Fornalutx and Biniaraix on foot from Sóller

Two villages above the orange valley

Biniaraix and Fornalutx are the two villages that look out over the Sóller valley from the skirts of the sierra, among terraces of orange, lemon and olive trees. Biniaraix is a hamlet of Sóller built on a small hill and declared a historic ensemble of cultural interest; Sóller town council puts it about 20 minutes' walk from the square. Fornalutx, a little higher up and already a different municipality, lies at the foot of the Puig Major, the highest mountain in Mallorca, and belongs to the network of Spain's Most Beautiful Villages. Linking them on foot, returning via Binibassí, is a half-day walk on dry-stone paths still in use.

From Sóller's square to the Placeta de la Concepció

You set off from Sóller's square and follow the path that goes up the torrent towards Biniaraix, about 2.5 kilometres along the GR 221 route. You reach a small square with the 16th-century church of la Concepció. Beside the wash-houses is Cas Don, a house with the Pinopar coat of arms, and from there leaves the old road to Lluc, which goes into the Biniaraix gorge, the most elaborate cobbling in the whole sierra according to the Consell de Mallorca.

The Camí des Creuer and the streets of Fornalutx

From Biniaraix to Fornalutx you climb the Camí des Creuer, a stepped path between vegetable gardens that leaves you in the village. Fornalutx keeps its traditional layout: cobbled streets and stairways, stone houses, little chapels on corners and defensive towers. The church square, dedicated to the Nativitat de la Mare de Déu, is the centre of the village and has bars with terraces. On Carrer de sa Font you can see painted tiles on the eaves of es Poador and Can Xoroi, a manor house that keeps its olive mill; the town council bought it and today it is a cultural centre, with a collection of these tiles. The Ca n'Arbona tower, from the 17th century, built for defence against pirates, is now the town hall.

The return via Binibassí

To avoid repeating your route, leave the church square by Carrer de Sant Sebastià and Carrer de Sant Joan as far as the cemetery, which has Modernista work. A track that ends in cobbles takes you to Binibassí, a former Islamic farmstead with a defensive tower, olive mill and chapel. The water from its spring, collected in an irrigation channel, once drove a mill and still serves the wash-houses and gardens around. The GR 221 joins there, coming from Sóller and turning towards Biniaraix: follow it to return to the valley.

Stone steps, two or three hours

Allow two or three hours with stops for the whole round trip from Sóller. There are no difficult sections, but there are slopes and many stone steps, which are slippery after rain: wear shoes with good soles. Do it with children who already walk, not with a pushchair. With a dog, on a lead, because you pass through streets, closed gardens and other walkers.

Parking at the entrance to Fornalutx

Fornalutx is small, with narrow, sloping streets. If you drive up, leave the car at the entrance to the village and walk in. To do the whole route on foot, park in Sóller and set off from the square: first look at the Sóller car parks, because the centre is a low-emission zone.