7 days. Sierra de Tramuntana with visit to Palma

From the airport, we will pick you up to take you to Valldemossa. Once you have left your bags at the hotel, it is time to take the opportunity to explore some of the places of interest in this beautiful mountain town and walk through its pretty cobbled streets with their matching houses.

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A few meters away, walking you will find the Church of San Bartolomé. This 13th-century church bears the name of the patron saint of Valldemossa, San Bartolomé, which is the same but in Majorcan, Sant Bartomeu. This Gothic-style parish church with a neoclassical bell tower is open to its parishioners and the general public. You can enter during the day to contemplate its white vault, its rose window and its paintings. Although modest, this church is most beautiful and forms the center of the town. In fact, before arriving, you will see its dome from the road. A most idyllic picture. 

In front of the Church of San Bartolomé, you will find the birthplace of Blessed Santa Catalina Thomás, < /strong>patron saint of Valldemossa, born in the 16th century. It does not have visiting hours since it has been converted into a chapel in honor of her and some gates protect it. Known as la beateta, Santa Catalina Thomás is the most revered saint in Mallorca as she was the first Mallorcan saint. Her remains remain intact in the Convent of Santa Magdalena, in Palma, where she entered at the age of 21. Several miracles are attributed to her, including the appearance of saints and the experimentation of the greatest ecstasy in history (21 days). Thus, she was beatified in 1792 and sanctified in 1930. 

After visiting the house of "la beateta", we can continue enjoying the cobbled streets, and the plants that adorn the houses and reach the Mirador de Sa Miranda des Lledoner. From there you can see spectacular views and, if you feel like it, sit in a bar, cafeteria or restaurant.

After having breakfast at the fantastic hotel that we have selected for you, you can visit the monumental complex of the Real Cartuja de Valldemossa. With its green dome, it has been a refuge for great artists and personalities. Pianist Frédéric Chopin spent his last days here, in one of the Carthusian cells, where he composed some of his works and where his piano is still kept. In the complex, you can enjoy the Palacio del Rey Sancho and the concert hall, where since 1932 it has been exhibited where the musician himself played, throughout the morning, there are several piano performances, included in the ticket that we have reserved for you. In addition, the ticket also includes a visit to the Church of the Charterhouse, the old monastic pharmacy, belonging to the (Carthusian) monks, the Frédéric Chopin and George Sand, and the Valldemossa Municipal Museum, divided into four sections: an exhibition of the old Guasp printing press, one of the best-preserved in Europe, and a collection of 1,590 xylographic matrices from the 16th to 19th centuries; a room for the Archduke Luis Salvador of Austria; a room of works by painters who were inspired by this part of the island, the Serra de Tramuntana and, finally, a collection of Contemporary Art.  

To finish, there is nothing better than strolling through the King Juan Carlos gardens and sitting down to rest. If you are looking for a place to eat or dine, both at the Sa Miranda viewpoint, as well as in Vía Blanquerna and Calle Uetam, you will find a wide variety of options. This town is small so everything is very close at hand, it is a matter of walking and sitting in the place you like the most. 

You can spend the afternoon doing some shopping in the little shops that you will find along the promenade or simply stroll and enjoy a good terrace. But, of course, you cannot leave without trying the famous coca de patata, traditional from Valldemossa. We recommend that you sit down for a quiet snack and order this sweet bun with a cup of chocolate.

In the morning, we will transfer you to Palma from Valldemossa so that you can discover this city full of life and history. The first recommendation is that you go see the Cathedral of Santa María, known by Majorcans as la Seu. Declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931, the cathedral of Mallorca is located in a privileged location, facing the sea, and is of incomparable beauty, not only because it has the largest rose window in the Gothic world, but also because of its structure in three naves and its huge detailed gates. 

Under the cathedral, you can walk through the Parc de la Mar, a park with a large saltwater lake. This park is the epicentre of a wide variety of events and concerts and is located in front of the medieval walls that surround the entire area. At the foot of the cathedral, next to the Parc de la Mar, there is also s'Hort des Rei, a small garden with a Muslim arch and a pond from which various fountains emerge along the length, reminiscent of the gardens of the Generalife of the Alhambra but in miniature. In these gardens, you can take the opportunity to sit down to rest or take photos. Of course, do not miss the lake that is located between the walls and that is home to two swans, much loved by the people of Palma and, above all, by children. 

