Menorca owes a significant part of its present day appeal to its rich history.Settlements can be traced back to the Bronze Age, 2000 B.C. and man was possibly livingin Menorca even further back - as far as 5,000 years ago. Prehistoric Menorca was subject tothe influence of many Mediterranean cultures. These influences led to the Talayotic period which today can be seen in the formmonuments, such as Taula, megalithic tombs and the collective tombs known as Navetas.
Today only small fragments of the city walls of Trepucó are preserved. This Talayotic township was abandoned during the second Punic war and the fragments of the wall and two square towers in the west wall are all that remain of its former glory. At its peak the township covered about 5,000 square meters, and was enclosed by the defence walls. Here you will find Menorca's largest remaining Taula which was the centre of worship in Trepucó. There are also five talayotic houses each different in style and two talayots. The most spectacular comprises a circular basis similar to a star. The other talayot is smaller in size and fixed to the wall of the settlement.
Where to find this prehistoric site: Trepucó Road, Maó. (Mahon)
Talatí de Dalt appears to have been inhabited for some time after the Bronze Age. There isevidence that it was a thriving community between 400 and 200 BC when the PunicCivilization traded with the talayotic tribes around the Balearic Islands.
Talatí de Dalt has many unusual monuments, an elliptical-base conicaltalayot, a leaning taula, and a dwelling area of houses with radial flagstoneroofs resting on columns.
Where to find this prehistoric village Along the main road from Mao to Ciutadellatake the left turning at the Kms 4 sign.
At this site the most spectacular and well preserved monument is a Talayot. It has an unusual doorway topped with a monolith lintel. Excavations have discovered houses in front of the Talayot together with signs of the existence of a bronze forge.
There is also a paleo-Christian church, oriented in an easterly direction. There you can see a Roman mosaic floor divided into three tapestries featuring different period
Where to find this prehistoric site - Kms 3.5 on the road between Maó and Sant Climent. Turn to the right and head towards Torelló Vell.
The Naveta des Tudons is a late Bronze Age funeral monument. Built from large stone blocks it resembles an upturned boat, and hence its name. Continuing with the boat simile the stern contains a doorway, which opens into a square hall. Along with the bodies of the dead were left offerings such as bronze or china figures.
Where to find this prehistoric monumentKms 40 on the road between Maó and Ciutadella
Son Catlar is a prehistoric town dating from the pre-talayótic period. It is believed to have thrived and prospered right up to the end of the Roman era. It is the only prehistoric town in Menorca which has retainedits defence wall. The wall is nine hundred metres long with six turrets and a bastion. Within the wall are the remains of a taula, five talayots and other buildings.
Where to find this prehistoric town From Ciutadella head south for about 8kmstake the Sant Joan de Missa road, towards the Son Saura beaches.
This one of the most attractive setting for a prehistoric site. Within the site are talayots, a cave, a taula and the distinctive remains of dwelling houses. The town was once encircled by a wall. From the ruins of the wall its original height can easily be gauged.
Where to find this prehistoric town Close to Kms 37 on the Maó to Ciutadella Road.
This prehistoric town existed until the end of the Roman period. A taula and a talayot are preserved along with some man-made caves. Burial Chambers, probably excavated in the Middle Ages, can also be seen. The taula is one of the most beautiful in Minorca with an unusual reinforced column behind the monument.
Where to find this monument Torretrencada can be reached on the Camí Vell de Maó roadabout 7kms east of Ciutadella.
This is the largest talayotic settlement on Minorca. Located on a hill it consists of a publicarea, with an enclosure containing three talaiots. It is thought that this could have beenthe place where people gathered for their ceremonies. This prehistoric site is at the highest pointof the hill andincludes an area of taulas with fallen capitals. Archaeologists have establishedthat this settlement was inhabited for many centuries and continued to be so after the Roman period.
Where to find this Monument :- Torre d’en Galmés can be reached from the Alaiorto Son Bou road.
This is a necropolis formed by a hundred burial caves dug from the cliff sides of the Binidalí and Son Domingo gorges. This necropolis site holds different types of tombs ranging from the Bronze Talayotic (1200-750 BC) with its simple artificial cave rooms, to the Iron Age caves (750-123 BC) with larger and more complex chambers containing Altars or Chapels.
Where to find this Monument Cales Coves are reached from the road from Sant Climent to Cala en Porter. Turn left at Kms 8.5 and follow the rough sloping path which leads to this prehistoric site.
