Castell d'Alaró
11
The chapel and the story of Cabrit and Bassa
The hermitage is a modest chapel with a simple layout, but if you step inside, you will discover a space filled with stories and symbols hidden within its artistic decoration.
Looking up towards the vault, you can admire the vegetal decorations painted by the Italian artist Antonio Soldatti in the eighteenth century. The side doors lead, on one side, to the sacristy and, on the other, to the ambulatory passage surrounding the rear part of the altar.
At the altar, built from reddish stone, you can distinguish a series of canvas paintings covering remains of earlier fresco decorations. Also noteworthy is the sculpture of Our Lady of Refuge, to whom the chapel is dedicated.
On either side of the Virgin’s image, fragments of seventeenth-century panel paintings are still preserved. They originally depicted Cabrit and Bassa as saints and martyrs.
These first images were replaced during the eighteenth century by new paintings on canvas in which they no longer appeared as saints or martyrs.
But who were Cabrit and Bassa?
Cabrit and Bassa were two historical figures who, in 1285, defended Alaró Castle in the name of James II of Mallorca against the troops of Alfonso III of Aragon.
Medieval documents indicate that Guillem Bassa was a lawyer and landowner. The same texts also mention a man known as Cabrit.
According to tradition, when Alfonso and Cabrit met, the following exchange took place:
(In versions in other languages, the following explanation should be added: “In Catalan, Alfons and anfós — a type of grouper fish — are almost homophones, and Cabrit means young goat.”)
Alfonso: Castellans, surrender at once the keys of the rebel castle.
Cabrit: And who sends you with such an order?
Alfonso: Alfonso of Aragon and Mallorca, sworn king and heir.
Cabrit: In Mallorca, anfós is a fish eaten with garlic sauce.
Alfonso: Who dares insult the King of Aragon with such words?
Cabrit: Two loyal men: Cabrit and Bassa.
Alfonso: Cabrit, you say? Then, like goats, I swear I shall roast you.
Once the Castle had been conquered, the Aragonese king ordered the execution of the two defenders and had them burned in the village square.
The Mallorcan people transformed Cabrit and Bassa into symbols of resistance and identity. They were buried alongside the monarchs in Mallorca Cathedral, revered as saints, proclaimed patrons of the Kingdom and remembered for centuries as symbols of Mallorcan independence.
This intense religious, political and popular tradition came to an end in 1635, when the Council of Trent prohibited the worship of people who had not died as martyrs of the Catholic faith.
Looking up towards the vault, you can admire the vegetal decorations painted by the Italian artist Antonio Soldatti in the eighteenth century. The side doors lead, on one side, to the sacristy and, on the other, to the ambulatory passage surrounding the rear part of the altar.
At the altar, built from reddish stone, you can distinguish a series of canvas paintings covering remains of earlier fresco decorations. Also noteworthy is the sculpture of Our Lady of Refuge, to whom the chapel is dedicated.
On either side of the Virgin’s image, fragments of seventeenth-century panel paintings are still preserved. They originally depicted Cabrit and Bassa as saints and martyrs.
These first images were replaced during the eighteenth century by new paintings on canvas in which they no longer appeared as saints or martyrs.
But who were Cabrit and Bassa?
Cabrit and Bassa were two historical figures who, in 1285, defended Alaró Castle in the name of James II of Mallorca against the troops of Alfonso III of Aragon.
Medieval documents indicate that Guillem Bassa was a lawyer and landowner. The same texts also mention a man known as Cabrit.
According to tradition, when Alfonso and Cabrit met, the following exchange took place:
(In versions in other languages, the following explanation should be added: “In Catalan, Alfons and anfós — a type of grouper fish — are almost homophones, and Cabrit means young goat.”)
Alfonso: Castellans, surrender at once the keys of the rebel castle.
Cabrit: And who sends you with such an order?
Alfonso: Alfonso of Aragon and Mallorca, sworn king and heir.
Cabrit: In Mallorca, anfós is a fish eaten with garlic sauce.
Alfonso: Who dares insult the King of Aragon with such words?
Cabrit: Two loyal men: Cabrit and Bassa.
Alfonso: Cabrit, you say? Then, like goats, I swear I shall roast you.
Once the Castle had been conquered, the Aragonese king ordered the execution of the two defenders and had them burned in the village square.
The Mallorcan people transformed Cabrit and Bassa into symbols of resistance and identity. They were buried alongside the monarchs in Mallorca Cathedral, revered as saints, proclaimed patrons of the Kingdom and remembered for centuries as symbols of Mallorcan independence.
This intense religious, political and popular tradition came to an end in 1635, when the Council of Trent prohibited the worship of people who had not died as martyrs of the Catholic faith.
Civil and religious buildings
10
From the guesthouse to the cave of Sant Antoni