Mallorca has a hill just 317 metres high from which you can see practically the whole island. We know it sounds impossible, but it’s true.
After the climb—which we’ll also tell you all about—you’ll come across a simple white hermitage with views over the entire Pla de Mallorca and the Serra de Tramuntana. It’s called the Ermita de Bonany and, if you’re in the area or staying nearby, you have to come and visit.
And to whet your appetite, we’re going to sum up its history, tell you how to get there, what views you’ll find, and what else you can do nearby.
History and origins of the Ermita de Bonany
The legend of this sanctuary is lovely—really lovely and heartwarming. In 1609, the people of Petra climbed this hill to pray. After years of harsh drought that had battered their crops, they needed rain. And after those prayers… it rained!
That year, which had been looking terrible for the harvest, suddenly became a «bon any»—a good year, in Mallorcan. That’s where this place has taken its name from ever since.
Soon after, they built a chapel to honour a carving of the Virgin Mary which, they say, had been hidden since Islamic times until a shepherd found it on the very same hill.
And here’s the thing: the Ermita de Bonany isn’t only loved for the rain legend that gave it its name—it was also the place that bade farewell to Friar Junípero Serra—a Franciscan born in Petra in 1713 who crossed the Atlantic to found nine missions in California and was later canonised as a saint in 2015—before he set sail for Mexico. From there, he would go on to found the missions that gave rise to cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
What the Ermita de Bonany is like
The first hermitage on Puig de Bonany dates back to the 17th century and no longer exists. Lightning destroyed the original Baroque temple, which was eventually demolished in 1919.
On its remains, between 1920 and 1925, the building you can visit today was built. It’s Neo-Baroque in style, with a Latin-cross floor plan, a single nave and a barrel vault.
Outside, the façade keeps a curved pediment with Petra’s coat of arms, flanked by two towers, and inside you’ll find a single, sober nave and an altar where the polychrome wooden carving of the Virgin of Bonany is kept.
How to get to Bonany
From Palma you’ve got about 50 km ahead of you, so allow almost an hour’s drive. Take the Ma-15 towards Manacor and, before you get there, turn off towards Petra on the Ma-3320. From the village, you’ll need to take a small local road up to the esplanade at the Ermita de Bonany. It’s about 2 km.
And without a car? You can also walk up to the sanctuary: there are routes from Petra, Vilafranca de Bonany and Sant Joan—all three are quite manageable and take at most a couple of hours there and back. Or, if you’d rather not walk, take the bus: lines 401 and 417 stop near the hermitage.
What the walk up to the hermitage is like
The most popular route starts in Petra and is about 7 km round trip, with an elevation gain of under 220 m. Nothing that requires training. Allow around two and a half hours, with several flat stretches between dry-farmed estates—past almond trees, carob trees and even the odd traditional windmill—mixed with others that take you into the pine forest covering much of Puig de Bonany.
It’s well signposted, so all you need is comfortable footwear and plenty of eagerness to reach Bonany.
Panoramic views from Puig de Bonany
When you reach Puig de Bonany, you’ll realise you’re right in the centre of the island—so you’ll have almost 360° views over Mallorca.
Take a look at the Pla’s agricultural mosaic: a patchwork of cropland, olive trees and carob trees dotted with old windmills, where you can clearly pick out Petra’s reddish rooftops and the outlines of nearby villages like Vilafranca and Sant Joan.
And if you lift your gaze to the northern horizon, on clear days you can catch the blue glint of the sea in the bays of Alcúdia and Pollença, while to the east you’ll see the gentle hills of the Serra de Llevant. But it’s to the west where the real show unfolds, because you’ll have views of the Serra de Tramuntana. All of inland Mallorca in a single image!
And don’t worry if you choose a cloudy day to come: when clouds dominate and storms roll in, the sky puts on a landscape that’s well worth seeing.
What to see and do near the hermitage
If you’ve visited Bonany, you can’t miss Petra—unless you’re staying here already. It’s one of those small, peaceful villages in Mallorca you simply have to visit. Friar Junípero Serra was born here, and there’s a museum dedicated to his life and his role in the Californian missions, as well as his birthplace, which is still preserved and open to visitors.
Anything else to do? Head over to Manacor, a city full of charm where you can also visit the Rafa Nadal Museum in Manacor, a space dedicated to the Mallorcan tennis player’s career, with trophies, personal memorabilia and interactive areas designed both for tennis fans and for anyone who simply wants to learn a bit more about Mallorca’s story.
And if you’re staying in the area, take the chance to get to know Vilafranca de Bonany and Sant Joan too—the other two villages that share Puig de Bonany and are part of that much quieter inland Mallorca than the coast, with its wineries, country estates and traditional local food.
Book your accommodation today and don’t miss the Ermita de Bonany
At Ideal Property we have houses and villas across Mallorca so you can explore both the island’s interior—with Petra and Bonany leading the way—and its beaches and coves.
All you have to do is click this link, see which apartments, villas and houses we have available for your dates in Mallorca, and book.
Are you coming?