Andratx facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andratx
Municipality
Town of Andratx
Coat of arms
Andratx shown within Mallorca
Andratx Location in Majorca Show map of Majorca Andratx Location in Balearic Islands Show map of Balearic Islands Andratx Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Sovereign state	Spain
Autonomous community	Balearic Islands
Province	Balearic Islands
Island	Mallorca
Comarca	Serra de Tramuntana
Administrative HQ	Andratx
Government
• Type	Municipal corporation
• Body	Ajuntament d'Andratx
Area
• Total	81.46 km2 (31.45 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Total	11,004
• Density	135.085/km2 (349.87/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (Central European Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (Central European Summer Time)
Website	www.andratx.cat

Andratx (pronounced "an-DRAHTCH") is a cool town on the island of Mallorca. Mallorca is one of the Balearic Islands, located along the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Andratx is found on the southwest tip of this beautiful island.

Just a few miles south of Andratx, you'll find Port d'Andratx. This is a very popular and exclusive resort area.

History of Andratx

The town of Andratx is very old. For a long time, it was mostly home to local Majorcan people. The Romans lived here in the 2nd century BC. They called the town Andrachium. We know this because pottery and old coins have been found there.

Protection from Pirates

The town was built inland, away from the coast. This was a smart move to protect it from constant attacks. These attacks came from Barbary pirates, who were sea raiders. In the 16th century, a system of observation towers was built around the island. These towers helped warn people about incoming pirate ships. Out of 14 towers in the Andratx and Calvià areas, 12 are still standing today!

Modern Changes

Since 2004, the area has changed a lot. Money from the European Union helped to modernize the town. This brought in new investments and gave the town a fresh, updated look.

Towns in the Municipality

The municipality of Andratx includes several other towns. These are Port d'Andratx, Sa Coma, S'Arracó, Sant Elm, and Camp de Mar. It also includes a small, uninhabited island called Sa Dragonera.

Geography of Andratx

Andratx municipality is located in the southwest part of Mallorca. It sits in the Sierra de Tramontana, which are the most important mountains on the island.

Mountains and Valleys

The southern part of Andratx has many valleys. These valleys are where most people live. The northern part of the municipality is very mountainous and rugged. Because of this, almost no one lives there. The highest point in the area is 927 meters (about 3,041 feet) tall.

Sa Dragonera Natural Park

Off the coast of Andratx is a small island called Sa Dragonera. This island was made a Natural Park in 1995. This means it's a special protected area for nature. You can visit Sa Dragonera by boat from Puerto de Andratx or Sant Elm.

Economy of Andratx

Today, the main activity in Andratx is tourism. Many people visit the area for its beauty and attractions.

Traditional Activities

In the past, farming and fishing were very important ways for people to make a living. Now, these activities are much less common. People mostly farm or fish for their own families or as a hobby.

Local Crops

The main crops grown in Andratx include almonds, carob beans, figs, and citrus fruit like oranges and lemons. Grapes are also grown to make a local wine called "Santa Catarina."

Population of Andratx

The population of Andratx changed a lot during the 1900s. It slowly went down until the 1950s. After that, the number of people living in Andratx started to grow steadily.

Recent Growth

In the early 2000s, the population grew even faster. Between 2001 and 2005, about 2,200 new people moved to Andratx. This growth has led to more buildings and development, especially in the main towns of Andratx and Puerto de Andratx.

Foreign Residents

Andratx is one of the places in Mallorca with a high number of people from other countries. In 2001, about 15% of the people living there were from outside Spain. Many of these were from other European Union countries. About 15% were German, 15% British, and 10% French.

Art and Culture in Andratx

Andratx has many interesting historical buildings and places to see.

Important Buildings

Some of the main monuments include the Church of Santa Maria de Andrach and the Church of la Virgen del Carmen del Puerto de Andratx. There's also the Church of s'Arracó. The Castell de Son Mas is now the City Hall. You can also see the Andratx Castle and the ruins of a former monastery. The old Teatro Argentino, which opened in 1912, is no longer there but was once a famous symbol of the town.

Modern Art Centers

If you like modern art, there are several places to visit. The CCA Andrax Cultural Center (Centro Cultural Andratx) is in Sa Coma, north of Andratx. The Sa Taronja Cultural Association is west of Andratx. You can also find art at the Liedtke Museum in the Port and at the unique Studio Weil.

Notable People

Many interesting people have connections to Andratx:

• Stephen Gately (1976–2009), a singer
• Guy Hamilton (1922–2016), a film director
• Kerima (born 1925), an actress
• John Noakes (1934–2017), a television presenter
• Baltasar Porcel (1937–2009), a novelist
• José Luis de Vilallonga (1920–2007), an actor
• Peter Hook (born 1956), a musician from bands like Joy Division and New Order
• Mark Lawrenson (born 1957), a footballer and broadcaster

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Andrach para niños