Discover Mallorca during a stay at Hotel L'Avenida
With its sumptuous styling and elegant courtyard garden and pool, Mallorca's Hotel L'Avenida offers a serenely comfortable environment in which to escape the pressures of the outside world.
Located within an historic townhouse in the picturesque town of Soller (on the island’s dramatic west coast), the eight-bedroom boutique hotel is a epitome of Modernist design and well deserves its reputation as one of the island's most stylish hideaways.
However tempting it may be to endlessly luxuriate in L'Avenida's splendid surroundings, it would be a pity not to venture outside and discover what lies in the immediate vicinity. The town of Soller is a wonderfully atmospheric place to explore, with narrow streets lined with elegant stone mansions emanating from a leafy central square. There are all sorts of delightful attractions and experiences to discover in Soller, all within a stone's throw of the hotel. Here are six of the best:
1. Visit the new C'an Prunera Museum
Soller's newest attraction is the C'an Prunera Museum, which is housed within a perfectly preserved Modernist building in the town centre. Dating from 1911, the building has been faithfully restored to its original splendour and now contains a permanent collection of Modernist artworks (such as those of Joan Miro) as well as other, temporary exhibitions. Interestingly, C'an Prunera was built by the celebrated Spanish architect Joan Rubio i Bellver, who also designed the mansion house in which Hotel L'Avenida is now located. Rubio previously worked with Antonio Gaudi, the father of Modernism, on such iconic Modernist projects as the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell in Barcelona.
2. Soak up the atmosphere in Plaça Constitucio
Soller's pint-sized central square is the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by. Shaded by towering plane trees, the square is full of pleasant cafés serving delicious cafe con leche or cortado coffee. Rather dominating the square is the neo-gothic Cathedral of San Bartomeu, known for its enormous rose window. Just off the main square is Fet a Soller, a fantastic ice-cream shop whose home-made flavours include almendras (almonds) sourced from the surrounding orchards. For other local goodies, the Saturday market is great for browsing for typical Mallorcan specialities such as tasty Mallorquin cheese, sobrasada sausages and ensaimadas - a type of sweet, rolled pastry.
3. Discover the spectacular scenery of north-west coast
Just down the road from the square lies the terminus for the dinky tram that rumbles down to the laid-back beach resort of Port de Soller. In addition to a pleasant waterfront lined with restaurants, Port de Soller is also known as the departure point for the ferry to Sa Calobra, one of the island's most impressive natural landforms. The short trip passes along Mallorca's beautiful and unspoiled north-west coastline, which is characterised by sheer cliffs and tiny, inaccessible coves. The ferry docks at the little resort of Sa Calobra, from where it's just a short walk to the incredible canyon of the same name. Here, vertiginous cliffs shelter the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis river where it meets the sea - sluggish and tranquil in summer but thunderous during the winter months, especially after heavy rain.
4. Explore the natural beauty of the Tramuntana Mountains
Those in search of some outdoor action can opt to hike or cycle in Mallorca's beautiful Tramuntana Mountains. Several walking trails actually begin in the town itself, such as the easy ambles to the nearby villages of Biniaraix and Fornalutx. Further afield lie other routes ranging from the simple (such as the walk around the Gorg Blau reservoir) to the challenging (like the ascent of Puig Massanella - the island's highest accessible mountain). Serious adrenaline junkies may prefer to take the mountain bike trails through the Soller Valley, while spring and autumn present the opportunity to try canyoning along the deep and narrow Coanegre Gorge. Afterwards, guests can take advantage of a massage in L'Avenida's Wellness Room to sooth their tired limbs.
5. Take the train to Palma
Palma, the capital of Mallorca, is well worth a day-trip - but the journey by rail is a highlight in itself. Completed in 1911, the line was originally built to transport Soller's citrus crops to market - and the original, English-made locomotives are still used to this day. Starting from Soller's beautifully restored railway station, the historic, rickety train climbs past fragrant orange and almond groves and on through the thousand-metre peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana. The craggy mountains and wooded valleys provide plenty of photo opportunities before the train plunges through a series of 13 tunnels to reach the island's flat, central plain and onto the city. The 28-kilometre journey takes around an hour, with a return ticket costing about €11.
6. Experience the excitement of Es Firo, Soller's largest annual festival
Every May, Soller celebrates The Festival of the Moors and the Christians, otherwise known as 'Es Firo'. The fiesta commemorates the events of 11 May 1561, when the greatly outnumbered townspeople of Soller repelled an armada of 22 Moorish galleons. The festival takes place from 7-11 May 2010 with the highlight being a re-enactment of the invasion on the final day. The town's narrow, medieval streets throng with over 1,200 people as the town celebrates its historic success against a formidable foe.
From 1 February to 31 March 2010 Hotel L’Avenida is offering ‘3 nights for 2’ with standard rooms from £203 per room per night (€225/room/night) and Junior Suites from £265 per room per night (€295/room/night) including breakfast, excluding 7% local tax.
For reservations and more information, visit: avenida-hotel.com
