What are Greenways?

The Vías Verdes -Greenways- are old disused railway lines that have been recovered and reconditioned for use by walkers and cyclists. Exploring them is a different, enjoyable and environmentally friendly way of getting to know Spain, its culture and its landscapes. This is an alternative ideal for all ages, that respects the environment and brings together sport and the great outdoors.

Requeriments of a Greenway:

• -Excellent conditons of the way
• -Forbidden for motor vehicles
• -Easy to get to, flat and even -provide no technical difficulties-
• -Ideal for all kinds of people: adults, children and the elderly
• -Outstanding natural beauty and cultural sites along the way in an easy, environmentally friendly way

TECHNICAL DATA:

• -Location: Between the towns of Manacor and Artà, located in the east of the island of Mallorca.
• -Municipalities: Manacor, Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, Son Servera and Artà.
• -Length: 29 km
• -Users: 
• -Accesibility level:  information not available
• -Type of surface: compacted gravel

FACILITIES

6 rest areas with benches, tables, bicycle parking and litters. Informations panels with points of interest and information about flora and fauna. 15 surveillance cameras.

Facilities in the train stations: 

Artà: parking area / local product -cratfs- / intepretive centre of the Greenway / tourist information / rent a bike / restaurants and cafeterias

Producte Local

Sant Llorenç: parking area and playground

Sant Miquel (Son Carrió): parking area and urban park

NATURAL LANDSCAPE

Along the greenway there alternate cereal crops, orchards and plantations of carob, orange, olive, figs or almond trees with Mediterranean forest of wild olive, Aleppo pine, mastic and rosemary; the characteristic landscape of Serres de Llevant.

The route passes close to the beaches of Cala Millor and Sa Coma, the natural area of Punta de n'Amer and na Penyal, in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar and the Natural Parc of Llevant, 6 Km from the train station in Artà.

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THE RAILROAD IN ARTÀ

The construction of the line that brought the train to Artà was made possible to the initiative of Rafel Blanes Tolosa (1878-1975). The history of the Blanes family in Artà dates back to the brothers Antoni and Montserrat Blanes Juan who became wealthy in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, in the 19th century. With the repatriation of their fortunes from the Americas, the Blanes consolidated themselves as new local landholders and participated in Majorcan enterprises, such as the Majorcan Railroad Company, that finally carried out the Project in 1915.

The Manacor-Artà line consisted in 30 kilometres and was inaugurated in 1921. The imprint of progress had arrived at our village but unfortunately, in 1977, the line was definitively shut down. For several years now, various citizen’s groups have been demanding the re-establishment of this important public service.

NATURAL HERITAGE OF ARTÀ

Natural Park of Península del Llevant (about 6 Km from the train station. Road Ma-3333, Km 4,7 ) . 15 different signposted routes. The church of the Christian conquest of Mallorca Santa Maria de Bellpuig and its vicinity (about 3 Km from the train station).

Hermitage of Betlem (about 9,5 Km from the train station. Ecovía Road Ma-3333 ).

Cala Torta (about 11 Km from the train station . Ecovía ) 

Hiking itinerary: Secluded beaches. From Cala Torta to l'Arenalet d'Albarca (about 5 Km) . Road to Cala Torta about 11 Km from the train station.

Itineraries in la Colònia de Sant Pere:

How to get there: Colònia de Sant Pere, about 12 Km from Artà. Road C-712 to Alcúdia and then turn to the right at km. 7, road Ma-3331.

