by the UNESCO as belonging to the Heritage of Mankind.

Mieres was the end of the stage, a welcoming village. After the climb to the Height of El Padrún, the Nalón river was crossed in Olloniego. After their arrival in Oviedo, the pilgrims continued along La Rúa St to kneel in front of the image of San Salvador and venerate the Chest of Relics in the Holy Chamber.

Oviedo, which grew around the Monastery of San Vicente in the 8c, became the capital of the Asturian kingdom in the 9c by order of Alfonso II. He enlarged the city by building a royal palace, the Basilicas of El Salvador and Santa María, the Holy Chamber, San Tirso's and the Church of San Julián de los Prados or Santullano. The palace and the basílicas roughly occupied the area where the cathedral is today. The latter was built including the Holy Chamber in flamboyant Gothic between the 14c and 16c. The Holy Chest, the Cross of the Angels, the Cross of Victory, the box of Agates and several diptychs belong to the most valuable objects kept in the Holy Chamber. The main retable of the Cathedral is outstanding.

Nearby Mount Naranco has the other two extraordinary examples of asturian pre-romanesque of the time of the kings called Ramiro: Santa María deI Naranco, Ramiro I's summer palace and San Miguel de Lillo, the Palace church. Both date from the 9c, and have been declared World Heritage Site, by the Unesco.

From Oviedo the way crossed the Nalón at Peñaflor and reached Grado a very important place in the Middle Ages. Then came the laborious climb to La Cabruñana, after that the Monastery of Cornellana, with a largely refurbished 12c church, and Salas with its outstanding Collegiate Church of Santa María and finally La Espina.

At the Height of La Espina, the Way forked, with the older branch leading to Tineo and to the Monastery of Obona, an obligatory place of passage on the Way to Santiago, when a decree was issued in that sense in 1222. After a short while, La Pola de Allando was reached and its 9c Romanesque Church of Santa María de Colón from where the itinerary continued to Grandas de Salime, where the Parish Church of San Salvador should be visited. From Grandas, the Way entered Galicia via El Acebo Mountain Pass.

From Villafranca del Bierzo to Santiago

After leaving Villafranca del Bierzo, the traveller is in Galicia. When they had left Piedrafita Pass behind, the pilgrims considered themselves to be at the gates of their destination. Shortly after leaving the pass behind, the traveller reaches O'Cebreiro where he finds a series of pallozas -primitive living quarters like the one found in the castros, the fortified villages of the Celts- as well as a beautiful pre-romanesque church of the 9c and 10c.

The same road that brought the traveller to this point follows the Pilgrims' Way through Liñares, Hospital da Condesa and Padornelo as far as El Alto do Poio, Fonfría del Camino, Biduedo and Triacastela are the last stops along the eleventh stage of the Codex of Calixtus. The next one began at the Monastery of Samos, one of the most famous cultural centres at the start of the Middle Ages.

Sarria, with a fortress in ruins above, has a main street -Calle Mayor- full of reminders of the Way, The Church of Santiago -Romanesque and Gothic-, the Hospital of San Antonio and the Convent of the Mercedarians are the most outstanding features among the traces left by the pilgrimages. The Churches of Barbadelo and Paradela (both Romanesque) also deserve a visit before one reaches Portomarín. The (also Romanesque) churches of San Pedro and San Nicolás as well as a pazo, a Galician country house, are the most important buildings of this otustanding stopping place on the Pilgrims' Way to Santiago.

From here it is advisable to take the C-535 as far as the regional road leading to Lugo. After another 10 km (6 mi.), the C-547 branches off to the left and takes the traveller directly to Santiago. 15 km further along, there is Palas do Rei, which is full of splendid Romanesque buildings and is the end of the 12th and last stage in the Codex. At Melide a visit should include the Church of Santa María, the church of the former Hospital of Sancti Spiritus and the portal of the Church of San Pedro. Arzúa is the next important village. It also has a former hospital next to the Church of La Magdalena. Lavacolla, the site of today's airport, is mentioned in Picaud's Guide as the Lavamentula where the pilgrims used to clean themselves before entering the city of the apostle.

