Traditional festivities in Santa Ponsa in Mallorca, fun guaranteed!

Are you thinking about a trip to Mallorca around the beginning of September?

If so, we recommend you pay a visit to the Rey Don Jaime festival in Santa Ponsa between August 31 and September 9. The festival is a great chance to enjoy local culture and traditions while having bundles of fun with your partner or family. And if you stay in one of our hotels, the plan could not be better! 

Zafiro Hotels is here to tell you everything you need to know about this historic festival so that you know exactly what’s going on. Every year when September comes around, Calvià in general, and Santa Ponsa in particular, commemorate the anniversary of the landing of troops supporting King Jaime I who would later end up conquering Mallorca in 1229, almost 800 years ago.

The Rey Don Jaime festival is one the biggest cultural events in the Calvià region, with the town hosting numerous activities over more than a week of celebrations: a medieval market, sports, concerts and historical simulations of both the troop landing and the battles between Moors and Christians back in the thirteenth century.

The first few days are full of popular activities, but our favourites happen over the last few days. First, there is an organised swim across Santa Ponsa Bay, with a short route for children and a longer one for adults. Next comes the impressive arrival of the conquerors, with everything decorated in thirteenth century style and residents and visitors in costume lining up on the beach awaiting the landing of troops commanded by King Jaime as they approach the coast by boat. Amid cries of “Christians no! Christians no!” and with their wooden swords on high, the battle begins and fun is guaranteed! The Moors and Christian face each other three times, with the last battle taking place on Santa Ponsa beach and leading up to the historic victory of King Jaime and his army. Kids, youngsters and adults young and old, all dress up to take part in this incomparable, fun experience.

Zafiro Hotels invites you to visit us and join in the celebrations. If you book a stay at the Zafiro Rey Don Jaime hotel, just a few metres from Santa Ponsa Beach, you will have a grandstand seat for the event. But you can also choose our Zafiro Palace Palmanova and Zafiro Palmanova hotels just 8 kilometres away. All the hotels provide all the comforts needed by couples and families on holiday. They feature several swimming pools, relaxation area, different spaces, garden area, activities for kids of different ages and many more surprises.