Sights in Sóller

Sóller lies in the northwest of Mallorca, nestled in the Serra de Tramuntana. The town spreads out in a valley basin shaped by citrus plantations and olive groves. The main settlement lies several kilometres inland, while the district of Port de Sóller, right on the Mediterranean coast, has a harbour. The capital, Palma, is about 34 kilometres away.

The name Sóller dates back to the Moorish period and either means “valley of gold” – a reference to the once highly productive olive groves – or derives from the Arabic word for shell, which alludes to the town’s sheltered location. In 1561 Sóller was raided and plundered by Turkish pirates. At the end of the 18th century French immigrants moved into the valley and organised trade in citrus fruits with France. In 1860 a pest destroyed the orange trees and plunged the region into deep crisis, from which Sóller only recovered by exporting vitamin-C-rich fruit.

Today Sóller’s appearance is shaped by medieval alleys, grand patrician houses and Art Nouveau buildings. The parish church of Sant Bartomeu combines Romanesque and Baroque elements, while the façade, designed by Joan Rubió i Bellver, a pupil of Gaudí, is in the Art Nouveau style. The botanical garden and the Can Prunera Museum, which displays works by Picasso and Miró, attract visitors. Each year the historical re-enactment Moros i Cristians is celebrated, commemorating the expulsion of the Moors. The historic railway “Roter Blitz” links Sóller with Palma and is another landmark of the town.