SANT BARTOMEU FESTIVITIES

When it comes to festivities, the Valley of Sóller is best known for the Sa Fira and Es Firó festivities. These are some of the most emblematic festivities in Mallorca, recreating the victory of the inhabitants of Sóller over the invasion of the Turkish corsairs in 1561. However, there are other lesser-known festivities that are just as important for the residents of Sóller: the patron saint festivities of Sant Bartomeu. These festivities are held at the end of August to commemorate the patron saint of the Sóller Valley: Saint Bartholomew. A patron saint who, in turn, gives his name to the town's magnificent central church: La Parròquia de Sant Bartomeu. That is why today we are going to talk about the patron saint fiestas of the Sóller Valley, about how to experience them and discover, with them, the essence of this marvellous village in the Tramuntana.

FRIDAY OF SANT BARTOMEU

On Friday night, starting at 11:00 p.m., the “young night” will take place with different groups and DJs.

SATURDAY OF SANT BARTOMEU

The Saturday of Sant Bartomeu is perhaps one of the most lively days, as in addition to the stalls and activities typical of the festivities, the weekly “mercadillo” (street market) is also held. This market offers food, decoration, and textile products, typical in many towns in Mallorca. That’s why on Saturday we recommend leaving the hotel after breakfast and enjoying the streets of Sóller filled with traditional and cultural products rich in history.

At 7:30 p.m. in the evening, children’s activities and events for all audiences are held in Plaça Constitució, such as the “Pal Ensabonat”, and in the Market Square, such as children’s workshops, along with other activities like cultural exhibitions in different parts of town. We suggest leaving the Gran Hotel Sóller for a pleasant walk through the Market Square, located right next to the hotel, and then continuing on to the town’s main square. Once there, you can enjoy the festive atmosphere, the central streets filled with stalls of Mallorcan crafts, both decorative and culinary, and much more. After a stroll, we recommend having an aperitif in one of the many cafés in the main square, surrounded by the festive village atmosphere.

It’s worth mentioning that most of the cafés and restaurants in the center are fully booked for dinner several weeks in advance, since locals usually dine in the square during these festivities, making it very difficult to find a dinner table there. However, we recommend dining at Can Blau Restaurant, located inside the Gran Hotel Sóller, just a 2-minute walk from the square, before continuing to enjoy the celebrations.

After dinner, you can easily return to Sóller’s main square, thanks to the excellent location of the Gran Hotel Sóller. Once in the square, all that’s left to do is enjoy the lively atmosphere and the live music concerts and DJs that go on until the early hours. The location of the Gran Hotel Sóller means you are essentially “inside” the festival, as you’ll find stalls lining the streets immediately upon leaving the hotel, with Plaça Constitució and the fairground rides only 2 minutes away to the right. This way, you can enjoy the festivities with total comfort.

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SUNDAY OF SANT BARTOMEU

The main day of the festival is August 24th, the feast day of Sant Bartomeu. However, cultural events already begin on Wednesday, August 20th. Sunday the 24th is one of the most intense days of the celebration, as people are eager and excited to live the festivities.

On the 24th, a solemn mass is held in honor of Saint Bartholomew at 10:30 a.m., with the presence of the authorities and the Valentes dones, highly emblematic figures of the Sóller Valley. It should be noted that August 24th does not always fall on a Sunday, but the mass is always celebrated on this date, along with other events such as open doors at various museums. For this reason, we recommend taking a walk to see the church, beautifully lit and specially decorated for the occasion.

In the evening, the festivities conclude in a very special way, as it is on this night that the “Nit de foc” of the Esclatabutzes takes place. This is one of the oldest groups of demons in Mallorca, created in 1996 by residents of Sóller, offering a spectacular show of scenery, pyrotechnics, and music thanks to their demons and drums (Esclatadrums). The show usually begins with a more theatrical performance before culminating in a grand display of fire and fireworks, in which the public actively participates.

This performance marks the end of the Festivities of Sant Bartomeu, and we highly recommend attending it since it only happens once a year. However, to enjoy it to the fullest, it is important to know some key details: the Nit de foc is a pyrotechnic show performed by a group of “demons”, meaning that the staging, decorations, and costumes of its members may be frightening for young children.

Also, we must not forget that it is a fire show and that the pyrotechnic spikes burn. For this reason, if you want to enjoy the festival to the full, we recommend that you do the same as the locals: dress in old, long sleeved clothes and go to the fountain in the square just before the show starts to get your clothes a little wet and avoid possible burns. Also, if you don't want to "dance" with the "demons" and just want to watch the show, we recommend you to stand as close as possible to the façades that mark the perimeter of the square. This way you can be away from the fire but still experience the spectacle from the inside. On the other hand, the pyrotechnics cause great thunder and noise, so it is a good tip to wear earplugs. Also, it is a show that takes place almost at eleven o'clock at night, so we recommend you to have dinner before going to the square to experience the "Nit de foc". 

Finally, when the show ends in the Plaça Constitució, people go to the market square. This is the place where the Correaigua is held with the collaboration of the firefighters without borders and where the participants can refresh themselves after the fire show, an unforgettable experience to finish off the Sant Bartomeu festivities to the maximum! 

If you are staying at our hotel and would like more information about the Sant Bartomeu Festivities, timetables or tips, as well as the programme of this year's festivities, do not hesitate to ask our reception team, who will be delighted to help you.