Carrer del Calvari, Historic stairs in Pollença, Spain

Carrer del Calvari is a steep stone staircase in Pollença, Mallorca, rising from the town center up to the Calvari chapel that sits on a wooded hill above the town. The steps are built from local stone and lined with cypress trees that run the full length of the climb.

In 1860 Guillem Cerdà Cànaves (1815–1887) acquired land on the Calvari hill and gave part of it to Pollença so the town could build an access to the chapel, including this stairway. Construction proceeded in stages and was completed in 1907; the upper section, with lower steps and cypress trees, already shows Neoclassical elements from the 19th century.

Each Good Friday a procession descends the stairs from the Eglésia del Calvari to the parish church in the town centre, the reverse of the climb pilgrims make the rest of the year. The chapel at the top is the destination of the stairway, which was laid out as the access route to it.

Sturdy shoes with good grip are worth wearing since the steps are steep and uneven in places. If you plan to visit the chapel at the top, going early in the morning or late in the afternoon helps avoid the midday heat.

The 365 steps are not a symbolic design: the staircase was built in several phases and only completed in 1907. Its upper section dates from the 19th century and shows Neoclassical elements, with lower steps and cypresses along the edge. The staircase was declared a tourist attraction in the presence of the Spanish royal couple.