The Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana

The different cultures that have lived in the Serra de Tramuntana over the centuries have learned to coexist harmoniously in a rugged and complex environment. The result is a landscape that UNESCO inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2011.

This Mediterranean landscape combines three aspects that make it a unique place: the use of scarce natural resources, terraced areas with a complex hydraulic system, and an organization centered around large estates and villages.

The most notable construction technique is dry stone. This involves using the stone from the fields without any type of mortar or cement. It's used for walls, paths, huts, bridges, and other structures that are perfectly integrated into the natural landscape.

One of the main uses of dry stone is the construction of agricultural terracing systems. This consists of creating steps on the mountain slopes to enable cultivation spaces using only the stone from the area.

The use of water has led to a complex system of traditional hydraulic engineering aimed at collecting, extracting, conducting, distributing, and storing subterranean or surface water. This created network coexists with the natural network of streams.

Possessions are large rural and agricultural properties or estates, usually covering a large area, that include a small built-up area called "ses cases". They originate from the medieval period and were authentic economic centers.

In the Serra de Tramuntana, there are towns and villages where a large part of the ethnological and architectural heritage that defines the landscape is concentrated. Inns and houses make up an urban fabric formed by narrow alleys that adapt to the mountain slopes.

The coast of the Serra de Tramuntana contains numerous examples of maritime heritage related to coastal surveillance, navigation, and the exploitation of fishing resources: coastal towers, lighthouses, dry docks, and elements related to smuggling, among others.

Religious heritage is associated with the Christian culture, which was established from 1229 onwards. The sanctuary of Lluc stands out as a unique and exceptional place from a spiritual point of view, having become a religious, civil, and cultural symbol of Mallorcan society.

The Serra de Tramuntana is rich in traditions and cultural expressions that evoke the past, reflect the landscape values, and define the uniqueness of the ways of life. Legends and narratives make up the popular wisdom and shape the character of its people.