Excursions along the Palma -
Sóller line

Bunyola Station
The way to s'Alqueria d'Avall

From Bunyola station, take the road up the hill that leads to the centre of the village; just before you reach the centre take a sharp left-hand turn down a slope, called Cami de s'Alqueria.

The views from Bunyola station are spectacular

After passing a car park and a bridge over a water course, on your right you will see the buildings of Can Manuel, with a square tower characteristic of the region. Proceeding further down the road, going past the turning that leads to Son Palouet, you will see the Cases Noves de Barcelona constructed in 1922 by Pere Garau on the foundations of some earlier buildings documented in the 13th century, which made up the alqueria Beniadars (the Beniadars farmstead). A few minutes later, on the left you come to the modernist style house known as sa Torre or Villa Francisca, which has a curious tower with marked Philippine influence that gives the house a very distinctive appearance. At the beginning of the 20th century its owners ran several companies in Manila.

The house was designed by the draughtsman, Guillem Puig i Salva in 1908. Continuing up the slight slope in the lane to s'Alqueria you will come to the turning known as the Camí de ses Argiles on your left. To the right the first of the tunnels of the railway line to Sóller can be seen. Keeping to the road, you will be able to make out the buildings of s'Alqueria d'Avall among the terraces on the mountainside and rocky outcrops of the Puig del Teix. Small orange and almond groves give way to olive trees. Then you cross over a water course and go up a short slope that takes you to the main Sóller road (C-711), 15.8 kilometres from Palma. The manor house of s'Alqueria d'Avall is on the other side of this road, with its great three storey façade and huge gateway, topped by the coat of arms of the Pizà family, owners of the estate in the 18th century. From here you can either continue along the track up to the top of sa Gubia, where there is a viewing point and the Leandre Ximenis refuge, or return to your starting point.

The Sóller train at Palma station

Sóller Station
The Cinc Ponts Viaduct and the Rocafort track

After leaving Sóller station, take the lane to des Rost, which starts just opposite the petrol station on the main road from Sóller to Puerto de Sóller. Here a large milestone informs one that it is 7.933 kilometres to Deià. A hundred metres further on up the lane, there is a bend to the right. Soon after this bend, you go past the Camí de Rocafort on your left, which is to be your route on the way back.

A few hundred metres' walk further along the made-up road, it turns into a cobbled track. To the left you will see a stone gateway with wrought iron gates, next to another simpler gateway. Go through the latter and take the Monreals cart track.

After a fifteen minute climb you will reach a magnificent railway viaduct, popularly known as the Cinc Ponts viaduct, with its five round arches.

The Cinc Ponts, or des Monreals viaduct, five arches each spanning eight metres

Five minutes' walk at a normal pace later, near the buildings of Monreals, where the road forks, you take the left hand fork along the lane to Castelló, which goes past the buildings known as Cases de can Teix. Cross over the Cinc Ponts water course, and a couple of minutes later you go past the track to Racó d'en Barona on your right, with an open water tank also on your right.

After another eight minutes' walk along the Castelló road, turn right into the track Camí de Rocafort. This is a stone bridle path that gently slopes down towards Sóller. After a further eight minutes, cross the railway line by walking over the bridge, which is of great architectural interest and is an excellent example of railway engineering.
Ten minutes later, near the sa Teulera spring, the path turns into a cart track and crosses the railway track again, this time at a level crossing. Five more minutes' descent and you join the Cami de Castelló once more.
The petrol station on the road from Sóller to Puerto de Sóller is towards the right and then you can go back to the station the way you came.
Excursions near the railway lines between Palma, Inca, sa Pobla and Manacor.