The Sóller Modernista project has been officially launched, aiming to enhance awareness and preservation of the municipality's modernist heritage. The initiative was introduced during the screening of the documentary "Sóller Modernista," which showcases the town's historical and artistic legacy.
Llorenç Galmés, the president of the Consell de Mallorca, attended the event alongside Miquel Nadal, the mayor of Sóller. The project is part of the European PSTD (Sustainable Tourism Plans in Destinations) funding programme and is being promoted during the Les Journées del Modernisme de Sóller, an event designed to engage both residents and visitors with this cultural heritage.
Also present at the event were Pedro Mas, the island director for Governance and Sustainability at the Consell de Mallorca, the municipal team, historian and archivist Toni Quetglas, as well as Llum Castanyer and Antònia Frau, who are responsible for the project's website.
"The Sóller Modernista project is an example of how European funds allow us to invest in what defines us as a people: our history, culture, and heritage. Preserving and promoting this legacy is a way to reinforce Mallorca's identity and pass it on to future generations," said Galmés.
He further emphasised that "Mallorca has much to offer; our cultural and architectural heritage is an extraordinary asset that we must learn to explain and share. Projects like this help diversify our tourism offer, highlight the authenticity of each municipality, and promote a way to discover the island based on culture, knowledge, and respect for our legacy."
Preserving Sóller's modernist heritage
Sóller is home to an exceptional modernist heritage that is essential to its identity and history. Beyond its most iconic buildings, this legacy is reflected in numerous architectural and decorative elements that shape the urban landscape, including façades, stained glass, tiles, railings, doors, and sculptures.
The European project, with a budget exceeding €379,000, is being implemented through an agreement between the Consell de Mallorca and the Sóller Town Hall. Its aim is to present this heritage from a global perspective, contextualising it within the history of Sóller and facilitating understanding and interpretation.
The initiative seeks to ensure that both residents and future generations can recognise and appreciate the elements that form part of their environment and collective memory. To achieve this, Sóller Modernista incorporates various resources that blend cultural dissemination with new technologies. Key activities include the creation of a unique visual identity, development of a website and digital application, production of a modernist route guide, and the creation of audiovisual content and informative materials.
Additionally, the project will feature signage elements to aid in identifying and interpreting the heritage in multiple languages, ensuring accessibility for both local residents and international visitors.
Mayor Miquel Nadal remarked, "Modernism is a fundamental part of Sóller's history and personality. It is present in our streets, our homes, and the memory of many generations. With this project, we want the people of Sóller to better understand this heritage and for visitors to appreciate its significance."
Nadal added, "We want culture and heritage to be central to how we present Sóller, preserving what makes us unique and sharing it with future generations."
A cultural tourism model
This initiative aligns with the Consell de Mallorca's commitment to enhancing the value of cultural heritage as a distinctive element of the island and as a resource for advancing towards a more diversified tourism model, highlighting the history, culture, and identity of each municipality.
In this regard, Sóller Modernista contributes to expanding discovery opportunities within the municipality through an experience linked to the knowledge and interpretation of heritage. This proposal enriches the cultural offer, promotes off-peak tourism, and invites exploration of an authentic Mallorca beyond its more well-known attractions.
The documentary screening during the Modernism Days reinforces the connection between the project and Sóller's efforts to preserve, disseminate, and transmit this cultural legacy.
