Holm oak woods were once woodlands brimming with life and noise. On the Esporles and Valldemossa sides, charcoal makers, lime producers, ice store workers and hunters strode along their narrow paths in the course of their everyday work. The route (part of the GR-221 Drystone Route) is made up of a network of paths that link the two towns, with a shared history dating back to Islamic times when they belonged to the same juz (district), known as Bunyûla. They are lands with a shared history, separated by mountains.
Two valleys separated by mountains
The route, which starts at Sant Pere Parish Church, travels along Carrer Nou de Sant Pere, crossing Sant Pere torrent and the little squares known as Placeta des Pla and Placeta de sa Teulera. Following the signs, take a cart track used as a short cut that borders fields of fallow land. Further on, the track passes Son Dameto, one of the most important, majestic big estates in the municipality. In the 18th century, its estate buildings were known to include a winery, chapel, oil press and a large library.
Further on up, you will pass a gate to land that was divided up from Son Cabaspre estate, followed by a slope. Once you have passed Font des Joncs spring, you reach the beginning of Camí sa Coma Llobera. This path overlooks the estate buildings of Sa Coma Llobera, a large estate owned by the family of the same name, known particularly for Joan Cabaspre y Santjoan (1455-1529), a scholar of Ramon Llull. Later the estate came into the hands of the Villalonga-Mir family.
The route continues up Camí de sa Coma Llobera to Coll de sa Basseta hilltop. This is followed by a section of bridle path which climbs up, past a stone platform used for catching thrushes, to the top of a peak called Mola de Son Pacs. This leads to Pla de s’Aljub, a plain with a shelter with a vaulted roof and an irrigation pond.
The track swiftly descends to Coll de Sant Jordi, a hilltop with a gate. On the other side of the gate is the hardest part of the hike, known as S’Engegada. This leads to a peak called Puig de sa Comuna (700 m), a communal area since at least the 16th century. It features several stone platforms for catching thrushes, with their accompanying hunter's refuges.
The path soon descends, leaving behind a little pond, and close to Es Penyalot, it passes a covered pond. The last section is a bridle path which swiftly descends to Font de na Llambies, a spring with close ties with the history of Valldemossa monastery. Continue straight on and, before you reach Valldemossa, you can visit a mill called Molí de sa Beata.
