With just one day to go, the Drac de Na Coca will once again prowl the streets of old town Palma. Supported by wild demons and other fierce dragons, he’ll scare away the evil spirits with lots of fireworks and terrifying roars. It’s correfoc, tomorrow. The traditional fire run marks the end of the two-week celebrations of the city’s patron saint Sant Sebastià.

In Palma, everybody knows the story of the Drac de na Coca. Legend has it that in the 17th century a fierce dragon lived in the narrow streets behind the cathedral. It came out at night to attack late passers-by, and it was said that it even devoured small children. Finally, a brave knight managed to kill the monster with a determined stroke of his sword. 

Now, the beast that had frightened the entire neighborhood turned out to be a rather small crocodile. A tropical specimen that was totally unknown on Mallorca. Probably a blind passenger on a ship from Africa that escaped and survived in the sewers. The dead reptile was stuffed and is now preserved in the diocesan museum next to the Cathedral.

And just opposite the museum a small stone sculpture of the Drac de na Coca looks down to the sea and the harbor from above. In memory of the place where it may have once come to the island. 

Read more about the correfoc in Palma, right here.