If lunchtime is approaching, we recommend that you do so in the area of La Lonja where there are a wide variety of restaurants along its small streets and take the opportunity to visit the civil Gothic building of La Lonja, built due to the great commercial activity that took place in the port of Palma. Here merchants met and trade agreements and banking operations were carried out. It currently hosts temporary exhibitions and admission is free. It is closed at noon, so if you want to visit it, it is better to do it in the morning or the afternoon. 

To end the afternoon, there is nothing better than walking through the Borne and doing some shopping in Jaime III, the urban center par excellence for Majorcans. There you will also find many cafes and bars as well as the Spanish department store "El Corte Ingles". If you feel like having a typical snack, we recommend that you order a llonguet. It is a type of sandwich made with a typical roll from the city of Palma. People from Palma are called “llonguets” and the sandwich made with this bread is known as “llagosta”, lobster in Majorcan. That's because they say it's hotter than that crustacean. The favorite of most Mallorcans is the llonguet or sobrassada lobster, although there are all kinds of them: cheese, Serrano ham, squid, Mallorcan fried... and the most emblematic place to eat them is in the mythical Barc Bosch, open since 1936. If you have time, you can get lost in the surrounding streets or continue shopping on San Miguel.

To finish, you will be picked you up and taken back to Valldemossa.

On this fourth day, we will take you to the beautiful town of Fornalutx. Located about 30 km from Valldemossa, this municipality of only 700 inhabitants is located in the Sierra de Tramuntana, in the Sóller valley. To make your stay as comfortable as possible, our team of experts in the area has selected one of the most beautiful and well-located hotels in the municipality.

Once you leave your bags, take the opportunity to get to know this charming town. Stroll through its cobbled alleys and look at the roofs of the houses and you will see that some of them still have their painted tiles. This was something common and traditional in the nineteenth century. XVI in Mallorca and the vast majority are preserved only in Fornalutx and in Sóller, its neighboring town. These tiles were painted by hand in red: geometric figures, plants, elements of daily life, animals and religious themes are some of the compositions that were carried out on the tile in the belief that this protected the home and its inhabitants from misfortune. 

Fornalutx can be considered a municipality of landscape and architectural interest, not in vain it is cataloged as one of the most beautiful towns in Spain as well of having also been awarded for its work of conservation and respect for nature. 

Walking through its beautiful streets, you will find the Town Hall, right at the beginning of Carrer Major (Major Street). This town hall is guarded by a defence tower from the 17th century, very well preserved. If you continue with the walk, along this same street, you will come across Plaza España, the center of the town and the main meeting place for the residents of Fornalutx. Here is located the Church of the Nativity of the Mare de Déu, one of the most emblematic buildings in this municipality. Originally from the 13th century, it has been modified over time so it has some features from other times, such as the Gothic portal that leads directly to the cemetery, known as "El Fossar". Although small, this parish preserves in its interior artistic works from the 12th and 13th centuries and is well worth viewing In this same square you will find cafes and restaurants. We recommend that you sit in one of them and relax while contemplating the landscape.

Although Fornalutx is a small town, there are different options for lunch and dinner. From typical Majorcan restaurants to Italian restaurants. 

If your stay in Fornalutx falls on a Friday or Saturday, you can take the opportunity to visit Ca'n Xoroi, an old Majorcan possession acquired by the City Council in 2002, and converted into a museum. If you are interested in visiting it, the hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Admission is free and you can buy it in the same museum, which is not usually very crowded. A most interesting visit since this noble house has an old industrial mill, the last one used in the town, a collection of 278 traditional painted tiles from the place and other surrounding municipalities and different eras, It also hosts the municipal photographic archive 

If you would like to do o a bit of hiking, Fornalutx has some spectacular routes with different levels. Remember that you are in the middle of the Sierra de Tramuntana, a unique place that is part of the Universal Heritage. If you are in good physical shape, you will find routes such as the “Camí de l'Alzina Fumadora”, which lasts about 6 hours, or the “Camí de Sa Costera”, between 4 and 5 hours. These routes are of medium difficulty but consist of 11 and 12 km respectively. If you prefer something calmer and less difficult, we recommend the “Camí de Binibassí” route, an itinerary of only 3km it won't take you more than 45 minutes, or the “Camí des Creuer”, with 8 km of route and a duration of no more than 90 minutes. You will find all the information on the Fornalutx City Council website.

