General Information
There are two popular theories on how the town got it’s name, which literally translates as “The Port of Christ.” The first comes from a legend that in 1260AD, around the time of the earliest Christian conquest of the Island, a fishing boat carrying a crucifix was washed ashore here. The other is, two oxen who were carrying an icon of Christ to Palma, stopped here and refused to move any further. So the icon stayed, and the town was renamed in its honour.
Unlike so many of the other municipalities of Majorca, the economy of Manacor is not solely dependent upon the the tourist. Porto Cristo is still a very typical Spanish fishing village, whilst Manacor has a long tradition with the manufacture of quality furniture and is also the centre of the island’s pearl industry. These artificial pearls are produced in a special process that somehow combines glass and pulverised fish scales. The resulting article is then barely distinguishable from the genuine article.
The focus of Porto Cristo is it’s natural harbour, which along with nearby Porto Colom is one of the largest along the east coast. Over the years it has provided a safe mooring for both fishing boats and in more recent years an ever increasing number of leisure craft.
During the evening Porto Cristo is a very quiet resort, perfect if you want to retreat and get away from it all, but still within easy reach of the more lively Cala Millor which is only a short taxi ride away. However, during the day the resort can become very busy with tour buses due to the close proximity of both the Caves of Drac and Caves of Hams, which between them are possibly the biggest tourist attractions on the island of Majorca.
Porto Cristo is very popular with middle aged couples and the accommodation here is quite modest and low key, which is in keeping with the rest of the town. There is a generous handful of hotels and apartments here but certainly nothing above the 3 or 4 star standard. For visitors in self catering accommodation, there is also a good selection of cafes, bars and restaurants, along with a number of SPAR type supermarkets that should cater for the everyday holiday essentials as most stock a wide selection of UK recognised branded goods, albeit at slightly higher prices than you would expect to pay back at home in the UK.
All things considered, Porto Cristo is a quiet family oriented resort, that will be more suited to those who don’t require constant entertainment, but take enjoyment from strolls around the town and along the quayside.
Business Information
Very few businesses come up for sale in Porto Cristo, partly due to the fact that it is a thriving day time visit resort, so the businesses particularly around the harbour have a constant stream of tourists of all nationalities on day trips to the nearby caves. Bars, Restaurants and Souvenir Shops are all very busy during the summer months.
The business area here is very concentrated around the harbour area and although you see businesses for sale outside of this immediate area they are not as busy and you need to make allowances for this fact.
Tags: Cala millor, Majorca, Palma, Porto Cristo, Resort Information, Restaurants for sale
Leave a Reply