A small 15th-century sanctuary on a 205-metre hill near S'Alqueria Blanca, rarely busy and with views over the east coast. Getting up is the challenge — more than 300 steps or a rough gravel track.
Santuari de la Consolació
Santuari de la Consolació in 30 seconds
The essentials at a glance
- Worth visiting for
- A short visit
- Best for
- Peace and a viewpoint near Santanyí
- Best months
- January–May, October–December
- Time to allow
- An hour including the climb, or half an hour if you drive up
- Without a car
- Hire car needed
- Parking
- A few spaces by the sanctuary; otherwise beside the road before the closure
- Highlight
- The sanctuary above the east coast
- Keep in mind
- Not a step-free outing with somewhere to eat
- Access
- Pushchairs: Not suitable · Wheelchairs: Not suitable
Get a feel for Mallorca. Find your kind of place.
At the end of the climb, a heavy wooden door leads through the wall into the courtyard.
The courtyard is small, well kept and usually empty.
The courtyard well, beside the path to the viewing terrace.
Drive from the airport
50 minutes
52 km
Bus connections
No service
Region
Migjorn
Nearest beach
Cala Mondragó
5 km
Elevation
205 m
above sea level
A glimpse of Santuari de la Consolació
Season guide for Santuari de la Consolació
November Worth a visit
Very quiet Open
Worth visiting in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December. Less suitable in July and August.
Location
Location of Santuari de la Consolació
- Region
- Migjorn
- Municipality
- Santanyí
- Elevation
- 205 m above sea level
- Airport
- 52 km , around 50 minutes
- Hire car
- needed
- Worth visiting for
- a brief stop
- Coordinates
- 39.3899,3.1493
Getting to know Santuari de la Consolació
A small sanctuary stands on Consolació hill, 205 metres high, near S’Alqueria Blanca. It is thought to date from the 15th century. Local tradition tells of an early Christian monastery here and says Saint Scholastica, sister of Saint Benedict of Nursia, lived on the site. There is no firm evidence for these stories.
Behind the heavy wooden door in the boundary wall is a small, well-kept courtyard, with the chapel entrance to the right. The barrel-vaulted nave contains an 18th-century statue of Our Lady of Consolation. Pass the well and memorial plaque to reach the viewing terrace, looking across the east coast.
Getting up is the challenge
Don’t blindly follow the satnav.
Approaching from Santanyí, the signs just before S’Alqueria Blanca lead to a closed road. A landslide caused by quarrying interrupted the route. From there, you have two options:
- continue along a bumpy gravel track, or
- park beside the road and climb more than 300 steps.
The steps climb steeply between agaves, palms, oleanders and cacti. There is little shade, so avoid the climb in July and August.
Why it is so quiet
The difficult approach puts people off. If you do make the climb, you can often explore the old walls almost alone.
The exception comes after Easter, when people from Santanyí and the surrounding villages arrive for the Romería pilgrimage. That is the sanctuary’s one busy day of the year.
What to bring
Bring water and allow yourself time. There is no food service or drinking water at the top. October to May is the best period; in February, almond trees blossom on the plain below.
Photographs
Santuari de la Consolació in Mallorca
Practical details
- Parking
- A few spaces by the sanctuary; otherwise beside the road before the closure
- Time to allow
- An hour including the climb, or half an hour if you drive up
- Good to know
- The sanctuary is freely accessible and rarely busy. There is no food service or drinking water, so bring both with you.
- Bus
- No service
- Access
- More than 300 steps or a rough gravel track; a paved courtyard at the top · Pushchairs: Not suitable · Wheelchairs: Not suitable · Dogs: Keep dogs on a lead
- What you will not find
- Food and drink · Drinking water · A surfaced approach road · Step-free access
- Coordinates
- 39.3899,3.1493 Google Maps Apple Maps
Within reach
Places to visit
Nearby
A rocky hilltop fortress 408 metres above sea level near Felanitx, its walls rising directly from the cliff edge …
A freestanding rock arch in the sea, one of the south-east coast’s best-known views. The viewpoint lies between …
Es Fortí stands on the rocky headland at the entrance to Cala Llonga in Cala d’Or. Behind its thick walls is a …
A pilgrimage church has stood here since 1348, 509 metres above Felanitx at the southern end of the Serra de …
Around 170 hectares of salt pans between Campos and the coast produce roughly ten thousand tonnes of sea salt each …
Mallorca’s southernmost point has a lighthouse built in 1863, flat coastal rocks and open sea, with the …
Distances without a driving time are measured in a straight line. The road journey can be much longer; known driving times are shown alongside.
Where to swim nearby
Beaches and swimming nearby
Three beaches within a natural park — S'Amarador, Ses Fonts de n'Alís and small Caló des Borgit. Pale sand lies …
A kilometre and a half from Cala d'Or, but a different world — a natural harbour where fishermen still unload …
A resort planned in the 1930s by an Ibizan who brought the style of his home island with him. Low white buildings …
A fishing village around a narrow, forked inlet, with boathouses and slipways tucked against its rocky sides. Come …
Places to stay within reach
Explore from here
Your questions answered
Your questions about Santuari de la Consolació
How do you reach Santuari de la Consolació?
Head from Santanyí towards S'Alqueria Blanca. The signposted road is closed because of a landslide caused by quarrying. You can continue along a bumpy gravel track, or park beside the road and climb more than 300 steps. Don't follow the satnav blindly here.
How old is Santuari de la Consolació?
The complex is thought to date from the 15th century. Tradition places an early Christian monastery here and says that Saint Scholastica, sister of Saint Benedict of Nursia, lived on the site. Neither claim is established.
What can you see at the sanctuary?
Behind the heavy wooden door in the boundary wall is a small, well-kept courtyard, with the chapel entrance on the right. The barrel-vaulted nave contains an 18th-century statue of Our Lady of Consolation. A path beside the well leads to the terrace overlooking the east coast.
What is the Romería to Consolació?
An annual pilgrimage after Easter, when people from Santanyí and nearby villages walk up to the sanctuary. It is the one day of the year when the hill becomes busy.
Is the climb worthwhile in summer?
Better avoided in July and August, when the 300-plus steps offer little shade. Between October and May, the climb is much more pleasant, passing agaves, palms, oleanders and cacti.
Practical questions
When is the best time to visit Santuari de la Consolació?
Recommended months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December. Clear air, long views and a very quiet visit.
Is Santuari de la Consolació worth visiting in July and August?
July: another month may suit you better. Usually very quiet. More than 300 steps without shade — not a good idea in this heat. August: another month may suit you better. Usually very quiet.
How far is Santuari de la Consolació from Palma airport?
About 52 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 50 minutes by car. Don't blindly follow the satnav. The signposted road just before S'Alqueria Blanca is closed by a landslide. Continue only via the gravel track, or park beside the road and climb the 300-plus steps.
Do I need a hire car for Santuari de la Consolació?
A car is needed No service
Where can I park in Santuari de la Consolació?
A few spaces by the sanctuary; otherwise beside the road before the closure
Can I visit Santuari de la Consolació with a pushchair or wheelchair?
More than 300 steps or a rough gravel track; a paved courtyard at the top Pushchairs: Not suitable Wheelchairs: Not suitable
Are dogs allowed at Santuari de la Consolació?
Keep dogs on a lead
Words and photographs: Friedhelm Fischer. Exploring Mallorca since 2013 — by bike, on foot and with a camera.