Of course, you can always dedicate yourself to enjoying Fornalutx, lose yourself in its cobbled streets and enjoy this idyllic town without haste.

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On this day, there is nothing better than visiting Sóller, the neighboring town of Fornalutx. In the morning we will pick you up to take you to the center of this municipality, located just 4 kilometers from Fornalutx.

In the heart of Sóller, is the Plaza de la Constitución, a place of celebrations and meeting place for sollerics and visitors. In it, you will find bars, cafes and restaurants and the Town Hall of Sóller, with its characteristic coat of arms. Around the square, guarding it, you will see the imposing Church of Sant Bartomeu, a symbol of the city and Modernism in Spain. This parish is one of the favorites of Majorcans and one of the most important of the Balearic Islands. Declared a site of cultural interest, the spectacular modernist façade, the work of the Catalan architect, Joan Rubió i Bellver, a disciple of the great Antonio Gaudí, is what makes the Church of San Bartolomé an icon of the city and an example of wonderful Art Nouveau.

Continuing with our visit to Sóller, to the left of the Church, there is another of the works by the same architect, Joan Rubió I Bellver. It is the lavish Banco de Sóller. A modernist-style building that, although it now belongs to Banco Santander, reflects the economic splendour of this municipality in the Sierra de Tramontana, which managed to boost its economy by exporting oranges to Europe, especially France. Many were the locals who emigrated to the Gallic country and returned with great fortunes. Sóller is a valley of the Tramontana with an ideal microclimate for growing lemons and oranges. They are not only the best citrus fruits on the island, but they are also one of Europe's favorites. With the famous oranges, all kinds of products are made: jams and preserves, liqueurs, candied oranges, juices... and even ice cream! Because if there is something you have to try in Sóller, it is, without a doubt, its oranges and its artisan ice creams with the label “Gelat Sóller” (ice cream Sóller), the best ice cream in Mallorca. In the center, you will find several ice cream parlors, among them, Sa Fàbrica des Gelats, one of the most recommended.

Continuing from Plaza Constitución, you will find the lively Calle de Sa Lluna, a commercial street full of little shops, ideal for doing some shopping. In addition, along with it, you can see different buildings of architectural interest. So, at number 16, you can see an inn from 1758, Can Prohom, a place of residence that the great agricultural owners owned. At number 23 of the same street, you will come across Can Bardí, a traditional Majorcan possession typical of the wealthy gentlemen of Majorca. If you continue walking, at number 50, you will discover the oldest building in Sóller, the Casa de Sa Lluna (House of the Moon), from the 15th century, which stands out for its semicircular arch and the figure of the moon in marés that stands out above the arch of the entrance door. 

Once you have done your shopping and have seen some important buildings in Sóller, you can sit down to eat at one of the restaurants in the center but, if you prefer to eat in front of the sea, take the opportunity to go to Puerto de Sóller, just 5 kilometers away. Getting there is very simple, you just have to take the tram that crosses Plaza de la Constitución itself. This beautiful old tram is an icon of Sóller. The ticket is bought inside the same tram, both the one to go and the one back, and it is the best way to get to the port. The price is about €7 each way per person and it runs every 30 minutes. Once you arrive at Puerto de Sóller, you will find a wide variety of restaurants along the promenade and shops selling souvenirs and typical craft products from Mallorca. If you feel like taking a dip in the summer, there is also a small beach in the port. This area is very lively in summer and is a perfect way to end your visit to Sóller. 

To end the day, we will pick you up in the center of Sóller, at the same point where we dropped you off left in the morning, to take you back to your hotel in Fornalutx.