Archaeological sites

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Here we’ll tell you a bit about each one:

ALAYOR

MAHÓN

CIUTADELLA

TREPUCÓ
CORNIA NOU
TALAYOT Y BASÍLICA PALEOCRISTIANA DE TORELLÓ
TALATÍ DE DALT
SA CUDIA CREMADA
TORRE D’EN GALMÉS
SES ROQUES LLISES
NA COMERMA DE SA GARITA
TORRELLAFUDA
SA NAVETA DES TUDONS
SON CATLAR
NECRÓPOLIS DE CALA MORELL
ES COLL DE CALA MORELL

MAHÓN

1. TREPUCÓ

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Trepucó:

If you want to see one of the most impressive taulas of the island.
If you want to know more about Menorca’s History, both during the Talayotic period and the 18th century AD, when the island was conquered by different powers.
If you want to see one of the most interesting sites in Mahón’s area.

Location: Mahón Type of site: Talayotic settlement Featured monuments: Large talayot, small talayot, taula enclosure, dwellings and rock-cut tomb (hypogeum).

Site description
Even though just few of the many structures that it had are still preserved, Trepucó is one of the most impressive talayotic settlements at the eastern part of the island, since it is one of the largest sites in Menorca.
Trepucó has one of the largest taula sanctuaries on the island, which lies close to a large talayot. These two elements, which were possibly at the settlement’s center, are surrounded by a star-shaped wall that was built by the French in the 18th century.
There is a small talayot outside this precinct, and this structure is abutted by the remains of a “Minorcan circle”, which is a type of dwelling built in Menorcan settlements during the Late Talayotic period.

2. CORNIA NOU

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Cornia Nou:

If you want to see one of the most spectacular and studied talayot on the island.
If you want to learn about the latest archaeological excavations on the island.

Location: Mahón Type of site: Talayotic settlement Featured monuments: Large talayot and buildings which adjoin it, small talayot.

Site description
In Cornia Nou you will see one of the most spectacular talayot in Menorca; not only for its large dimensions (10 metres high and 26 meters in diameter), but also for its characteristics, which are known thanks to the on-going archaeological excavations that are conducted in this site, which started in 2007. In the so-called “South building”, which abuts the large talayot, foodstuffs were processed and distributed during the Talayotic period, whereas the small talayot sheds light on a different period, when a human community built an outer wall to protect the settlement…

3. TALAYOT Y BASÍLICA
PALEOCRISTIANA DE TORELLÓ

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Torelló:

If you want to see the largest talayot in the Balearics.
If you want to see monuments from Prehistory and the Late Antiquity (5th and 6th centuries AD).
If you want to discover the meaning of the basilica’s Early Christian elements.

Location: Mahón Type of site: Talayotic settlement and Early Christian basilica Monumentos destacados: Large talayot, related buildings, small talayot, Early Christian basilica with a large mosaic.

Site description Torelló’s large talayot is the best preserved one on the island. It undoubtedly belonged to one of the most important settlements at the eastern part of Menorca, even though most of its remains have disappeared and, as a consequence, very few structures can be seen. Few meters away from this settlement, there is an Early Christian basilica which still has a well-preserved mosaic, which is unique on the island. Several geometrical patterns as well as faunal depictions appear on this mosaic, all of which have a special symbolic meaning.

4. TALATÍ DE DALT

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Talatí de Dalt:

If you want to see one of the most interesting Taulas on the island.
If you want to see a house from the Late Talayotic period, whose layout is quite different from the rest.
If you want to see a great view of Menorca.

Location: Mahón Type of site: Talayotic settlement Featured monuments: Large talayot, taula sanctuary, well-preserved houses and related structures, hypogeua (rock-cut tombs)

Site description This site has several well-preserved elements which make it one of the most emblematic and unique places on Menorca. Among those elements there is its sanctuary, which has one of the most photographed taulas of the island, since it is not only in an upright position, but also has a column abutting it since it fell over the Taula in an indeterminate moment in History. Another important element is the Talayotic house which was dug at the end of 1990’s. This dwelling still has its roof, which consists of large stone slabs and vegetation. This type of cover made historians from past centuries think that the Talayotics were “people who lived under the ground”.

