The Botanic Gardens of Soller and Balearic Museum of Natural Sciences

Both the Botanic gardens of Soller and Balearic museum of Naural Sciences are within a short walk of Sollers main square (Placa Constitucio). Although neither exhibit is extensive a visit to the museum and gardens is a pleasant excursion to make. Entrance fee is 3 Euros.

Botanic Gardens of Soller

At the time of year I visited the gardens (November 2004) they were experiencing what is known as the winters spring in the Balearics. During the summer growth has been limited by high temperatures and lack of water. Now many species burst into life with cooler, wetter conditions. Geophytes (bulbs, corms and rhizomes) in particular begin their annual cycle at this time of year either flowering or growing leaves in the autumn. Summer deciduous trees and bushes loose their leaves in the summer and these reappear in the Autumn. One receives a brochure describing the focus of the various sections of the gardens and a self conducted itinery highlighting specific plants of interest at the time of year of your visit.

The gardens (first opened to the public in 1992) run down the slope away from the museum and are split into 13 sections, each home to a particular type of plant life. There were sections representing the shady evergreen oak forests, the highest peaks of the Tramuntana mountains, the sea cliffs, beach and dune systems as well as orchards, an Ethnobotany area (species used by man) and sections devoted to flora of the Canary islands and Meditaranean Islands.

Quiet benches are scatterd around the gardens offering a spot to stop and rest. See our photograph collection of the gardens for a wider view.

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Balearic Museum of Natural Sciences

The Balearic Museum of Natural Sciences is a very small museum with sections highlighting the history of of natural sciences in the Balearics and Paleanthology (geological history of the Balearics with important fossils). There was also a room containing information and specimens of wild Mushrooms in Majorca. Although everthing was written in Spanish you may borrow written translations from the stand on the first floor.

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How to get There

Take the Carrer de Banca from Sollers main square (Placa Constitucio) and walk along past the Post Office. Then hang left down Carrer de Jossea ma Quadrado and del Capita Angelats. Next take a left along the main road towards the entrance. You might choose to go back around the other way. By road take the C-710 or C-711. The entrance is on the C-711 just after Soller heading north.

There is a cafe/ restaurant just a few hundred meters to the right when you leave the botanic gardens down the C-711 with outdoor seating. A good place to stop for refreshments.

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