Sóller

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Port of Sóller
Enlarge
Port of Sóller
map of the Sóller tramway
Enlarge
map of the Sóller tramway

Sóller is a town and municipality near the northwest coast of Majorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain. As of 2004, the present-day economy is based mainly on tourism, complementary to an agriculture based on massive orchards of citrus and olive trees, which has, in recent years, suffered from low prices. Sóller is also known for the houses built in the early twentieth century by emigrants who returned wealthy to the town.

Since 1980, Sóller has hosted a week-long international folklore festival every July.

The town proper is some 3 km inland, from the Port de Sóller, in a large, bowl-shaped valley that also includes the village of Fornalutx and the hamlet of Biniaraix. The combined population is around 12,000. A tramway links Sóller to Port de Sóller.

The Torre Picada (watchtower) and the castle in the port were constructed in the 16th century to defend against the "Corsairs" or Barbary pirates. Part of the town was also fortified, but all that remains of this is a piece of the wall near the parish church.

Sóller is linked by rail (Ferrocarril de Sóller), and by a highway with a toll tunnel, to the Majorcan capital of Palma. The Andratx-Pollença highway also runs through the valley.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


edit Municipalities of the Balearic Islands Flag of the Balearic Islands

Majorca: Alaró | Alcúdia | Algaida | Andratx | Ariany | Artà | Banyalbufar | Binissalem | Búger | Bunyola | Calvià | Campanet | Campos | Capdepera | Consell | Costitx | Deià | Escorca | Esporles | Estellencs | Felanitx | Fornalutx | Inca | Lloret de Vistalegre | Lloseta | Llubí | Llucmajor | Manacor | Mancor de la Vall | Maria de la Salut | Marratxí | Montuïri | Muro | Palma | Petra | Sa Pobla | Pollença | Porreres | Puigpunyent | Ses Salines | Sant Joan | Sant Llorenç des Cardassar | Santa Eugènia | Santa Margalida | Santa María del Camí | Santanyí | Selva | Sencelles | Sineu | Sóller | Son Servera | Valldemossa | Vilafranca de Bonany
Minorca: Alaior | Es Castell | Ciutadella de Menorca | Ferreries | Maó | Es Mercadal | Es Migjorn Gran | Sant Lluís
Ibiza: Ibiza Town (Eivissa Vila) | Sant Antoni de Portmany | Sant Joan de Labritja | Sant Josep de sa Talaia | Santa Eulària des Riu
Formentera

Coordinates: 39°46′N 2°42′E