5. SA CUDIA CREMADA

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Sa Cudia Cremada:

- If you want to discover an ongoing research project on the taula sanctuaries of Menorca and learn about the last data obtained about them.
If you want to visit a site which is not famous.
If you are interested in ethnology.

Location: Mahón Type of site: Talayotic settlement Featured monuments: Large talayot, small talayot, talayot with chamber, possible outer wall, large hypogeum and taula enclosure.

Site description The Talayotic settlement at Sa Cudia Cremada is not very famous and, as a consequence, represents the opportunity to get out of the typical cultural tours on the island and explore a site with no visitors. Even though it would have been one of the most outstanding Talayotic settlements of the Eastern side of Menorca, it was not until 2015 when an archaeological project started here for the first time. This ongoing project has located the site’s sanctuary, its taula enclosure, and shed light on new data about these religious buildings which are exclusive to the island. Besides the Talayotic remains, as it is located within a private estate, visiting it also gives you the chance to see a great number of ethnological elements (dry stone walls, drinking troughs, wells, irrigation system, etc.) which explain the traditional farming activities carried out in Menorca.

ALAYOR

6. TORRE D’EN GALMÉS

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Torre d’en Galmés:

If you want to see that largest Talayotic settlement in the Balearic Islands.
If you want to learn about the Egyptian god found in its taula enclosure.
If you want to enter several Talayotic houses and find out what the Talayotics did inside.

Location: Alayor Type of site: Talayotic settlement Featured monuments: 3 talayots, taula enclosure, several circles (dwellings), hypogea (rock-cut tombs)

Site description Torre d’en Galmés has an extension of 6 hectares, which make it the largest settlement in the Balearic Islands, There are 3 talayots which are located at its higher part, from where to get wonderful views of the southern part of the island. The sanctuary does not have a complete taula, since its capital fell long time ago. Despite of this, during excavations conducted in this building very interesting materials, such as an Egyptian statuette of god Imhotep, were found! The settlement still has many Talayotic houses or “circles”, some of which have been excavated and restored. These excavations have shed light on the Talayotics’ daily life and the domestic activities carried out inside them. The settlement was inhabited during prehistoric times and was occupied by Romans and Muslims in the Medieval Islamic period. Discover how these cultures reused older spaces and structures in Torre d’en Galmés!

7. SES ROQUES LLISES

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Ses Roques Llises:

If you want to see one of the oldest funerary monuments on the island.
If you want to learn about Menorca’s first inhabitants.

Location: Alayor Type of site: Funerary monument Featured monuments: Large talayot, related buildings, small talayot. Dolmen or megalithic tomb. Note: This monument is only offered in the joint visit with Torre d’en Galmés and Na Comerma de Sa Garita (see “Packs Menorca Talayotic”).

Site description Ses Roques Llises is one of the few Menorcan monuments that are correctly called Megalithic. It dates from the Pretalayotic period, when the first human communities settled in Menorca around 2000 BC. It consists of six large slabs that form a rectangular funerary chamber, whose access was possible thanks to a hole in one of them. The entrance also had a corridor that led to that perforated slab, and this monumental entrance symbolized the passing to the Afterlife. It was originally covered by a tumulus, which has not been preserved…

8. NA COMERMA DE SA GARITA

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Na Comerma de Sa Garita:

If you want to see one of the most enigmatic buildings of the island.

Location: Alayor Type of site: Monumental building Featured monuments: A large building whose function is still indeterminate Note: This monument is only offered in the joint visit with Torre d’en Galmés and Ses Roques Llises (see “Packs Menorca Talayotic”).

Site description Na Comerma de Sa Garita might be the most puzzling monument for researchers, since it does not correspond to any of the typologies known of all prehistoric buildings. Therefore, it is a unique type of building. Even though it is in ruins, its remains indicate that it was a large complex with two main areas. The first would be a large front yard connected to a building by a portico, which is partially preserved.

