Sóller: Mallorca’s Valley of Oranges
Soller, small town in Mallorca, in the Tramuntana mountains
Sóller is a town of around 13,900 residents in a green valley of the Serra de Tramuntana, on the north-west coast of Mallorca. It lies about 30 km from Palma and 3 km from its harbour, Port de Sóller. Known as the Valley of Oranges, it is famous for its citrus groves, its modernist architecture and its historic wooden train and tram. It is also home to Grøenk Pizza & Pasta, our Neapolitan pizzeria.
Surrounded by mountains and orange and lemon trees, Sóller feels like a small world of its own. Life centres on the lively Plaça de sa Constitució. The old tram rattles through it on its way to the sea.
Sóller at a glance
Location: Sóller Valley, Serra de Tramuntana (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011)
Population: approx. 13,900
Distance: ~30 km from Palma; ~3 km from Port de Sóller; ~3 km from Fornalutx
Known for: oranges and lemons, the Sóller train (1912) and tram (1913), modernist buildings, Port de Sóller
Nearby villages: Fornalutx, Biniaraix, Deia
Why is Sóller called the Valley of Oranges?
For centuries the high mountains made the valley hard to reach from Palma. Its link to the outside world was the sea. In the 19th century Sóller grew rich by shipping oranges and lemons from its port to France. Many people from Sóller emigrated to France and returned with new wealth and ideas. That money and those connections shaped the town you see today, from its modernist houses to its own bank and railway.
A short history of Sóller
Moorish roots. The old street plan of Sóller is of Islamic origin. The terraces and irrigation channels of the valley date back to the Moorish period of Mallorca (902–1229).
The pirate attack of 1561. On 11 May 1561 Moorish pirates attacked Sóller, and local people fought them off. The town still commemorates the battle every May with the Fira i Firó festival.
The citrus boom and the modernist town. Wealth from the orange trade and from returning emigrants funded new buildings in the early 20th century. In 1904 Joan Rubió i Bellver, a follower of Antoni Gaudí, designed the modernist facade of the Church of Sant Bartomeu. In 1912 he also designed the Banco de Sóller building next to it.
The train and the tram. The Sóller train, opened in 1912, still connects Palma and Sóller. It covers 27 km through the mountains in about an hour. In 1913 the tram to Port de Sóller followed, a ride of about 5 km to the sea.
“In Sóller, the orange groves, the mountains and the sea are never more than a few minutes apart.”
What to see in Sóller
Plaça de sa Constitució: the main square, with cafés, the church and the tram passing through.
Church of Sant Bartomeu and Banco de Sóller: two modernist landmarks by Joan Rubió i Bellver, side by side.
Can Prunera: a modernist townhouse museum on Carrer de sa Lluna.
Jardí Botànic de Sóller: a botanical garden with plants from the Balearic and other Mediterranean islands.
Port de Sóller: a sheltered horseshoe bay with a seafront promenade, reached by tram.
Cathedral of Soller, Mallorca
Festivals in Sóller
Fira i Firó (May): re-enactment of the 1561 battle between the townspeople and the pirates. It is one of the most spectacular festivals in Mallorca.
Sant Bartomeu (August): the patron saint festival, with fire runs (correfoc) and music.
Three Kings (5 January): the traditional Epiphany procession.
Hiking from Sóller
Sóller is the hub of the Tramuntana’s best-known walks. Easy routes lead to Fornalutx and to Biniaraix with its stone-stepped gorge. The coastal path to Deia is about 10 km. (Read more in our village guides: Fornalutx and Deia.)
Where to eat in Sóller: Grøenk Pizza & Pasta
Grøenk Pizza & Pasta Sóller is our Neapolitan pizzeria in the heart of Sóller. The idea was born when Balázs watched Chef’s Table: Pizza on Netflix, twice in a row, and decided to build a pizza concept on passion, simplicity and respect for tradition.
What makes our pizza different:
30-hour slow-fermented dough, made from simple flour, water, salt and yeast, for a light, airy pizza that is soft in the centre and gently charred at the edges
Pizza Napoletana, with tomatoes that taste like tomatoes and mozzarella that melts, not floods
Fresh handmade pasta and gnocchi, made in our kitchen
A garden terrace for relaxed lunches and dinners
Eat in, take away or order home delivery in Sóller. Whether it is a casual dinner in town, pizza night with friends or a cosy evening at home, you can enjoy our pizza your way.
Reservations and orders: +34 663 24 51 10 or online at groenk.com/sollerpizza.
Just 3 km away, in Fornalutx, you will also find Grøenk Bistro & Grill and Grøenk Urban Kitchen.
Frequently asked questions about Sóller
Is Sóller worth visiting?Yes. Sóller combines a historic town centre, modernist architecture, orange groves and a harbour, all in one valley. It is also the best base for hiking in the Tramuntana and for visiting Fornalutx, Biniaraix and Deia.
How do I get from Palma to Sóller?By car through the Sóller tunnel, by bus, or on the historic Sóller train, which takes about an hour.
How do I get from Sóller to Port de Sóller?The historic tram runs from the town centre to the port in about 5 km. The town and the port are around 3 km apart.
Where can I get Neapolitan pizza in Sóller?Grøenk Pizza & Pasta Sóller serves Neapolitan pizza made with 30-hour slow-fermented dough, plus fresh handmade pasta and gnocchi. You can eat in on the garden terrace, take away, or order home delivery in Sóller.
Tram in Port de Soller, Mallorca
