El Pilar de la Mola, or simply La Mola, sits on the high plateau at the eastern end of Formentera and is the highest village on the island. It is also the place where Formentera’s traditions are most alive. Its centre is little more than the main road lined with houses; most of its people live in the countryside around it.
A little history
The church, dedicated to the Virgin of the Pillar, was founded in the mid-18th century as the island’s population grew after its resettlement. For a long time the only way up was the old path of Sa Pujada, which kept La Mola fairly isolated: the road that climbs the plateau today was opened in 1925.
What to see and do
La Mola is home to the island’s best-known craft market, founded in 1984 in the spirit of the 1960s hippy markets. It is held on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons in summer, with handmade goods and live music.
The Casa del Poble, a public cultural venue, hosts open-air cinema, concerts and theatre, and visitors are welcome. About two kilometres beyond the village, the road ends at the Far de la Mola, the lighthouse at the end of the island.
Festivals
The patron saint festival is held on 12 October, in honour of the Virgin of the Pillar, with several days of cultural, sporting and musical events. The German residents of La Mola also organise their own Oktoberfest, with beer and Bavarian food.
Getting there
La Mola is at the end of the main PM-820 road, which runs the length of the island from La Savina. The nearest beaches are on the Migjorn coast and around Es Caló, about five kilometres away: the cliffs of the plateau make it hard to reach the sea directly.
Good to know
There is no pharmacy in the village: the nearest is in Es Caló, about five kilometres away. At night, La Mola is quieter and cooler than the rest of the island.
