Holy Week in Sóller: processions and tradition

Mallorcan Holy Week combines liturgy and confraternities with processions through the streets of the centre. In Sóller the mood is sober and very local, without the scale of Palma's. Times and acts are published by the parish of Sóller and the Diocese of Mallorca every year, so this guide gives only the stable pattern.

The date changes from year to year because Easter is moveable: it falls between late March and late April, and Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are counted from it. To place it among the other festivals, see the cultural calendar and festivals of Sóller.

• Palm Sunday: blessing of palms and branches at the parish church, as across the island.
• Holy Thursday: services at the parish church; check the programme to see whether there are other acts.
• Good Friday: the central act. According to the press, the procession of the Sant Crist de la Sang, with nine confraternities, leaves Plaça de sa Constitució for the Sant Bartomeu parish church. A travel guide describes it as a solemn procession of penitents that winds round the centre in front of the church. Local press also highlights l'Encontrada (the meeting) as one of the moments of the week.
• Davallament: in many Mallorcan towns it is held on Good Friday and consists of lowering the image of the crucified Christ from the cross. We could not confirm with a reliable source that it is held in Sóller, so check the parish programme.
• Easter Sunday: Resurrection mass.

• Plaça de sa Constitució: the starting point of the Good Friday procession.
• Streets of the centre: the procession winds through them around the Sant Bartomeu church; find a spot with a view that does not block the way.
• Sant Bartomeu church: the destination of the procession and of the main services.

For a coffee before or after, see the bars and cafés in Sóller.

• Arrive early: the streets in the centre fill up and are closed to traffic.
• Quiet and respect: it is a religious act; no flash and do not walk between participants.
• Clothing: wrap up for the evening; spring in the valley is cool at dusk.
• Combine it with the train: Holy Week is high season for the Sóller train and the tram; book ahead.
• Shops and restaurants: some change hours or close on holidays; confirm beforehand.

The centre of Sóller is best done on foot and the Port is a few kilometres away, linked by the tram.

• By train and tram: the Sóller train runs from Palma and the tram links the town with the Port. It is the easiest way to get around on festival days.
• By car: park on the outskirts and walk; the guide to parking in Sóller explains the options. On the big days streets in the centre are closed and car parks fill early.
• By taxi or bus: see taxi and transport. If you are coming from elsewhere on the island, check getting to Sóller before you set off.

To sleep near the event, see the best hotels in Sóller. On festival days rooms go early, so book ahead and confirm the conditions on each property's official website.

Exact dates and times change every year and are published by the parish of Sóller and the Diocese of Mallorca. Before you book travel or a hotel, confirm them on the Ajuntament de Sóller events calendar or its festes section (in Catalan). This guide gives only the stable pattern of each festival, not a specific programme.

Other festivals in the valley: Es Firó, Sant Bartomeu, Sant Antoni, Havaneres gathering, Classical Music Festival. You will find them all, month by month, in the cultural calendar and festivals of Sóller.