CIUTADELLA

9. TORRELLAFUDA

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Torrellafuda:

If you want to see a charming taula sanctuary.
If you want to know about outer walls and defence systems from the Late Talayotic period.

Location: Ciutadella Type of site: Talayotic settlement Featured monuments: Talayot, Taula enclosure, outer wall, hypogea (rock-cut tombs). Note: This site is only offered in the joint visit with Naveta des Tudons (see “Packs Menorca Talayotic”).

Site description Even though Torrellafuda might have been one of the largest settlements of the western half of the island, nowadays it only preserves its central part, where there is a large talayot, a taula enclosure and some remains of dwellings. This complex was once protected by an outer wall which had several defence systems. Its taula enclosure, which beautifully lies in a bucolic setting surrounded by wild olive trees, has not been excavated yet.

10. SA NAVETA DES TUDONS

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Sa Naveta des Tudons:

If you want to see one of the most iconic sites of Menorca.
If you want to know more about funerary rituals carried out during Menorca’s Prehistory.

Location: Ciutadella Type of site: Funerary monument Featured monuments: Funerary naveta

Site description Sa Naveta des Tudons is undoubtedly the most famous Menorcan archaeological site. It is a building with two floors or levels which was used as a tomb for about 100 people, of both sexes and all ages, who lived and died around 1200 BC. It was excavated and restored in the 1960’s, and thanks to these tasks the naveta has its current aspect. These excavations revealed many objects in this building, which shed light on the funerary rituals carried out by the prehistoric communities. Nowadays “Sa naveta” is the most emblematic monument of Menorca due to its great state of preservation!

11. SON CATLAR

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Son Catlar:

If you want to visit a large Talayotic settlement that has several elements which can be found in this type of sites.
If you want to see the best-preserved outer wall of the island.

Location: Ciutadella Type of site: Talayotic settlement Featured monuments: Talayots, Taula enclosure, remains of dwellings and an impressive outer wall which has several defence systems and an intact entrance.

Site description Son Catlar is a large settlement located south of Ciutadella, on the way to some of the most stunning beaches on the island (Son Saura, Es Talaier and Cala Turqueta). Amongst its most important elements, there is a taula enclosure and several talayots. But Son Catlar’s most impressive structure is its outer wall…which still preserves its complete perimeter! Furthermore, this wall has several defence systems, such as bastions and posterns.

12. NECRÓPOLIS DE CALA MORELL

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Cala Morell necropolis:

If you want to see a cave-system necropolis that has different types of caves in one of the most beautiful places at the western part of the island.

Location: Ciutadella Type of site: Hypogea necropolis Featured monuments: Hypogea (rock-cut tombs)

Site description The large Talayotic necropolis of Cala Morell is located north of Ciutadella, in a residential area that bears the same name. This necropolis is one of the most spectacular cave systems on the island, with 14 of them. These caves are located on a small ravine, which was used as a funerary space for a long period of time that covers all Menorcan Prehistory and even reaching the Roman period.

13. ES COLL DE CALA MORELL

Reasons why you should not miss this visit to Cala Morell’s coastal headland:

If you want to discover why this Menorcan community decided to settle down in such an inhospitable place.
If you want to walk into a real naveta and find out the activities that were carried out inside.
If you want to enjoy the great views from this amazing settlement.

Location: Ciutadella Type of site: Pretalayotic settlement Featured monuments: several dwelling navetas and an outer wall.

Site description This site is located in an inhospitable and hard-to-get-to coastal headland. The fact of having an outer wall, in the only point from where access to the settlement is possible, seems to indicate that its inhabitants were not there just for pleasure, but they were forced to live under these conditions! At Cala Morell’s settlement there is a group of dwelling navetas from the Pretalayotic period, some of which are completely excavated and restored. Inside them it is possible to know more about the way people lived in this settlement.