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Sóller
«Sóller produce muchos limones y naranjas dulces.»Sóller produces many lemons and sweet oranges.
Sóller is in a basin enclosed by the Serra de Tramuntana, on the north side of Majorca, in a valley full of citrus trees. Until the 20th century, it could only be reached by a mule track, and in 1912, the orange producers paid for the railway that cuts through the mountain to Palma.
Did you know
A wooden train for oranges.
The famous wooden train that connects Sóller to Palma was inaugurated in 1912 to transport citrus fruits.
How they talk in Sóller
«Sa vall» is a natural expression in Majorcan for the valley of Sóller. «Tramuntana» refers to both the mountain range and the north wind that affects the island.
idò
Then; so; well. Conjunction and discourse marker very common in Balearic Catalan, used to connect or introduce a response.
Everyday life in Sóller
The tram to the sea
A wooden tram from 1913 connects the town to the port, five kilometres through citrus orchards: residents also take it to go to the beach, and it passes right through the square.
«El tranvía llega hasta el puerto.» — The tram arrives at the port.
The orange trees in the valley
The basin is full of terraced citrus groves and oranges are harvested in January: they are sold at the side of the road and Sóller orange juice is found in all the town's bars.
«Un zumo de naranja de Sóller.» — A Sóller orange juice.
The French 'finca'
Many 'sollerics' emigrated to France in the 19th century and returned rich: they built modernist houses, and even today there are French surnames and words in town that have remained since then.
What to eat in Sóller
Ensaimada
Spiral of leavened dough with lard, fluffy, dusted with icing sugar.
Tumbet
Layered fried vegetables with tomato sauce, baked in the oven.
Festivals in Sóller
Es Firó
the second Monday of May
The landing of the corsairs of 1561 is reenacted: the «moros» arrive from the port and the «valentes dones» repel them with sticks.
What to see in Sóller
Tren de Sóller
The wooden train from 1912 that crosses the mountain through thirteen tunnels.
Església de Sant Bartomeu
The modernist facade designed by a student of Gaudí, paid for by emigrants who returned from France.
Port de Sóller
An almost circular bay with a narrow entrance, where the tram arrives from the town.
Jardí Botànic
The botanical garden of Balearic plants, with the natural science museum.
Where Sóller comes from
The golden basin of citrus fruits
Muslim era
Sulliar
The Arabic name means 'golden basin', for the citrus fruits that grow there.
1561
The women of Can Tamany
A corsair landing is repelled by the women of the town: the festival commemorates it every May.
19th century
Oranges in France
The export of citrus fruits enriches the valley: hence the modernist palaces.
1912
The train
The narrow-gauge railway opens, piercing the mountain to Palma.
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