Torre Picada walk from Port de Sóller

Mallorca still has more than 50 defensive towers and watchtowers, some in very good condition and others less so. On this walk, we visit one of the island’s best-preserved examples: Sa Torre Picada.

The tower and the estate on which it stands have been owned by the Consell de Mallorca since December 2022. You can reach it on foot along the waymarked route, but that does not mean the tower’s interior is open to visitors. The Consell and Sóller Town Council have agreed to work together on its conservation and management; we have no confirmed opening date for visits inside.

The walk is one of the Consell’s waymarked family routes. Here we describe the short option from carrer de Bèlgica; the full official route starts at the port and includes the Santa Catalina neighbourhood.

Starting from Port de Sóller, this is a short, straightforward route and a good introduction to walking for children who are not used to it. The outward leg is uphill, and children need to stay close near the cliffs around the tower. The surrounding views are spectacular.

In our guide to the Talaia de Albercutx walk, we explain in detail what these watchtowers were used for, with stories of pirates and corsairs. Sóller’s Ses Valentes Dones, the brave women, are part of the local story of the town’s defence against the corsair attack of 1561.

Another defensive tower we have recommended on the website is the Torre des Verger, also known as Ses Ànimes.

About Torre Picada

Also called the Torre de Pedra Picada, it was completed in 1622, the date engraved above its entrance. It is circular, around 11.5 metres in diameter and 11–12 metres high. It is one of the substantial defensive towers along Mallorca’s coast.

The tower was designed to accommodate three watchmen and had two floors. A spiral staircase led up to the roof terrace, where there was a cannon. Its uses changed over time: plans to adapt it in 1938 provided for a sergeant’s room, a dormitory for the troops and a kitchen-dining room.

During the 19th century, the tower was used to watch for smuggling. In the Spanish Civil War, it again served as a coastal and air observation post.

The Torre Picada route from Port de Sóller

The climb from the carrer de Bèlgica area is short: allow around 30–40 minutes to reach the tower, depending on your pace and stops. This does not include the longer route through Santa Catalina.

If you arrive in Port de Sóller through the sa Mola tunnel, you can look for parking near the exit, close to the start of the climb.

• The street leading towards the tower’s footpath is carrer de Bèlgica.
• After leaving the tunnel, take the second exit at the first roundabout, onto carrer de Torre Picada.
• The first street on the right is carrer de Bèlgica.
• Look for a parking space around plaça dels Reis de Mallorca or nearby, following the signs.

The first stretch follows a tarmac road, so take care, although we have seen few cars on our visits. After around 5–10 minutes, you reach the camí de sa Illeta, which takes you towards the tower.

Early in the climb, you will find the signposted turn-off towards the tower. On our visit, there were two wooden arrows; one indicated 0.9 km and 15 minutes to Torre Picada. This refers to the remaining stretch from that point, rather than the whole walk from the port.

The climb continues through a particularly pleasant stretch of traditional Mallorcan countryside, past some lovely stone houses. One highlight is the view on the right of the dry-stone terraces so typical of the Serra de Tramuntana, dotted with beautiful olive trees.

After several minutes of climbing, you reach a gate with small stone steps on its right (we have included a photograph to help you recognise it). Cross using these steps and follow the wooden arrow marking the route.

Beyond the gate, keep left. Another arrow shows you where to continue.

You are nearly there. Follow the wooden posts with arrows; the neighbouring areas are fenced off and are not part of the route.

Continuing uphill, you reach an open area, with an entrance between two stone pillars nearby. A few metres away, the tower comes into view. Respect any barriers restricting access to the grounds or the building.

Views from Sa Torre Picada

It is surprising how much you can see after such a short walk.

To the right of the tower is es Penyal Bernat, an elongated rock formation standing out from the landscape. Elsewhere in Mallorca, similar pinnacles have names such as Cavall Bernat or Frare: these are the needles of rock that rise above their surroundings.

On a clear day, you can also see Puig Major.

Further to the right is the islet of s’Illeta. Our local legend expert Pedro, from Pekes Mallorca, tells us that seals, known as “vells marins”, once lived here. Sa Cova des Vell Marí is in this area. The Mediterranean monk seal has been considered locally extinct as a resident population in the Balearic Islands since 1958. Occasional sightings and other evidence have been recorded since, but these do not amount to the return of an established colony.

On our last visit, the passage to the left of the tower was fenced off. We used to follow it to a cliff with views of the Muleta lighthouse, on cap Gros, and the entrance to Port de Sóller. That detour is not part of this walk, and we do not suggest crossing the barrier.

Return along the same path 🙂

Torre Picada walk: practical information