el camí de s`alzina fumadora

WALK 7
EL CAMÍ DE S’ALZINA FUMADORA
The amphitheatre
This old bridle path used to be the
means of access from Fornalutx to Sa
Bassa common lands and the great
estates of Moncaira and Bini. The
route which takes you through market gardens and terraced olive groves
provides the walker with spectacular
views of Fornalutx and the valley of
Sóller, in surroundings dominated by
dry stone walls, the peaks that crown the amphitheatre of the valley, the dark
green of the orange groves and the silver of the foliage of the olive trees.
STAGE PROFILE
STARTING POINT: Fornalutx, plaça
d’Espanya (145 m)
LENGTH: 6.416 m
FINISHING POINT: Fornalutx, plaça
d’Espanya (145 m)
TOTAL DESCENT: 522 m
GRADE: easy
TIME REQUIRED: 2 h
TOTAL ASCENT: 522 m
DESCRIPTION OF THE WALK
Start out on the walk from the popular plaça d’Espanya up the steps that
lead to the parish church, a baroque construction dedicated to the Virgin
Mary. Next, go on up the Carrer l’Esglèsia, a street where you can see the
ceramic tiles of one of the Stations of the Cross, and then continue along
Carrer de la Tramuntana, a street at the beginning of which your attention
will be caught by the painted tiles under the eaves of the roof of Ca ses Escolanes, depicting a great full moon and a rooster - the symbol of Jesus.
You soon emerge from the built up area and go straight up the cobbled bridle path, which gains altitude between terraces of olive and orange trees, water tanks and scattered houses, until you cross the Ma-2120 road.
The path carries on, up a steep slope, between olive groves with their dry
stone huts (buildings with tiled roofs that were used as a shelter for people,
animals and tools), until it joins up with the main road to Puig Major (Ma10). Behind you there are some excellent views over Fornalutx, Biniaraix and
Sóller and of the summits of the mountains surrounding the valley, of which
Penyal des Migdia (1,401 m), Es Cornadors (956 m), Serra d’Alfàbia (1,067 m)
and Es Teix (1,064 m) are the most prominent.
SUITABLE FOR: all years
NOT SUITABLE FOR: children’s pushchairs, wheelchairs
The peak Penyal des Migdia from the path
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WALK 7
On the other side of the road, to your right, you will find the entrance to the
Comuna de sa Bassa common land, which gives you access to a narrow path
that widens out when you reach the level of the Pla de ses Mates plateau,
where there is a water tank for the use of forest fire fighters.
Here you walk on past a turnoff that forms part of the old path of sa Comuna and then, after passing a hut, you also ignore another path on your left
that would take you up to the top of the Puig de sa Bassa peak.
From this point, a short downward stretch takes you to the Pla de sa Bassa
plateau, very close to the Ma-10 road again, where there is a small recreational area next to a field.
For anyone who feels that the walk has been somewhat long, this is a good
place to end it, precisely because of its closeness to the road, although in
this case, some forward planning will be needed to have a private car ready.
Others have the choice of returning by the same route which is downhill and
a little easier, but just as rewarding.
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Camí de s’Alzina Fumadora
Porxo de sa Bassa
Fornalutx