Sóller: Valley, Culture and Mallorcan Cuisine
Accommodation in Soller
Sóller lies in a valley northeast of the Serra de Tramuntana. The town combines this mountain landscape with a distinctive railway tradition, modernist architecture and cuisine in which citrus fruits play a prominent role. When planning your trip, it is worth considering different interests: Would you like to explore railway history and architecture, discover trails in the surrounding area or sample local dishes? These interests can also help you choose Sóller as a holiday destination and decide what to focus on when selecting your holiday apartment.
Railway history and routes to Sóller
The wooden train from Palma to Sóller tells a remarkable story of travel. It departs from Palma station at Plaça d'Espanya and passes through tunnels, over bridges and by viewpoints; the route crosses a landscape surrounded by forests before reaching Sóller station. The Ferrocarril de Sóller was officially opened on 16 April 1912. Since 1912, the former station in Sóller has marked the arrival of the train from Palma.
The connection to the port town is also part of the railway's history: the electric tramway between Sóller and Port de Sóller opened on 4 October 1913. Port de Sóller is about four kilometres from Sóller and is considered the largest natural harbour on Mallorca's north coast. If you would like to include the town and its immediate surroundings in your trip, you can treat these two place names as different areas of focus in your search: the valley of Sóller and the port town of Port De Sóller.
Modernist façades and museums
In the heart of the town, the historic centre brings together three emblematic buildings. Notable landmarks include the modernist Banco de Sóller, built in 1889. The church of Sant Bartomeu also stands out for its modernist façade, which was added in the early 20th century. Those interested in architecture can explore the different buildings as individual stops on a discovery of Sóller.
Can Prunera is a modernist house museum that combines Art Nouveau architecture with the Serra Collection of modern and contemporary art. The Museo de Sóller offers a different perspective: located in a former manor house, it displays an ethnographic collection on traditional life in the valley. Old objects, furnishings and historical documents give the collection its tangible character. In addition to railway operations, the station hosts temporary exhibitions and a room dedicated to Miró and Picasso. This allows you to complement your exploration of art and architecture with the history of everyday life in the valley.
Mountain scenery and natural history
The mountains surrounding Sóller are part of the Serra de Tramuntana, which is designated a World Heritage Site. Sóller is also a starting point for various hiking routes and trails. In the nearby village of Biniaraix, an old dry-stone route begins, leading to the Barranc de Biniaraix, which is designated an Asset of Cultural Interest. The combination of mountain scenery and a dry-stone route offers a different way to explore the surroundings than the museums in town.
The region's plant and animal life is also the focus of various collections. The Sóller Botanical Garden preserves native plant species from the Balearic Islands as well as plants from other island regions around the world. The Natural History Museum is located in a historic country estate on the edge of town. Its collections cover the geology, botany and fauna of the Serra de Tramuntana and other Mediterranean islands. If you would like to combine nature and culture on your trip, there are different ways to explore these themes: the landscape and hiking trails outdoors, and plants and natural history in the garden and museum.
Citrus fruits and cuisine from Sóller
The valley's citrus fruits also feature in desserts and drinks. These include almond gató with orange ice cream; an aromatic citrus liqueur is also made by hand. The Gamba de Sóller is considered one of the town's great culinary specialities. It is grilled or prepared in seafood rice dishes. These dishes offer a distinct focus alongside cultural and scenic discoveries, and provide specific ideas if local cuisine is important to your trip.
Local gastronomy is represented at a fair held in Plaça Constitució in Sóller. During the Gastronomy Days, several establishments offer special menus featuring orange as the main ingredient. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether to focus on the town centre and its architecture, or to use Sóller primarily as a base for exploring nature, museums and cuisine. You can weigh up these different themes according to your interests without limiting your stay to just one way of discovering the area.
For the broader travel overview: Mallorca.
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