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.

THURSDAY OF SANT BARTOMEU 

The key day of the festivities is the 24th of August, the day of Sant Bartomeu, although different cultural events are held from the Friday before the 24th. Thursday is the day when the celebrations begin in the village and is therefore one of the most intense days of all the festivities, as people are excited and eager to experience the festivities. Sóller full of traditional and cultural products with a lot of history. Also, on the 24th, the solemn mass in honour of the patron saint of Sant Bartomeu is celebrated in the presence of the authorities and the "Valentes dones", very emblematic figures of the Valley of Sóller. This mass, as well as other events such as open doors in different museums, is always held on the 24th of August, the day of the patron saint. So on this day we recommend you take a walk around the church to see it illuminated and decorated in a very special way. That's why from 18.30h in the afternoon there are activities for children and for all ages in the Plaça Constitució, such as the "Pal Ensabonat" and in the market square, such as children's workshops; and other activities such as cultural exhibitions in other places of the town. So we recommend that you leave the Gran Hotel Sóller by taking a pleasant stroll through the Market Square, located right next to the Gran Hotel Sóller, and then continue strolling until you reach the main square of the municipality. Once there you can enjoy the atmosphere of the place, the streets of the centre full of "paradetes" with local and Mallorcan handicrafts, both decorative and food and much more. So after a stroll we recommend you to have an aperitif in one of the many cafés in the main square and surround yourself with the festive atmosphere of the village. It is worth noting that most of the cafés and restaurants in the centre are fully booked for dinner several weeks in advance, as the locals usually dine in the square during these festivities, making it very difficult to find a table in the square for dinner. However, we recommend that you diner at Can Blau Restaurant, located in the Gran Hotel Sóller, a 2 minute walk from the square before continuing to enjoy the festivities. 

After dinner, you can return to the main square of Sóller. This is very easy thanks to the excellent location of the Gran Hotel Sóller. Once in the square you just have to enjoy the atmosphere and the live music concerts and DJ's that take place until the early hours of the morning. It must be said that the location of the Gran Hotel Sóller means that we are "inside" the party, as from the exit of the hotel we will find "paradetes" on the street to the right and left and with the possibility of visiting the Plaça Constitució or the attractions, located 2 minutes away from the hotel on the right. So you can enjoy the party in total comfort. 

FRIDAY OF SANT BARTOMEU

On Friday there will be water activities for the little ones in Carrer Cetre from 17:00. In the evening from 23:00 there will be a youth night with different groups and DJs.

SATURDAY OF SANT BARTOMEU 

The Saturday of Sant Bartomeu is perhaps one of the days with the greatest atmosphere because, apart from the "paradetes" and activities typical of the festivities, the "mercadillo" (street market) is also held, as it is every Saturday. A market of food, decoration and textile products typical in many municipalities of Mallorca. So on Saturday we recommend you leave the hotel after breakfast and enjoy the streets of Sóller full of traditional products. 
Sóller full of traditional and cultural products with a lot of history. In the evening, at 8.30 p.m. traditional dances with their respective costumes (performed by Aires Sollerics and Estol de Tramuntana) are held in the little square in front of the church (s'Alameda), and there are again live music performances with music styles from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

SAINT BARTOMEU SUNDAY 

After the 27th of August, a very special last day of the fiestas is celebrated, as it is on this day that the "Nit de foc" (Night of Fire) of the Esclatabutzes takes place at night: one of the oldest "colles" of demons in Mallorca created in 1996 by the inhabitants of Sóller which offers a great scenographic, pyrotechnic and musical show thanks to its demons and drums (Esclatadrums). The show usually starts with a more theatrical part and ends with a great fire and pyrotechnics display in which the people take an active part. 

This show is the one that ends the Sant Bartomeu festivities, so we recommend you see it as it is only held once a year. However, in order to enjoy it to the full, you should know some very important aspects. The "Nit de foc" is a pyrotechnic show performed by a group of "demons", which means that the scenery, decorations and costumes of its members can be frightening for the little ones. 

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.