Finca La Fortaleza

Information villa la Fortaleza Mallorca

The Albercutx Fortress is located at the end of the Punta de la Avanzada, just outside of Pollença. Its origins date back to the 17th century when several constructions were carried out in the area to defend the bay of Pollença from the many corsair raids.
In 1628 the works of a first building were completed, while between 1682 and 1692 a second building with a hexagonal floor plan was built, which was the basis of what can be seen today. Over time, the pirate threat decreased until it disappeared in the 19th century, so the Government decided to sell it.

The Fortress and art

The maximum splendor of the Albercutx Fortress would come as early as the first third of the 20th century, in the period when Pollença would become a center of attraction for the many artists who either settled in or spent long periods there, attracted by its light and its inspiring landscapes. These include the painter Hermenegildo Anglada Camarasa, one of the main representatives of post-impressionism who in 1914 established his residence in the Port of Pollença until he died in 1959.
The Argentine painter Roberto Ramaugé (1892-1973), a friend of Camarasa's and possessor of a great fortune, bought the Fort in 1919, then he underwent a profound transformation to turn it into a luxury residence. Ramaugé built a large swimming pool surrounded by numerous columns, laid out beautiful gardens and large steps to reach the sea, and created a pine forest where before there had been only rocks, reforesting the entire peninsula. He added constructions for guests and built magnificent viewpoints to contemplate the impressive views of the place.

He also commissioned the famous Spanish-American sculptor José de Decreeft, who resided in Pollença, with two hundred sculpted pieces for his new residence. Ramaugé became one of the hosts of the artists' colony residing in Pollença between the 1920s and early 1930s, thus contributing to its cohesion. From then on, it has become a meeting point for avant-garde painters such as Sorolla, Santiago Russinyol, Adán Dile, Mir, Reinaldo Luza, Andrés Segovia, Bernareggi, Madico, and Tito Cittadini among others. But all this came to an end after the start of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), since the Fortress was expropriated by the Air Force, which made it part of a seaplane base and returned it to its original military use, a reason that led Ramaugé to leave Mallorca along with many other artists.
At the end of the Civil War, this possession returned to the hands of the heirs of Ramaugé. But the Fortress entered a process of decline that led to its abandonment and subsequent plunder. Despite this, it still preserves important remains of its splendid past, such as the capitals of the columns sculpted by Decreeft, and its subsequent owners have made important reforms and many improvements. In 2011 the Fortress changed ownership again and fortunately it is now possible to hold very exclusive events in this magical setting steeped in history and art, and we can say that the days of wine and roses have restored the splendor of this fantastic property.