Apisonadora near Bendinat: Monument by Castell de Bendinat
Apisonadora is a standalone monument near Bendinat in southwestern Mallorca. The map location is in the vicinity of Castell de Bendinat but does not refer to the neo-Gothic castle itself. This distinction is important because the castle’s better-known name appears in numerous historical descriptions that say nothing about the monument.
Apisonadora is particularly suitable for travelers looking for unusual memorial sites and little-known locations away from the major attractions. The monument is no substitute for a museum or a fully developed historical site. Instead, its appeal lies in consciously noticing an overlooked feature of the local area and placing it within the broader context of Bendinat.
A dedicated detour across the island should therefore be carefully considered. It makes more sense to visit as a short stop while traveling through the southwest, as an addition to Bendinat, or in combination with the coast near Portals Nous and Cala Bendinat. Anyone specifically looking for Apisonadora should use the monument’s name for navigation and not treat it as synonymous with Castell de Bendinat.
Visiting Apisonadora
The crucial point comes during the planning stage: Apisonadora and Castell de Bendinat must be read on the map as two separate destinations. Although the castle shapes the area’s historical setting, the Apisonadora listing refers to the monument. Anyone who simply navigates to “Bendinat Castle” may therefore arrive at the better-known building without consciously noticing the map location they were seeking.
No fixed opening hours or admission price are recorded for Apisonadora. It is therefore advisable to check current access conditions and any local restrictions before traveling there. Its classification as a monument should not automatically be taken to mean either unrestricted access or that a visit is possible at any time. This is particularly relevant around Castell de Bendinat, whose neo-Gothic appearance can easily create the impression of a visitor attraction with regular public access.
The visit is best planned as a focused stop at the monument. There is no verified museum tour, no documented exhibition, and no known sequence of interior rooms requiring a longer visit. The actual duration of the stop therefore depends on whether you only view the monument or also explore Bendinat and its surroundings. The location offers less as a standalone day trip than as part of a route combining several destinations in the southwest.
It helps to have realistic expectations: Apisonadora is not one of Mallorca’s elaborately presented attractions. For some visitors, that is precisely its appeal. The site is more suited to people interested in local monuments, unusual map discoveries, and small traces of history beside better-known buildings. Those expecting guided tours, interiors, collections, or a tourist visitor center should combine the stop with another destination.
Getting There and Parking
From Palma Airport, the drive initially follows the Ma-20 and then the Ma-1 toward Bendinat. The road distance to Bendinat by Castell de Bendinat is 22 kilometers, and the journey takes around 22 minutes. This information expressly ends in Bendinat, not at a separately designated visitor parking area immediately beside Apisonadora. The monument’s exact map location should therefore be used for the final stretch.
From central Palma, the direct route follows the Ma-1. The road distance to Bendinat by Castell de Bendinat is 12 kilometers, and the journey takes around 21 minutes. This relatively short distance makes Apisonadora particularly appealing as a stop on a tour through the southwest. Actual travel time may vary depending on traffic around Palma and on the roads leading to the coast.
No dedicated parking area is designated as a visitor facility for the monument. When arriving by car, it is therefore advisable to use only officially marked spaces and to keep entrances around the residential area and castle clear. Navigation should first lead safely to Bendinat; the exact location of Apisonadora is then decisive. This prevents the search from ending at the much larger and considerably more conspicuous Castell de Bendinat.
For travel by bus, possible stops include Portals Nous 2, Portals Nous 1, Costa d’en Blanes sud, and Plaça de Portals 1. As the map location is not directly connected to a verified, signposted walking route from a particular stop, both the current timetable and the subsequent walk should be checked before traveling. The choice of stop should not be based solely on its name, but on the connection that is actually most suitable for reaching the monument’s exact location.
Bus lines to Apisonadora at a glance
| Line | Route | Departures/day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | Magaluf - Palma | 454 | 00:16 | 23:57 |
| 108 | Son Caliu - Palma | 209 | 06:16 | 23:57 |
| 105 | Sol de Mallorca - Palma | 145 | 06:25 | 21:57 |
| 106 | El Toro - Palma | 108 | 06:48 | 23:13 |
| 107 | Es Capdellà - Palma | 84 | 00:18 | 23:10 |
From the official GTFS feeds (TIB/SFM), no real-time data. The figures cover all stops in the town; weekend and holiday services differ — check with the operator before travelling.
