Travel Eye on Puerto De Soller (Mallorca, Spain)

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Overview:

The municipality of Soller covers an area of around 44 km2 in the heart of the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range. The area is dominated by the impressive "Puig Mayor", which at 1445m above sea level is the highest mountain in Mallorca.

The village of Puerto de Soller is the only resort along the west coast of Mallorca, and although being only 35km north west of Palma, transfer time may be a lengthy 2 hours due the the isolation of the area by the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range. This isolation from the rest of the island, has meant that the area has undergone very little change and tourist development for decades.

The actual resort of Puerto de Soller is an almost perfect horseshoe bay enclosed by two headlands, which is not too dissimilar from many of the resorts on the north coast of Menorca.

At a little over 3km inland from the port is the original old town of Soller. The main road that joins the two is shared with both trams and numerous coaches, as most of the major tour operators to Mallorca incorporate a boat trip around the harbour at Puerto de Soller into their "Scenic West" type day trips. As a result this road can become very busy and congested during the summer months.

This tramway is the only working tram on the island and is known locally at the "Orange Express". Not for the colour of the carriages, but due to the fact that its route meanders from the old town, through orange groves to terminate at the harbour at Puerto de Soller.

Locality:

Puerto De Soller is halfway along the north west coast (22 mls N of Palma, partly through tunnel. 2½ mls NW of Soller old town. 27 mls N of airport). It is situated in a semicircular bay, enclosed by 2 headlands, each with lighthouse. Hills rise on all sides. .

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

February sees the Procession and Carnival of Sa Rua and Sa Rueta, and during Holy Week, which may fall in either March or April, religious processions take place throughout the island on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the morning of Easter Sunday.

The big event of the year follows in the second week in May and commemorates the resident's of Soller's victory over the Moorish invaders on May 11th 1561. The celebrations are spread over 4 days, although the preparation for everything takes months beforehand.

The celebrations have two very different themes. The first is called the "Fira" which takes place on the Sunday, and is essentially an agricultural show, and the more popular "Firo" is then held the following day. The central event of the "Firo" is a noisy re-enactment of the landing of the Moors, through to the final glorious victory of the Christians.

Bonfires are again lit on 24th of June, but this time it is the traditional way to "welcome in the summer" to the island. Less than a week later on June 29th the Fiesta of St Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, is celebrated in the fisherman's quarter of Puerto de Soller with a number of sporting and cultural events.

The port area of Puerto de Soller is again the central location of the next celebration, which is held during the late afternoon and early evening of 15th of July each year. Here, as part of the Fiesta of Our Lady of Carmen, highly decorated boats form a procession and sail around the bay.

Moving a little out of Soller to the village of Biniaraix, on the 15th of August each year, the 'Mother of God of August' is celebrated with a selection of sporting and cultural events.

As with most of the smaller resorts on the island, both Soller and Puerto de Soller, affords their visitors a good selection of quality restaurants, offering both local Mallorquin and international cuisine. Also, quite out of step with the rest of the area, there is even one well known fast food outlet.

Being a port, Puerto de Soller does have a couple of noteworthy fish restaurants in the town. The first is called "Sa Llotja des Peix", which overlooks the harbour, and the other "Es Pescador" also offers a good selection of typical Mediterranean dishes.

The Cellar des Port restaurant in Puerto de Soller, offers a typical Mallorquin menu with traditional dishes such as stuffed aubergines and roast lamb.

A local speciality from the area not to be missed is the orange ice cream made by the Sa Fabrica de Gelatis Company. Most cafés in Puerto de Soller stock it, and they also have their own shop in the Market Hall.