Algaida

Algaida is a municipality on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca. It has an area of 89.70 km² with 4,528 inhabitants.GeographyThe municipality of Algaida is located in the south-east of the island of Majorca, 22 km along the main highway from Palma to Manacor. The municipality encompasses six small mountains, the highest and most famous of which is Puig de Randa at 543 m. Rainfall can occur all year round. The driest months is July with an average rainfall of 12.5 l/m². The heaviest rainfall in a single 24-hour period was on 17 September 1943 at 97 l/m².HistoryThe name Algaida stems from the Arabic word al-gaida (meaning "the Base"). The municipality comprises Algaida, Pina and Randa.Algaida was first recorded in the year 1232. The most well-known of these communities is Randa, which contains the mesa Puig de Randa, on which there are located three secluded monasteries.DemographicsThe population spread is a follows. Figures are accurate as of 1 January 2005 and do not include isolated communities (and thus do not comprise the total number of inhabitants of Algaida). Algaida (2,423 inhabitants) Pina (391 inhabitants) Randa (62 inhabitants)Main sightsSanctuarys in the Puig de Randa include, on a lower level, the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Gracia, a hermitage from the 15th century, built like a swallow's nest on a promontory. On the second level stands the Santuario de Sant Honorat from the 14th century. Finally, at the top of the mountain stands the Santuario Nuestra Señora de Cura, which since 1275 has been the Franciscan hermitage of Ramon Llull, Majorca's greatest religious philosopher and scholar, born to Catalan parents in 1232 in Palma. Puig de Randa also houses the Ramon Llull Museum and a school.