Getting there by bus
Portals Nous 2 (11020) · 0.1 km as the crow flies
- 104Magaluf - Palma · Täglich
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 106El Toro - Palma · Täglich
- 107Es Capdellà - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Portals Nous 1 (11019) · 0.1 km as the crow flies
- 104Magaluf - Palma · Täglich
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 106El Toro - Palma · Täglich
- 107Es Capdellà - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Costa d'en Blanes sud (11190) · 0.5 km as the crow flies
- 106El Toro - Palma · Täglich
Plaça de Portals 1 (11018) · 0.7 km as the crow flies
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Plaça de Portals 2 (11017) · 0.7 km as the crow flies
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Dolors Nouvilas (11187) · 0.7 km as the crow flies
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Ctra. Andratx - Vaquer 1 (11016) · 1.0 km as the crow flies
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Ctra. Andratx - Vaquer 2 (11015) · 1.1 km as the crow flies
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Punta Negra 1 (11022) · 1.2 km as the crow flies
- 104Magaluf - Palma · Täglich
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 106El Toro - Palma · Täglich
- 107Es Capdellà - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Punta Negra 2 (11021) · 1.2 km as the crow flies
- 104Magaluf - Palma · Täglich
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 106El Toro - Palma · Täglich
- 107Es Capdellà - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Bendinat 2 (11013) · 1.6 km as the crow flies
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Bendinat 1 (11014) · 1.6 km as the crow flies
- 105Sol de Mallorca - Palma · Täglich
- 108Son Caliu - Palma · Täglich
Timetable data: official GTFS feeds (TIB/EMT), no real-time — check with the operator before travelling.
Nearby Attractions
Bendinat tells its story not only through modern residential areas but also through an old country estate. The property can already be traced back to the Middle Ages: in the 13th century, the former Islamic farmstead was documented under the name Bendinex. Since the 15th century, the property has passed between various families. This long historical background belongs to the location, but it should not be taken to mean that Apisonadora has equally ancient origins.
The most striking building nearby is Castell de Bendinat. Despite its castle-like name, it is not a medieval fortress. Pedro Caro Álvarez de Toledo, the third Marqués de la Romana, had the residence built between 1855 and 1867 in a neo-Gothic style inspired by Central European castles. It was commissioned by Pedro Caro and Elisabeth Szécsény Zichy-Ferraris. The rectangular building with its corner towers explains why visitors can easily mistake the castle for the area’s principal historic destination.
The place name also has a well-known legend. According to one story, King Jaume I exclaimed after a meal that they had eaten well—in Catalan or Mallorcan, “bé hem dinat.” The name Bendinat is said to have developed from this phrase. This derivation is not historically verified and belongs to local tradition. The name Bendinex, already documented in the 13th century, shows why the story should be treated as an anecdote rather than proof of the name’s origin.
For a longer excursion, the coast is a natural addition. Cala Bendinat, the beach at Portals Nous, and the Puerto Portals area provide a clear contrast to the monument and the neo-Gothic castle setting. Costa d’en Blanes is also nearby. This turns a short stop at Apisonadora into a more varied route combining a local memorial site, historic-looking architecture, and Mallorca’s southwestern coast.
Local insider tips
Select the Exact Map Location
Choose Apisonadora as a separate destination when navigating. The nearby Castell de Bendinat is much better known, but it refers to a different structure and may otherwise lead the search in the wrong direction.
Understand the Castle Correctly
Castell de Bendinat looks medieval but was built between 1855 and 1867 as a neo-Gothic residence. Knowing this helps distinguish the monument, the historic country estate, and the castle setting from one another.
Combine It with the Coast
Apisonadora works best as an intermediate stop. Afterward, consider Cala Bendinat, the beach at Portals Nous, or Puerto Portals, all located within the same southwestern area.