Portopetro to Get Underground Garage and Plaza: Will It Be Finished This Year?

An underground parking garage, a plaza above — and the debate behind it

When you stroll through Portopetro in the late afternoon, you can already hear the construction site from near the small fishing harbor: concrete mixers, occasional hammering and the distant beeping of construction vehicles. The municipality of Santanyí has launched the project, which will provide the town with 20 new parking spaces and at the same time create a public square with play equipment, benches and lots of greenery.

Why work started in the middle of the season

Some residents were upset that work began in the summer — a time when the streets are full of holidaymakers and the hospitality industry is at its busiest. The administration's explanation is pragmatic: strict deadlines. The project must be completed by the end of 2025, so there was no room for a more relaxed construction phase in winter.

Financially the undertaking is not small: a total of just under €946,000 is budgeted. The largest share is covered by the Consortium for Tourist Accommodation (Consorcio Bolsa de Alojamientos Turísticos) with around €680,000, the municipality is putting up about €265,000. For many that sounds like a lot of money — for others it is an investment in the place's everyday practicality.

What will be built — short and sweet

Planned are 20 parking spaces in an underground garage, which will be covered by a 480 square meter viewpoint above. From there visitors will later have a direct view of the small harbor; cycle racks and some urban furniture are to round it off. The access will be organized with better signage — a blessing for those who don't have to park here every day.

The mayor recently emphasized to the municipal newspaper that the new square should enhance the town center as a meeting place. Joana Adrover, active locally as a representative, noted that one can already get a sense of how the space will feel — after months of noise, a small ray of hope for the neighborhood.

What people are saying

Over an espresso at the harbor in the morning I heard voices from both sides: an elderly resident wishes for less construction noise and more consideration, a café owner hopes for more foot traffic because visitors will be able to park more easily in future. The balance between construction work and quality of life remains an issue — nobody likes construction noise, but many also don't want to circle around every day until a parking space is available.

Whether the project will really solve all problems will be shown in the coming months. One thing is clear: Portopetro is changing step by step — sometimes loudly, sometimes with small, good ideas amid the hustle and bustle.