450 years ago today, on May 11th 1561, some 2,000 Moorish intruders arrived in the Port de Sóller from Algeria, and their intentions were unfriendly, hostile and violent. The attack of marauding pirates caught the local pagesos (country folks) by some surprise. The aggressors soon had the upper hand, looting houses and occupying the local parish church. The pirates’ wazir (leader) even declared victory in the Sóller plaça. The local farmers and their Valientes Mujeres (brave women), however, regrouped under the helm of Sóller’s Capitán Angelats and finally managed to overpower the intruders.

For the last 120 years, the town of Sóller has been celebrating the legendary battle and its fortunate outcome with an annual reenactment of the historic skirmish of Moros i Cristians (Moors against Christians). It is too late to go to Sóller now for that occasion; the Firó celebration always happens on the Monday after the second weekend in May, i. e. last Monday. You could earmark the date for next year, should you be so inclined.

The photos were borrowed from the Internet, courtesy of diariodemallorca.es and the photographers.

Muchas gracias.