Ca’n Fanals: fig tree with unripe figs
Prior to Moorish settlement of old Pollèntia and continuing into the construction of medieval Alcúdia, the necropolis that served Pollèntia into Christian antiquity was covered and lost. At some point, the soil above the cemetery was deep enough to become attractive to farmers, who improved it, tended it, and tilled it. Perhaps as early as 500 years ago, the land took on the name of the Fanals family as Ca’n Fanals (“ca’n” is a Mallorcan or Catalan contraction of “casa de en” meaning “home of”).
Place names stick tightly in Mallorcan culture, and the farm has kept the name of Ca’n Fanals through the twentieth century excavations (with local Mallorcans providing labor and collective memory) and purchase of the farm by the Consortium overseeing excavations today. Farming no longer occurs on Ca’n Fanals, but lovely remnants remain: a grove of olive trees (most are well under 50 years old and thus young for olives); pomegranates, almonds, and figs; wild fennel and flowers that bloomed and waved the first week of our trip and shriveled quickly in the typical July heat of the second week.
Photo credits this page: Ronda Bard and Rachael Thurston (dawn)
Ca’n Fanals: A fig tree that is a contorted survivor
Ca’n Fanals: Asters and lace
Ca’n Fanals: Poppies along the walk to The Roman Theater
Ca’n Fanals: Wildflowers and fennel
Ca’n Fanals: Olives not yet ripe
Ca’n Fanals: Dawn on July 18, 2014