1. Prehistoric Menorca: Trepucó
Today only small fragments of the city walls of Trepucó are preserved. This Talayotic township was abandoned during the second Punic war and the fragments of the wall and two square towers in the west wall are all that remain of its former glory. At its peak the township covered about 5,000 square meters, and was enclosed by the defence walls. Here you will find Menorca's largest remaining Taula which was the centre of worship in Trepucó. There are also five talayotic houses each different in style and two talayots. The most spectacular comprises a circular basis similar to a star. The other talayot is smaller in size and fixed to the wall of the settlement.
Where to find this prehistoric site: Trepucó Road, Maó. (Mahon)
2. Prehistoric Menorca: Talatí de Dalt
Talatí de Dalt appears to have been inhabited for some time after the Bronze Age. There isevidence that it was a thriving community between 400 and 200 BC when the PunicCivilization traded with the talayotic tribes around the Balearic Islands.
Talatí de Dalt has many unusual monuments, an elliptical-base conicaltalayot, a leaning taula, and a dwelling area of houses with radial flagstoneroofs resting on columns.
Where to find this prehistoric village Along the main road from Mao to Ciutadellatake the left turning at the Kms 4 sign.
3. Prehistoric Menorca: Es Fornàs de Torrelló
At this site the most spectacular and well preserved monument is a Talayot. It has an unusual doorway topped with a monolith lintel. Excavations have discovered houses in front of the Talayot together with signs of the existence of a bronze forge.
There is also a paleo-Christian church, oriented in an easterly direction. There you can see a Roman mosaic floor divided into three tapestries featuring different period
Where to find this prehistoric site - Kms 3.5 on the road between Maó and Sant Climent. Turn to the right and head towards Torelló Vell.
4. Prehistoric Menorca: The Naveta des Tudons
The Naveta des Tudons is a late Bronze Age funeral monument. Built from large stone blocks it resembles an upturned boat, and hence its name. Continuing with the boat simile the stern contains a doorway, which opens into a square hall. Along with the bodies of the dead were left offerings such as bronze or china figures.
Where to find this prehistoric monumentKms 40 on the road between Maó and Ciutadella
5. Prehistoric Menorca: Son Catlar
Son Catlar is a prehistoric town dating from the pre-talayótic period. It is believed to have thrived and prospered right up to the end of the Roman era. It is the only prehistoric town in Menorca which has retainedits defence wall. The wall is nine hundred metres long with six turrets and a bastion. Within the wall are the remains of a taula, five talayots and other buildings.
Where to find this prehistoric town From Ciutadella head south for about 8kmstake the Sant Joan de Missa road, towards the Son Saura beaches.
6. Prehistoric Menorca: Torrellafuda
This one of the most attractive setting for a prehistoric site. Within the site are talayots, a cave, a taula and the distinctive remains of dwelling houses. The town was once encircled by a wall. From the ruins of the wall its original height can easily be gauged.
Where to find this prehistoric town Close to Kms 37 on the Maó to Ciutadella Road.
7. Prehistoric Menorca: Torretrencada
This prehistoric town existed until the end of the Roman period. A taula and a talayot are preserved along with some man-made caves. Burial Chambers, probably excavated in the Middle Ages, can also be seen. The taula is one of the most beautiful in Minorca with an unusual reinforced column behind the monument.
Where to find this monument Torretrencada can be reached on the Camí Vell de Maó roadabout 7kms east of Ciutadella.
8. Prehistoric Menorca: Torre d´en Galmés
This is the largest talayotic settlement on Minorca. Located on a hill it consists of a publicarea, with an enclosure containing three talaiots. It is thought that this could have beenthe place where people gathered for their ceremonies. This prehistoric site is at the highest pointof the hill andincludes an area of taulas with fallen capitals. Archaeologists have establishedthat this settlement was inhabited for many centuries and continued to be so after the Roman period.
Where to find this Monument :- Torre d’en Galmés can be reached from the Alaiorto Son Bou road.
9. Prehistoric Menorca: Calas Coves
This is a necropolis formed by a hundred burial caves dug from the cliff sides of the Binidalí and Son Domingo gorges. This necropolis site holds different types of tombs ranging from the Bronze Talayotic (1200-750 BC) with its simple artificial cave rooms, to the Iron Age caves (750-123 BC) with larger and more complex chambers containing Altars or Chapels.
Where to find this Monument Cales Coves are reached from the road from Sant Climent to Cala en Porter. Turn left at Kms 8.5 and follow the rough sloping path which leads to this prehistoric site.
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