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1)
Distance to Palma - 30 km
2) Area of the district - 42,75 km
3) average altitude - 56m
4) citizens in this town - 12.118
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An island within Mallorca
A huge orchard of oranges and olive groves
Sóller is located in the NW of Mallorca, in a valley of the Sierra de Tramuntana which opens onto the sea. The climate, the scenery, the mountain air, and its urban amenities make Sóller a fascinating place which captivates thousands of visitors every year. Isolated by the mountains, the valley of Sóller can only be reached by the winding country road over the top of the mountain, the "Coll de Sóller" or by a memorable journey on the famous Palma-Sóller train, which has been travelling the lovely countryside to the valley of oranges and olive groves for the last fifty years. Or you can use the new tunnel.
The export of oranges and lemons to the South of France from Port de Sóller and the production of olive oil led to a flourishing commercial and cultural trade whose most apparent influences may be seen in the lovely manor houses and farms whose facades show an elegance which is unusual in buildings of this type in Mallorca. Apart from its Ports, Sóller also comprises l`Horta de Sóller, Biniaraix and l`Alqueria del Comte, temporary homes or summer retreats of writers and artists attracted by the peace, the lights and the way of life of this verdant valley.
The tunnel of Sóller
The tunnel of Sóller with its length of 3 km is indeed a very impressive work of engineering. It connects Sóller, the cultural centre of the beautiful Majorcan mountains (Serra de Tramuntana, highest peak at 1.500 m) to the rest of Majorca. Everyone who wishes to discover the landscapes of those breathtaking mountains can thus reach Sóller travelling by car or motorbike from Palma in no more than 20 minutes. (Highly recommendable trip)
Train
At the end of the last century, the difficulties in communication between Sóller and Palma led to the creation of a railway line which was inaugurated on 16th. April 1912. Since then the meandering narrow gauge railway has earned a special place in the hearts of all Mallorcans and overseas visitors. Its carriages of wood, iron and glass have retained their original style and simple elegance, untouched by any of the trends in modern design.
It passes through beautiful scenery with views which can only be seen from these iron tracks. After Bunyola where the huge orchards start to clothe the mountainsides, the track snakes through the tunnels of the Sierra de Alfabia, zigzagging through more than a dozen, before it erupts into the sunlight for the final time, and the Sóller valley spreads its splendour below.
The "tourist train" makes a special stop here so that visitors can photograph the beauties of the town and the Sierra. Now the town lies only a short distance away; a few more curves and some interesting viaducts around off the 27 km journey the train ends in the city centre. This historical and interesting mountain town makes a perfect base for visiting other attractive localities nearby. Start by taking the tram down to Sóller Port. Built one year after the railway, it connects the town with its port, and has the distinction of being the one and only tramline in Mallorca.
Cooperative
The agricultural cooperative "San Bartomeu" (founded in 1899) comprehends most of the farmers of the valley of Sóller. Here you can buy local agricultural produce straight from the warehouse, most notable are nevertheless the tasty oranges and juicy lemons that grow in this region.
"Olis Sóller" is the Cooperatives own brand for bottling high quality oil made from Majorcan olives. The modern oil mill can be visited between November and March after previously having arranged a date. Next to the road to Fornalutx.
The Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden of Sóller disposes of a surface of 10.000 square meters. It is a specialized garden on Mediterranean insular flora and its conservation. The Balearic wild plants collection is the most important in the Botanical Garden. You can find more than five hundred species in a succession of areas in which the environmental conditions and the microhabitats of each plant have been reproduced. It covers more than a third part of the insular autochthonous flora.
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is located inside the Botanical Garden. At this very moment, you can find two expositions in the Museum: the Balearic natural science History and a Palaeolithic exposition that shows the most important fossils found on the islands and the evolution of their faunas and floras during the last three hundred million years. The Museum also organises temporary expositions on different topics of the nature and environment of the Balearic Island.
Festivals
As well a many different local festivals that reflect the joyful spirit of its people, Sóller stages the famous international folk dance festival, the Mostra Folklňrica Internacional.
January, 16th
Eve of St. Anthony Abad. Bonfires, dancing and traditional songs.
February
Sa Rua - the Carnival procession and Sa Rueta for the children. Full of colour and joyful dances.
March-April
Holy Week. Religious processions on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday evening. Celebration of the Resurrection with a morning procession on Easter Sunday.
May
Second week - Sa Fira and Es Firó. In Sóller and the Port, traditional fiestas of Moors and Christians. Dancing, exhibitions and concerts.
June, 29th.
Fiestas of St. Peter in Sóller Port.
July, 15th
Eve of our Lady of Carmen; at dusk, a beautiful procession of boats across the Bay of Sóller.
August, 15th
Fiestas of the Patron Saint of Biniaraix.
August, 24th
Fiestas of St. Bartholomew, the Patron Saint.
July - August
International Folkloric Festival. Since many years.
September
Tourist Fiesta. Sóller Port.
The Port (outside)
Built between 1930-1935 in order to extend and modernize the old commercial harbour, where the sailing ships and steamers loaded the lemon, oranges and tissues from the Valley.
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Sta. Catherine's Oratory
It rises near a rock erected in homage to the oldest seaman of the pier (1976) and a cross of octagonal stone (1692). The oratory belongs to the XIII Century, but was destroyed by the pirates in 1542 and rebuilt in 1550. From this time it remains the porch, the window and the
belfry.
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The port's castle
Also known as the Tower of L´Alcaid. It's a tower erected between 1543 and 1545 to defend the bay against the pirates incursions, today transformed in a private lodging. On the entrance gate, it lasts long a shield of Sóller carved out on stone and it's the oldest one known (two lions and a
sun).
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The Chapel of Sant Ramon de Penyafort (end of XVII Cent.)
In neo-classical style, was built with the fishers contributions near the stone from which, according to the legend, the Saint began his trip to Barcelona on his own mantel. Cannot be
visited.
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The parish of St. Ramon
Begun in 1938. It has a garden, room-house, belfry, porch-sacristy, temple and summer-colony. The inside nave is single and has four pieces, divided by aimed arcs from the basis. Very remarkable are the lateral altarpieces from the Oratories of Sta. Catherine and St. Ramon de
Penyafort.
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The pest-house
It was erected in 1819 on aground of about 1.000 m˛ and it consists in a two-floor house and three yards closed with a wall, that communicate with the sea. It served as lodging of about 40 days for crew and passengers of the ships coming from these places suspicious of contagious pest.
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The suburb of Sta. Catherine
A typical kernel of seamen population, with stone-paved and very elevated streets. From the oratory, you must take the right stair and follow the Llevant or Sta. Apol-lňnia street to the view-point. Interesting corners and details: flowerpots, public fountains, inlayed houses...
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The Tower Picada
Defence and watching tower, erected between 1614 and 1623 to prevent the pirates attacks.
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The lanterns of the Bufador and La Creu
Located inside the naval station. Cannot be visited.
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The Cap Gros light-house
The lantern has a circular plant and was erected between 1841 and 1859. In 1970 a second little tower was added to, and its height arrives now to 22m. This tower is nowadays still on service as light-house, and besides its has the light-house guard's lodging.
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