Son Brondo, fertile plains and contrasting landscapes of the Pla

PalmThe center of Mallorca is located in Lloret de Vistalegre, within its municipal boundaries. We won't argue with that. But the true heart of Mallorca lies in the fertile plains within the magical circle formed by Sineu, Sant Joan, Montuïri, Lloret, Sencelles, and Costitx. Our route begins at the true 'geographical center of Mallorca,' certified by the National Geographic Institute, and heads towards the edge of this imagined circle, marked by one of its most legendary points: the Llorac well. All of this is a pleasant stroll along paths that gently caress the landscape's subtle nuances.

To get closer to the starting point of the route, we can use public transport. The L-432 bus line runs between Sineu, Lloret, Pina, and Algaida. [On the website] tib.org (Balearic Islands Transport) You will find all the information about timetables and availability of the line.

The route

[00 min] We begin the route in front of the Lloret well. Located in the southern part of the village, next to the road that goes from Sineu to Pina, it has historically been a central point in village life. Right next to it, we find the TIB bus stop. Before starting to walk, take a look at the inscription that you can see and read on the inside of the well's cover. In medio Maioricae adestisBecause since 1999 it has reminded us that we are in the heart of Mallorca. That said, let's get started!

From the well, we head towards Pina on the Ma-3130. Soon, we turn left onto the Camí de la Font. [05 min] Here, we pass the streets of Montserrat Fontanet and Ramon Llull on our left. We also skirt the public parking lot on the right side of the road, from which point we are fully into the Lloret foravila. We pass the Camí de la Costa, a dead-end alley, on our left, and further down, the houses of La Vela, on our right. Further on, the path zigzags, near the houses of Pontarró and La Noria. [20 min] The same Camí de la Font leads us to the old Algaida road, right in front of the Lloret water treatment plant. We turn left and stay on it until we reach the Ma-3231 road, where we turn right towards Montuïri. After about 400 meters, we find the Llorac well [30 min], to the left of the road.

"The first outing we made was one afternoon in late summer along the Llorac road, heading towards Montuïri. Just before reaching the hill where the houses of the old estate stand, half-ruined, at the level of the stream, there is a well, currently privately owned. The Llorac well. And in Llorito everyone knows that this well is in the middle of Mallorca, that is, in the center of the island and, therefore, in the center of the world, according to the way the Mallorcan peasant orders space. (The legends of the center of the worldText by Andreu Ramis Puig-Gròs and illustrations by Judit Morales and Adrià Gòdia. UIB Editions, 2019)

From the well, we backtrack about a hundred meters towards Lloret and soon turn right onto the old Ariany road. A vast landscape unfolds before us, with two prominent landmarks immediately visible: Mount Reig and Mount Son Pastereta, to the left and right respectively. Between these two, in the distance, lies Mount Sant Nofre. This string of mountains is steeped in legends of hidden treasures guarded by mysterious creatures and stories related to Mallorca's long eremitic tradition. [45 min] We reach a fork in the road and take the path to the right, which runs alongside the Llorac stream. We pass between the estates of Son Mas, on the left, and Paixerí, on the right. Around us, vast and fertile fields. At the next fork [1 hr 00 min], we leave the old Ariany road and turn right onto the Can Riera road. We begin a gentle climb towards the houses of Can Riera and the Palermo road, which we don't reach because halfway along we turn right onto the old Montuïri road [1 hr 10 min]. This is the most strenuous section of the entire route, although, in return for our effort, the surroundings reward us with beautiful panoramic views, which on a clear day encompass a good part of the Tramuntana mountain range. To our left, the thick and rugged pine forest of Son Brondo, known as the Moor's Pine Forest, begins to appear. The path leads to a pass beyond which we find the aforementioned estate, already within the municipality of Sant Joan [1 hr 30 min].

Houses of Son Brondo

The impressive houses of Son Brondo bear witness to its long history and vast size. As the saying goes: "To reap in Son Brondo, brothers, / is like going to the galleys: / one man plows more earth / than a hunter with nine hundred dogs." It is, in fact, the largest estate in the Sant Joan district, encompassing some 250 cuarteradas (approximately 1,500 acres). In 1578 it belonged to Joan Julià Garriga, and in 1789, to the Boixadors family. In 1863, it was owned by the heirs of Joana Rocabertí-Boixadors, Countess of Savellà and Peralada. At the end of the 19th century, it passed to the Aguiló family. I make way and you lose life. At the crossroads of the road there is a mill tower of extraordinary dimensions. Above the portal remains the date 1857."Inland Mallorca, 15 routes through the island's heart – Volume V(Tomás Vibot. El Gallo Editor, 2022).

We leave the houses behind and head towards Lloret along the Son Brondo road. The road is wide and paved. To the left, the endless fields of Campo de Jesús and the Almudaina mountain unfold before us. Straight ahead are the houses and hill of Son Daviu, our next destination. [2 h 00 min] We cross the Ma-3231 road and continue along the paved Son Fred road, now within the municipality of Lloret. We begin a gentle climb until, after passing the houses of Son Daviu, we turn right onto a dirt track, rough and overgrown with vegetation, which ascends the hill. There, on the right, we find a beautiful viewpoint [2 h 15 min]. We continue along the same track, which now descends to the old Algaida road. We join the path from the left and don't stop until we reach Font Figuera [2 h 30 min], an old public water infrastructure used to supply water to people and livestock traveling through the region.

We continue along the old Algaida road to the next junction, where we turn right onto the Son Bauló path. This path leads to the Lloret de Mar road in Pina (Ma-3130), near the municipal cemetery. We turn right again and climb the final stretch of the route to the village [3 h 15 min].

@Fita_a_Fita