The natural area of Sa Canova Beach and Na Borges Watercourse. Length: 2,2 km from S'Estanyol housing to Na Borges

Between the Sea and the Mountains (Colònia de Sant Pere). Lenght: 3,5 km from Betlem housing to Es Caló cove.  (Mountainbike)

From the hermitage of Betlem down to Les Cases de Betlem (45 minutes) 

CULTURAL HERITAGE OF ARTÀ

Urban itinerary: Artà, a medieval village on a strategic spot  

Artà was for centuries the political, economic and spiritual center of the region and still maintains its age-old traditions and has preserved the atmosphere of hospitality and vitality typical of the Mediterranean people. These are the most interesting places that you will discover through the urban itinerary that starts in the train station and follows the main street to the fortification of Saint Salvador:

1. Train station / 2. Na Batlessa cultural house / 3. Plaça del Conqueridor (Conqueror Sq.) / 4. Cal Marquès hause / 5. Can Blanes hause / 6. Social Center hause / 7. Council / 8. Regional Museum / 9. Posada dels Olors house / 10. Parish Church / 11. Architectural complex of Sant Salvador: the former Islamic almudaina (in Arabic means castle, palace or fortification) maintains today the defensive fortification used as well as shelter against the pirates and holds the sanctuary and the attendant’s quarters / 12. Franciscan convent.

Surrounding of Artà::

Natural Park of  Península del Llevant (about  6 Km from the train station. Road Ma-3333, Km 4,7 )

Prehistorical talayot of Ses Païsses (about 600 meters from the Greenway in Artà). 

 Caves of Artà  (about 13 km from the train station. Road 404-2)

The church of the Christian conquest of Mallorca Santa Maria de Bellpuig and its vicinity (about 3 Km from the train station).

Hermitage of Betlem (about 9,5 Km from the train station. Road Ma-3333). 

Cemetery of the municipality ( By the Greenway, about 1 km from Artà) 

The fortified tower Torre de Canyamel of the 13th Century (about 6km from Artà. Road Ma-404-2)

The castle of Capdepera (about 8 km from the train station. Road Ma-15)

More: in Manacor: Basílica of Son Peretó, Museum of History and the church. In Sant Llorenç des Cardassar: castle of Punta de n'Amer.

RENT A BIKE:

Manacor:

Bicicletes Sancho: about 20 minutes on food from the train and bus station -Line 411- through Paseo del Ferrocarril. The Paseo del Ferrocarril links to the Greenway -Via Verda-. Address: Calle Barracar, 107, Tel. 00 34 971551554. www.bicis-sancho.com

Cala Millor:

Ciclos Bon Temps: Address: Paseo Marítimo de Cala millor, 14 (by the Taxi rank, Plaza Eureka, opposite the Glass Bottom Boat). Greenway-link thorough the bicycle lane to Son Servera. Every day from February to November. Tel. 00 34 971813742

Bicicletes Sancho:Address: Calle dels Molins, 30 de Cala Millor. Greenway-link through the bicycle lane to Son Servera. Tel. 00 34 971813760. www.bicis-sancho.com

Artà:

Artamove. Address: old train station, Avenida Costa i Llobera, s/n. Tel. 654399262. jcallarisa@artamove.com. Rent a bike & bicycle tours.

S'Abeurador Rent a Bike. Address: Calle de Josep Melià, 2. (Opposite the store of fruits and vegetables "Agromat", in Avenida Costa i Llobera, by the Greenway). Tel. 644362664 / 00 34 971836052. info@artabikes.com. www.artabikes.com. Rent a bike & bicycle tours.

HOW TO GET THERE

By car:

Manacor. Beginning of the Greenway: in the curve of Passeig de Ferrocarril, east of the city (next to the parking lot of supermarket Eroski)

Artà: Old train station (marks the end of Greenway) parallel to the crossing of the Ma-15 (Avinguda Costa i Llobera), south of the town.

By train: 

From Palma to Manacor: Transport Públic de Mallorca. Train of Mallorca  Línea T3, Palma - Manacor.

From Manacor to Artà by bus: Bus Line 411 (located by the Manacor train station) 

By bus:

From Palma to Artà / Manacor: Transport Públic de Mallorca. Line 411 Cala Rajada-Palma (Intermodal station Palma)

Connections::

From Palma to Manacor: 53 km.

From Palma to Artà: 75 km.

LINKS

Official Website of the Greenways in Spain

European Greenways Observatory

Read more

Download the leaflet in PDF

City Map of Artà

City map of Colònia de Sant Pere

Map of Península of Llevant