Nestled towards the northwest of Spain’s popular holiday island of Majorca is Sóller, a town described as “one of the most beautiful” in Majorca by local publications and is known for its pretty buildings, historic tram and stunning scenery.
Experts from abcMallorca.com explained: “The authentic town of Sóller sits in the heart of the ‘valley of oranges’ or ‘valley of gold’ as it is sometimes known.”
The town is described as a “paradise for hikers”, as well as being popular with cyclists and foodies. As such it not only attracts an abundance of tourists from overseas but is also a popular spot for island locals to enjoy.
At the heart of Sóller is Plaza de la Constitución, the town’s main square which is home to some of the best bars and cafés. From here, pull up a chair and watch the historic tram clunk by.
The tram, which dates back to 1912, links the town and port. However, unlike other tram rides you may have experienced, what makes this one so unique is that it joins the mountain and the sea in a half-hour trip.
Inaugurated in 1913, Sóller’s tramway is so much more than a tourist attraction, having been used as one of the main modes of transport in the town for local inhabitants travelling between the centre of Sóller and its port and beaches.
The tram has also been used as a way of transporting boxes of fish from the docks to the market and boxes of oranges to the ships which docked in the town’s ports.
If you want to delve even further into history, one of the town’s oldest hotels is Gran Hotel Sóller, originally built in 1990 as a small residential palace.
Having been renovated over the years, the hotel is now home to 53 rooms spread across two buildings.
A stay here varies depending on the time of year you are visiting, though the latest data from Booking.com shows rooms bookable for £144 per night for upcoming dates.
If food is high on your priority list and you’re craving some authentic Spanish cuisine, abcMallorca’s experts recommend Casa Alvaro. Tucked away in a tiny side street near the main square, the restaurant is popular with both locals and visitors.
Open every day for lunch and dinner, Chef Alvaro uses locally sourced ingredients for every dish, including vegetarian options. You can anticipate a delicious selection of apas, paella, and fideuas – a dish similar to paella which uses noodles instead of rice.