From Hondarribia to Balmaseda: the Jacobean route in the Basque Country

Coming from central and northern Europe, after leaving Bayonne, pilgrims reached Hendaye and, after crossing the Bidasoa River they entered the Basque territory via lrún. From where pilgrims went on to Hondarribia, with its mediaeval urban centre and the remains of walls which have warranted it recognition as a Historico-Artistic Monument. Pilgrims proceeded on their journey towards Donostia-San Sebastian, a city that according to some historians was erected as a sanctuary and a hospice for pilgrims. It conserves several of its old buildings, such as the Parish Church of San Vicente, built in the Gothic style in the 15th century, and the Basílica of Santa María, built in the 18th century and featuring a fine baroque portico.

Continuation of their journey led pilgrims up to Mount Igueldo by an old path, and then on to Orio and Zarautz. In Zarautz, the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora la Real conserves a «Pilgrim's Tomb», a clear allusion to the town's jacobean past, and a baroque altarpiece. The Towers of Luzea and Motza are representative instances of Basque defensive architecture.

Nearby, in Getaria, a charming seaside village, one may visit the Cathedral of San Salvador, a magnificent Gothic construction from the 15th century. On the way from Getaria to Zumaia, in Azpiazu, visitors can pay a visit to one of the most beautiful rural temples in Guipúzcoa, which harbours magnificent Flamboyant Gothic carvings.

Zumaia boasts the imposing Parish Church of San Pedro, with a precious 15th century altarpiece by the Basque sculptor Juan de Anxieta. The road went inland momentarily after Zumaia, towards Itziar, the last milestone in Guipúzcoa on the Way to Santiago de Compostela, with its Plateresque church from the 16th century. The Virgin of ltziar is a wooden carving from the 13th century.

Leaving the province of Guipúzcoa and entering Vizcaya, pilgrims crossed the Valley of Artibai and Markina-Xemein and immediately came to a new milestone: the ascent to the Collegiate Church of Cenarrazu-Ziortza, built in the 14th century. lt is the only collegiate church in Vizcaya and it was declared a national monument in 1948.

Gernika, with the Church of Santa María and its splendid Gothic portico, was the place where pilgrims disembarking in nearby Bermeo joined the jacobean seaside road. Before entering Bilbao the traveller will find the old Church of Nuestra Señora de Begoña, erected in the Gothic style in the 15th century and enlarged later in the 17th century. It contains a precious image of the Virgin Mary in the Romanesque to Gothic transition style (13th-14th century). Entrance to Bilbao was made by the Paseo de Los Caños, and after crossing over the Castle Bridge, nowadays called the Bridge of San Antón, travellers came to the Church of San Antón, erected in the late Gothic style. The Hospital and Church of San Juan, are among the jacobean remains in the city. In the centre of the old city, enclosed by walls, stands the Cathedral of Señor Santiago, a magnificent example of the Basque Gothic style, built in the 16th century. Its ornate Gothic cloister is especially interesting, and it also has an old Gate of the Pilgrims, nowadays known as the Gate of the Angel. The old quarter of Bilbao was declared a Historic-Artistic Collection in 1972.

The last milestone in the pilgrims' route along the Basque coast is Balmaseda, a town overlooked by the ruins of a castle on a knoll. Visitors may stop to see the Church of San Severino, built in the late Gothic style (14th-15th centuries) and subsequently reformed in the baroque style, and the Romanesque Old Bridge or Bridge of Muza, with its impressive tower and three unequal arches. Located upon the old Roman road joining Castille and Vizcaya, it has been declared a National Monument.

From Balmaseda, pilgrims had a choice between two possible routes: one of them crosses the Valley of Mena and leads to Burgos, the junction for the inland way to Santiago; the other route entailed returning to Bilbao before entering the province of Cantabria by the road along the coast.