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Majorca's Twin Towns In The North

By: Mark Bartley

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The Serra Tramuntana mountain range in the north west of Mallorca is certainly an impressive area that welcomes tourists and walkers all year round. Capped with snow during the off-season, hiding warm summer valleys during the summer and always offering spectacular views, the Tramuntana Mountains are, for many people, the secret beauty of Mallorca.

Before the advent of some modern day routes, the towns in the north west of the island could only be reached by boat and the large natural harbour at Soller port made it the perfect place for fishing boats to be based and for sailors en route to other destinations to moor up for the night. Even the Romans resided in Soller during their occupation of the island. The harbour at Soller was always of strategic importance and fortifications built to defend it in the sixteenth century can still be recognised. Today the marina at Port de Soller is the base for just a few of traditional fishing craft but also the base for some impressive yachts and luxury motor boats. There are also a range of day cruises available for tourists which provide the opportunity to explore the dramatic coastlines of the island and in particular take the short voyage around the coast to Sa Colobra, another port on the north coast.

Soller town is a small community around 2 miles inland from the port along a natural valley. The journey can be made quickly by car after the recent construction of a new tunnel to ease the traffic congestion that used to spoil access, but by far the most enjoyable method of making the trip is on the old wooden tram car system that was built in 1913 and follows a route through the streets of Soller initially before diverting onto it's own railway line and on to the port. Even today some of the original tram cars make up the rolling stock. The tram service to the port runs twice every hour and the cost of a single trip is just 4 Euros.

The other transport breakthrough for the Soller towns came in 1911 when a train route running from Palma northwards to Soller town was completed. At the time this was a tremendous accomplishment as the track passed through no less than thirteen tunnels ranging in length from just 30 metres to almost 3 kilometres. The winding curves and steep inclines that the track followed were class leading at the time for an electric railway. Now, almost 100 years later, the train service is still running and is a superb way of seeing the beauty of Mallorca and understanding how the islanders had to cope with difficult terrain before the railway arrived. The original impetus for the line was Soller's success in growing oranges and the need to provide a better way of transporting the crops to Palma. Before the railway workers and crop-carrying animals make the trek over the Sierra de Alfabia or the Soller pass. The train service still uses the original rolling stock which was built in Loughborough in the UK. A new road tunnel has removed the need for vehicles to journey over the pass, but the original road remains and is a great route for those who want to appreciate the history and scenery it provides.

All this transport engineering has been a large investment for the island but ensured the future of Soller and both the town and port are thriving communities with tourism providing a replacement for the previous commercial activity of farming and fruit growing. Outdoor pursuits of sailing, birdspotting and walking bring many visitors to Majorca and Soller. The famous GR221, an internationally recognized hiking route starts in Soller and ventures its way up into the valleys and peaks of the Tramuntana range. The two Soller towns are also very sociable places to spend a few days, with a wide range of bustling cafes and restaurants to try out.

So whether you arrive there by car, boat or preferably train, the twin towns of Soller will always enhance the experience and enjoyment of a holiday in Mallorca.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

One of Mark's most regularly recommended spots is easily reached by the numerous cheap flights to Majorca on offer from the low cost airlines. Soller is one of Majorca's most stylish locations.

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