There’s a place called Petra in Jordan that’s among the wonders of the world, and there’s also a village in Mallorca called Petra that is wonderful for its surroundings and its people.
If you’re thinking about discovering the latter, keep reading—we’re going to tell you in detail what it’s like, what you can do here, and why we’re so in love with this Mallorcan enclave.
First things first: discover how to get to Petra and what its landmark is
Petra is 43 kilometers from Palma, in the Pla de Mallorca region. It has about 3,000 inhabitants, streets and houses of brown marés stone, and its balconies overflow with geraniums and bougainvillea.
It’s also the birthplace of Fray Junípero Serra, the Franciscan friar who founded the California missions and whose statue represents the state of California in the United States Capitol today. And if you’re wondering… yes. Petra is a place many Americans visit precisely because of this fact.
This figure was born here in 1713; he came from a very humble family and, against all odds, became famous for his missions in California—the ones that gave rise to cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
What to Do in Petra
Petra’s historic center is declared a Site of Cultural Interest and you can easily explore it on foot. Everything is close by and you’ll find several landmarks that you should at least see from the outside. Plaza Ramon Llull is the heart of the village, with bars and terraces where there’s a market on Wednesdays—a great opportunity to take some traditional products home.
Church of Sant Pere
The first thing you need to look for is the Church of Sant Pere, which, by the way, won’t take you long to find because it’s visible from kilometers away. It’s Gothic in style, except for the Chapel of the Rosary, which is Baroque.
It was built between the 16th and 18th centuries and is one of the largest churches in Mallorca, yet another reason for it to be your first cultural visit when you arrive in Petra. Inside, the baptismal font where Fray Junípero Serra was baptized is preserved.
Birthplace and Museum of Fray Junípero
On Petra’s oldest street you’ll find the Birthplace of Fray Junípero. It was lovingly restored, so you can see it as it was in the 18th century and learn how a Mallorcan peasant family of the era lived.
You can visit its interior Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, or any other day by prior reservation, along with its museum, where original letters, maps, portraits, and replicas of the missions he founded in California are preserved.
Convent of Sant Bernardí
The Convent of Sant Bernardí, at the end of Calle Mayor, was where Fray Junípero completed his early studies and took his vows at age 16. A curious fact? The names of the missions he founded in Alta California—San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara, among others—correspond to the saints venerated in this convent. As you can see, he was deeply attached to Petra.
Municipal Theatre Es Quarter
The Municipal Theatre Es Quarter deserves special mention: it’s a former Civil Guard barracks built in the 1920s that was later transformed into a municipal theatre and opened as such in 2005.
We can definitely tell you it’s one of Mallorca’s best venues, among the most modern and with the best program. What will you see?
Nature Is a Must
Outside the town center you must visit Puig de Bonany and the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Bonany, which sits at the summit. The panoramic views over the Pla de Mallorca from here are spectacular on clear days and reach all the way to the sea.
At this site there’s also a reference to Junípero Serra; there’s a cross erected in 1949 to commemorate the bicentennial of the friar’s farewell to the village before departing for America.
And if you like cycling, know that the Pla de Mallorca—the agricultural plain—is one of Mallorca’s most rewarding areas for biking. The roads are quiet, the landscape of almond groves, olive groves, and vineyards is beautiful, and there are few hills.
You can go from Petra to Manacor—31 kilometers—or up the ante and do the 62-kilometer circular route that passes through Santa Margalida and several other villages in the Pla.
Where to Eat in Petra
Petra has a cuisine rooted in Mallorca’s inland tradition. This means that garden produce, lamb, sobrasada, ensaimadas, and hearty stews predominate.
Es Celler de Petra is the village’s gastronomic landmark and where you need to go for lunch or dinner. It’s a mid-19th-century building—it was a winery before becoming a restaurant—and has a traditional Mallorcan menu that never disappoints: brut rice, vegetable tumbet , fried offal, roast lamb, and snails with aioli. Everything is delicious and prepared the traditional way.
The wines on the menu are from the island and the desserts are, of course, homemade too. There’s ensaimada pudding and gató with ice cream.
And if you want specific products, in addition to the village shops, you can get delicacies—cheeses, cured meats, oil, and artisan products—at the market held on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Come Visit Petra Mallorca
One day is enough to see Petra’s must-see sites, but if you want to make the most of your getaway, you should dedicate at least three days: that way you can do some of its routes, enjoy a theatre performance, and also try several Mallorcan dishes.
And if you stay here with Ideal Property, trust us, you’ll need a few extra days to enjoy the amazing villas and houses with pools we have in our accommodation catalog.
The trip to Mallorca to discover Petra sounds great, doesn’t it?