Majorca - Sierra del Norte Attractions

From Sóller C 711, heading for Palma, climbs to the Coll de Sóller. On the far side of the pass are the gardens of Alfabia, once the country residence of the Moorish Viziers, who, with their skill in irrigation techniques, created these very beautiful gardens, in which date palms, bamboos, lemons and oranges flourish. The house, in Late Baroque style, contains valuable furniture and paintings.

The route continues from Santa Ponsa by way of the lively holiday resort of Paguera to Andraitx (Majorcan Andratx), a beautifully situated little country town in a fertile agricultural area. Son Mas, an old country house, is now a local museum. The fortress-like church of Santa María dates from the 13th century.

Clear water, fine sand and scenic cliffs can all be found at this remote island cove.

From Puerto de Pollensa, an old fishing village, a very beautiful road runs 21km/13mi northeast to Cabo Formentor (Majorcan Cap Formentor), at the end of a long, narrow peninsula. It first climbs to a saddle in the hills, with the Mirador de Mal Pas (magnificent views), and then runs down, with many bends, passing a side road leading to the luxury Hotel Formentor, beautifully situated above a bay on the south side of the peninsula, and continues to Cabo Formentor with its lighthouse, the most northerly point on Majorca (panoramic views).

Turn off at Buñola into a hill road on the left which runs up, through beautiful scenery, to the Coll de Hono, passes through Orient and comes to the Castillo de Alaró, the origins of which probably go back to Roman times. The road continues south through Alaró to join C 713 at Consell, from which it is 19km/12mi back to Palma.

8km/5mi beyond Inca a road goes off on the left to the village of Campanet, near which is a cave system discovered in 1945. The caves, which are now open to visitors for a total length of 1,300m/1,425yd, contain interesting sinter formations.

The C 710 now runs down through a karstic landscape to the plain below and comes to Pollensa (Majorcan Pollença), a center of the Majorcan textile and shoemaking industries. From the parish church of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles a flight of 365 steps, flanked by cypresses, leads up the Puig del Calvari to a Baroque pilgrimage chapel.

From Andraitx, C 719 runs 5km/3mi south west to the little port of Puerto de Andraitx (Majorcan Port d'Andratx), beautifully situated at the mouth of the Torrent de Saluet, which here opens out into a narrow bay forming an excellent natural harbor. The little town still preserves something of an old world aspect.

C 711 continues from the Gardens of Alfabia past the little market town of Buñola (Majorcan Bunyola) and comes in another 2km/1.5mi (off the road to the right) to the country house of Raixa (Majorcan Raxa), once a Moorish estate, which has beautiful Italian-style terraced gardens with fountains. From here the road continues due south to Palma.

From Palma take either the expressway or the coast road, going west. The two roads join just beyond Palma Nova and continue to the turn-off (20km/12.5mi) for the holiday center of Santa Ponsa. 2km/1,25mi west of the town, on the rocky promontory of Sa Caleta, stands a cross commemorating the landing of Christian forces in 1229.

5km/3mi north of Deya is Puerto de Sóller, the most important port on the north coast. Sóller can also be reached from Palma by rail (five or six services daily); this trip should not be missed by railroad enthusiasts. Sóller and Puerto de Sóller are linked by an old-world tram.