The northwest of Mallorca: The Serra de Tramuntana
The Serra de Tramuntana landscape zone is named after the large mountain range in the far northwest of Mallorca, but its area extends somewhat beyond that. Approximately 110,000 inhabitants live in the entire region. The actual mountain range is more than 90 kilometers long and covers an area of 1,067 square kilometers. Around 20,000 inhabitants live in the mountains, most of them in the municipality of Sóller. At its highest point, the Puig Major, which is also the highest point in Mallorca, the mountain range reaches a height of approximately 1,500 meters.
Because the Serra de Tramuntana is well-connected by hiking and cycling trails, yet largely untouched by mass tourism, it is an ideal destination for independent travelers and nature lovers. Large parts of it offer visitors untouched nature and unique vegetation forms in spectacular landscapes. The Mallorcan midwife toad, found nowhere else in the world, calls this area home, and the rare two-headed hooded snake, the Mallorcan Hydra, also originates from this region.
The northwest of the landscape zone lies entirely along the coast and boasts several beautiful beaches and bays. In the high elevations of the mountains, visitors are drawn to the snow houses, where snow and ice have been stored since the 16th century for sale in lower areas during the summer months. Today, the huts are no longer in use and some are dilapidated.
In a valley in the municipality of Escorca lies the Santuari de Lluc, a well-known pilgrimage site and the spiritual center of the island. Its use dates back to prehistoric times and its first chapel dates back to the mid-13th century.
An admirable little tourist destination in the mountains is the small village of Sa Calobra, which has only been settled by a few people since 1932 and has only a few houses, as it was hardly accessible, especially in the first half of the 20th century. The village's beach is only 50 meters long, yet several busloads and, more often, boatloads of tourists arrive here every day during the high season, as the tranquil village is known for its beautiful views of the magnificent landscape.
In the historic capital of Sóller, agriculture is still largely practiced today, especially orange and olive groves, as well as fruit and vegetable cultivation, although tourism has now become a major economic activity. In the town center is the Church of Sant Bartomeou, built at the beginning of the 13th century but subsequently rebuilt several times, so that several architectural styles can be observed here, such as the Romanesque gates and walls, the neo-Gothic bell tower, and the modernist façade on what is now a predominantly Baroque building.
A botanical garden and several museums, including a natural science museum, are also located in the town, which can be considered the gateway to the Serra de Tramuntana.
Articles about the island of Mallorca:
Palma de Mallorca
The region around the capital, Palma (Google Maps), borders the Migjorn landscape zone to the west. The island's government seat is also its supply center.
The Southwest
The southwest of the island of Mallorca boasts diverse landscapes. The region is characterized by chic harbors and a vibrant nightlife.
The North
The north forms the transition from the mountains to the "Pla" plain. Although the region is crisscrossed by rivers and waterways, little arable land remains.
The Northeast
The northeastern Llevant is famous for its beaches and coves, some of which are overrun by mass tourism. Examples include Cala Rajada and Cala Millor.
The Southeast
The southeast extends along the coastline and borders Llevant to the northeast and Pla de Mallorca and Palma to the northwest.
The South
The flat interior of the south of Mallorca flows into wide sandy beaches or rises until it abruptly ends at high cliffs.
The center of the island
Pla de Mallorca, the center of Mallorca, is bordered to the northwest by the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range and to the east by the Serres de Llevant.