Puigpunyent / Galilea
Village guide · Puigpunyent municipality
A hillside village of about 300 people under Puig de Galatzó, between Puigpunyent and Es Capdellà. Stone houses, a church square with a view to the sea, and a quiet that draws walkers, cyclists and artists.
The name
Galilea took its name from its likeness to Galilee: a small settlement on a slope, looking out over hills and down to the sea. It belongs to the municipality of Puigpunyent and sits higher than the main village, on the road that climbs on toward Es Capdellà and Calvià.
People have used these slopes for a very long time. Archaeological sites around a cave here are attributed to the Talaiotic period, and the dry-stone walls that hold up every field and lane tell of centuries of farming on steep, awkward ground.
In the early 16th century the hill was known as the mola of Cortei. Around 1586 an old farm belonging to Bartomeu Cortei was split into small plots for new settlers, and the village slowly grew from there: 21 properties on the hill in the 17th century, about 80 by the end of the 18th. The name Sa Mola first meant the whole mountain; a farmhouse called La Mola was later built on top.
The village church, begun in 1806, stands on Plaça Pius XII at the heart of Galilea. Beside it is the terrace that most visitors come for: on a clear day the view runs across the southwest slopes of the Tramuntana all the way to the sea.
Video
The lanes, the church square and the view from the terrace, filmed by visitors.
Sights
Begun in 1806 and blessed in 1810, the church on Plaça Pius XII is Galilea's landmark. The town hall credits the Mallorcan sea captain Antoni Barceló with promoting it. Its viewing terrace is the best-known lookout in the municipality, facing the slopes and the sea.
Winter snow was packed into this stone store on Carrer de Sa Mola Gran, at about 480 m, and kept as ice until 1917. It is the only snow house in Mallorca inside a village centre, and it was restored in 2019.
A 19th-century windmill, thought to be older than its neighbours, the Can Soler mills, which kept grinding until 1920.
An 18th-century well on Carrer des Rafal, from the days when every drop of water on the hill was managed with care.
At Carrer Clapers 3, Ca sa Mestra, also called Ca ses Monges, was a Sacred Heart convent and the first place in the municipality where girls were taught. At number 8 look up at the painted roof tiles, and at the start of Camí des Rafal find the sgraffito façade of Can Cera.
The 1,027 m peak dominates every view from Galilea. Its legend, the Comte Mal, is told on its own page.
Galilea now
The town hall has bought the Mola of Galilea, almost 300,000 m² of hillside with the snow house, springs and a 506 m lookout. A 12.5 km waymarked loop now crosses it. See the walk.
Source: Ara Balears€363,018 from the Balearic tourist tax will pay for a 240 m³ water tank in Galilea and a new well at Sa Mola Gran.
Source: Mallorca.comThe urban stretch of the Galilea road in Puigpunyent is getting new sewer and drinking water networks, fresh paving and better pavements, for up to five months. Allow extra time on the way up.
Source: Ajuntament de PuigpunyentGalilea's own fiestas. In 2026 they ran from 28 August to 12 September; the full programme is published by the town hall each summer.
Source: Ajuntament de PuigpunyentEat & drink
Galilea is small, so plan around a couple of good tables. Check opening days before you drive up, especially out of season.
Galilea's best-rated restaurant and a natural stop after a morning on the trails.
On the square, with a terrace looking over the valley. Kitchen hours are short in the evening, so arrive in good time.
Sa Vinya, Mercat Tramuntana, Ca'n Jordi and Mar & Duix at Son Net are ten minutes away. See all.
Getting there
Homes in Galilea
A historic country house on 12 hectares at the edge of the village, with views over the valley to the sea, yet walkable to the square.
4 bed · 3 bath · 120,000 m² land View on IdealistaNewsletter
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