The Archduke's projected gaze around the Horadada

PalmA viewpoint is a scenic spot from which one can contemplate and view a vast expanse of land. Aware of this fact, as simple as it is profoundly complex, Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria designed paths around the great and immense Miramar, which he built from 1872 until his death in 1915, simultaneously establishing viewpoints. For the instructive and beautifully rendered landscape of the Tramuntana mountain range required spaces for its contemplation. These were the same land, sea, and sky that had captivated Ramon Llull six centuries before the arrival of the prince, scientist, and traveler, during his stay in 1276 while establishing the school for missionaries and Oriental languages in that very Miramar. We propose a walk "among the vineyards and the fennel," along the viewpoints below the Archduke's estate, at the foot of the Old Watchtower. A view projected around the Foradada.

The route

[00 min] From the Ermita de la Trinidad 2 stop of line 203 (check schedules and availability on the website) tib.orgLocated on the Ma-10, we begin our walk following a path that climbs along the right side of the road, heading towards the Can Costa pass (424 m). A short stretch leads to the path to the Valldemossa hermitage, skirting the Son Moragues fence. Wide and paved, it suddenly presents a very steep climb. To the left, the houses of Can Costa and the Vorera viewpoint appear. Built in 1910, it is one of the last commissioned by the Archduke, combining Neo-Gothic and Neo-Mudéjar elements. The path soon leads us to an iron cross [20 min]. The cross commemorates the accidental death of the hermit Nofre de San Juan Bautista in 1788. He was a native of Pollença and was 72 years old. He fell from some rocks while gathering firewood near the hermitage (source: Hermitage sitesBonifacio Molada. Seventeenth Edition, 2024).

The cross marks the point where we leave the path to the Hermitage of the Trinity to the left. A well-trodden trail allows us to begin a rapid descent through the holm oak forest to the road (Ma-10), near the access road to Can Parroquia [40 min]. We cross the road, enter this path, and, upon reaching the barriers, turn right onto the Marina barrier path, also known as the old S'Estaca road. This is an old bridle path that widens briefly, especially as we approach the Nou viewpoint, which appears to our right [45 min]. Also called the White viewpoint, it resembled an Arab turret before its collapse. It is mentioned in The Balearic Islands, from 1884. Just leaving the viewpoint on the west side, in the direction of the Old Road of S'Estaca, there appears a path that goes down to the Hermit's Cave.

We resume the route along the Marina barrier path and soon the gate that gives it its name appears. A beautiful bridle path winds through the holm oak forest. We leave the descent to the Figuera spring on our left and then reach the plateau where we find, on a rocky outcrop to the left, the Erasa viewpoint [1 hr 10 min]. It is a platform with a quadrangular, almost rhomboidal, plan, scaffolding built on the rock itself and protected by a perimeter wall. After the visit, we continue descending towards S'Estaca, the estate where Catalina Homar i Ribes (Valldemossa, 1868-1905) served as headmistress during the time of the Archduke [1 hr 35 min]. We emerge onto the dirt track that provides access to the houses from the Valldemossa pass road. We turn right, heading towards the S'Estaca cove; But you live, because a few minutes later, upon seeing a large landmark, we must turn right [1 hr 40 min]. This is the start of the new S'Estaca path. From there, it's all uphill to the Trinity Hermitage. Before reaching it, we visit four other viewpoints. The first is on the left side of the path, the Figueral viewpoint [1 hr 55 min], so named because it overlooks the Les Figueres road, between S'Estaca and Guix.

The next stop takes us to the Crucero viewpoint [2 hr 05 min]. This is a small, solid tower, characterized by the four crenellations or points that crown its corners. The Archduke mentions it in 1884. The Balearic IslandsIt says it has this name because it's at a four-way intersection (Camino de la Torre, Camino Nuevo de S'Estaca – first and second sections – and Camino del Guix). We continue ascending with our backs to the sea along the most marked path, which leads us to the right of the crag. Just five minutes later, the path forks. We take the right-hand fork to go and look out from the viewpoint at the chapel of Ramon Llull [2 h 10 min].

The Archduke has in What I know about Miramar The details of the oratory's construction: "I was always looking for new viewpoints to build lookouts or other structures. There was an isolated rock that seemed made for a building that would dominate the surrounding area. Wanting to celebrate the sixth centenary of the founding of Miramar, I decided to build it." Inaugurated in January 1877, the design was by the Prague architect Friedrich Wachsmann, and the construction was directed by Bartomeu Ferrà Perelló, with the master builder Pere Fiol from Valldemossa.

Ermitanet Fountain

We rejoin the path to the Tower and continue our ascent towards Ca Madò Pilla. The next step on our route is the scree slope of the Ermitanet spring, below a cave. From here, the path becomes a breathtaking viewpoint overlooking the abyss. Finally, we reach the viewpoint of the Crow's Nest, popularly known as the Pi viewpoint [2 h 20 min]. Unfortunately, the historical memory of this place is linked to the murders perpetrated by the Falangists in the months following the 1936 coup. William Graves reminds us of this. Under the shade of the olive tree (José J. De Olañeta, 1997). We go out onto the road (Ma-10) and cross it. Just in front of the hotel parking lot (built on the site of the old inn of Ca Madò Pilla), the path to the Old Hermitages begins. We start the climb and at the first fork, we take the right-hand path. We will not leave the dirt track until we reach the Hermitage of the Trinity [2 h 45 min]. In 1648, although there had been eremitic life in this area before then, Juan de la Concepción Mir y Vallès, founder of the Congregation of Saint Paul and Saint Anthony, built the Hermitage of the Trinity. The current chapel dates from 1703. From here, we simply retrace our steps to the bus stop, which is opposite Can Costa on the return journey [3 h 15 min].

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