The Sóller train began its journey in 1912.
On the northwest coast of Mallorca is the small town of Sóller, best known for having one of the oldest railways in the world in tourist travel.
In 1912 when it took days to reach the capital, Palma de Mallorca , several businessmen set out to remedy it and bring to Mallorca the first train on the island . Even today you can see what the path was like that the mules and stagecoaches had to pass through to cross the Coll de Soller , now converted into a street with restaurants.
The Sóller train is special for many reasons, the first because it a beautiful route passing through the towns and landscapes from Palma de Mallorca to Sóller.
Another of them is because it overcomes the natural barrier of Sierra de Alfabia , which in the last century seemed insurmountable, also has about 2.8 km wide and 496 meters high , overcoming a significant drop of 199 metres, it crosses 13 tunnels, ranging from 33 to 2,876 metres, bridges, the “dels cinc-ponts” viaduct and numerous curves along the way. Quite a feat.
It crosses the Sierra de Alfàbia.
The route is designed to start in the city of Palma, the trains depart from here from ten in the morning to seven in the evening. This magical journey lasts an hour and also for the bunyola.
Once you reach the Soller town can be linked with your tram, the first electric one on the island that connects Sóller with its port . Although it was initially intended for passenger transport, the last of its wagons was also used to transport fresh fish and coal in ancient times. Today it is a pleasant 30-minute walk along the entire coast until you reach the center of town.
Right at the old tram station is the sea and sun restaurant, also one of the oldest in all of Mallorca, which during the 20th century was also a hotel.
Opened in 1929 it only closed its doors during the Civil War when it was expropriated and served as accommodation for the officers of the Italian submarines that moored at the base. In the 1960s, the hotel closed but not the restaurant. that serves as the culmination of this trip to the past and of another route, the call “Island Tour”.
The route begins on the train from Palma to Sóller, continues on the tram, and once the journey is over, passengers board one of the boats in the fleet of blue boats which leads to some idyllic places such as Cala Tuent, Sant Elm or La Foradada. Ends on the beach Sa Calobra.
Blue Boats in 'Vuelta Isla'.