Hiking in Talayotic Minorca

DAY 1: Route to Torretrencada from Ciutadella

Today you will visit the village of Torretrencada, a unique archaeological site with a taula structure that seems to emerge from the earth itself. Start your adventure in the new cemetery of Ciutadella, from where you will leave towards the unique Talayotic settlement of Torretrencada. This 13-kilometre walk (round trip) will take about 4 hours, including time to explore the site.

The route follows the Camí Vell de Ciutadella, a rural road that was once the main connection route to Ferreries. Surrounded by dry stone walls and unspoilt nature, this road winds through traditional farmland and cows grazing peacefully in the island's green meadows. The peace is absolute, interrupted only by birdsong and the sound of the wind rustling in the trees. Although this road is shared with road traffic, don't worry: cars are few and the area is safe for hikers.

The Torretrencada site is about 6.5 kilometres from the starting point. There you will find a Talayotic settlement which, although partly hidden by time, continues to reveal the secrets of its ancient inhabitants. It houses a circular talayot, which was once the defensive heart of the settlement, although it is now partially hidden by piles of stones. 

The taula enclosure is the most outstanding feature of Torretrencada. There you can find a spectacular taula with a peculiar reinforcing pilaster on its back face, a unique detail on the island. Although the walls of the enclosure have mostly disappeared, part of the façade is hidden inside an ancient dry stone wall, a silent witness to the passing of the centuries. You can also see the foundations of possible circular houses, which offer an intriguing insight into how the ancient Talayotic people lived.

The settlement also has hypogeum and a hypostyle hall and several buildings for collecting and storing water, a fascinating testimony to how these communities managed key resources such as water.

Lastly, in the village enclosure you will discover a group of tombs excavated in the rock, which are not prehistoric but indicate that Torretrencada was inhabited until medieval times, until the Catalan conquest of 1287.

Near this site is the Talayotic settlement of Torrellafuda and the emblematic Naveta des Tudons, which reveals that this area was probably home to a population of considerable size. However, to reach them, you will have to take the Me-1 road, which carries heavy traffic compared to the romantic Camí Vell. Although the route along the Me-1 is less scenic, it is worth it for the opportunity to explore other archaeological treasures of the island, further enriching your immersion in Minorca's fascinating megalithic history.

DAY 2: Son Mercer de Baix from Ferreries

Your second day of the tour takes you to the naviform settlement of Son Mercer de Baix, the best known in Minorca. You will begin your day at Plaça Espanya in Ferreries, from where you will start a 10-kilometre round trip to this important prehistoric site. The trip will take about 3 hours in total, including the visit to the monument.

Head towards the Son Mercer path, a rural trail that will immerse you in a bucolic and peaceful landscape, surrounded by dry stone walls and green meadows. This quiet and beautiful setting is ideal for enjoying the rural landscape of Minorca at its best.

When you reach the naviform settlement of Son Mercer de Baix, you will discover a settlement that was inhabited between the Early Bronze Age (1,400 BC) and the Talayotic period (1,000 BC). This village, strategically located in the upper part of the Son Fideu ravine, offers a natural environment of great scenic value. In its time, the ravine served both as a natural boundary and as a means of communication with the sea.

The complex is made up of several rooms, the most outstanding of which is the Cova des Moro, an apsidal construction that conserves part of its original roof. This structure, supported by three stone columns that widen towards the roof, was long considered to be a funerary naveta. It was not until the archaeologist María Luisa Serra studied these structures that it was recognised as a dwelling. 

In addition, three other smaller navetas and what appears to be a small bronze smelting workshop are found in the settlement, suggesting that the community was involved in metallurgy. During the excavations, a bronze ingot, slag and crucibles were found, confirming the importance of this activity in the life of the settlement.

Day 3: From Torre d'en Galmés to Calescoves along Camí de Cavalls

On this day, you will enter one of the most fascinating routes in Minorca, where ancient history and nature intertwine to create a hiking itinerary like few others on the island. Today's route covers about 20 kilometres round trip and will take you from the imposing site of Torre d'en Galmés to the spectacular necropolis of Calescoves, following part of the historic Camí de Cavalls.

Start at the car park of the Torre d'en Galmés site, one of the largest and most important Talayotic settlements on the island. In its 4.5 hectares, you can explore the monumental structures of an ancient Talayotic settlement that was inhabited for centuries, from the Bronze Age to the Roman domination. The houses and their impressive talayots, circular defensive stone constructions that offer an unequalled panoramic view over the south coast of Minorca, are outstanding. You'll also be amazed by the sophisticated water channelling system, a testament to the genius of the island's inhabitants in harnessing the island's natural resources.

As you continue along the Camí de Ses Torres, you will stop at the Dolmen de Ses Roques Llises and Na Comerma de sa Garita, both of which belong to the Torre d'en Galmés archaeological site. These megalithic monuments, though less well known than the Tower itself, are fascinating in their own right, showing the funerary and ritual practices of the island's prehistoric communities.

After exploring these vestiges, take the Camí de Cavalls, a historic path that surrounds Minorca and which in this part crosses the heart of the Cala en Porter ravine. This section will take you through places of breathtaking scenic beauty and you will be able to see how man has used the fertile land of the ravines for agriculture. The path winds between vertical walls where flora and fauna fight for a safe space, creating a unique ecosystem.

Finally, turn off the Camí de Cavalls to go to Calescoves, one of the most impressive necropolises in Minorca. There, in the rocky walls surrounding the cove, there are more than a hundred burial caves carved into the rock, used from the Bronze Age to Roman times.

This place was also an important natural harbour in ancient times, so you can imagine how these caves welcomed the dead and how this impressive landscape has been shaped both by nature and by the hand of Minorca's ancestors.

Calescoves is an ideal final destination for the day, where you can rest and enjoy the stunning natural surroundings, before setting off on your return trip.

Day 4: Explore the settlement of Cornia Nou, the talayot of Torelló and the settlement of Talatí de Dalt.

On this day, you will immerse yourself in the history of Minorca through three fascinating monuments: Cornia Nou, with its imposing talayot that dominated the life of the settlement; the Talayot de Torelló, a monumental structure unique on the island, and Talatí de Dalt, one of the most emblematic sites in Minorca, with its mysterious inclined taula. Each of these sites offers a window to the past, revealing how the island's ancient inhabitants lived and worshipped.

This route is short, just over 8 kilometres round trip. However, it combines a visit to several important sites of Talayotic Minorca with a pleasant walk along the rural paths of the east of Minorca. 

To start this adventure, leave your car at the industrial estate in Maó and walk along the Camí Vell de Sant Climent to Cornia Nou. The village is just a few minutes' walk away and is notable for its imposing central talayot. This monument is one of the largest in Minorca and was a centre of community activity more than 3000 years ago. Around the talayot, you can see the remains of ancient dwellings and warehouses, as well as a taula sanctuary, a ritual structure exclusive to the Talayotic culture, which will enable you to imagine the religious ceremonies that took place there.

After exploring Cornia Nou, continue along the Camí Vell de Sant Climent and Massupta Vell to reach the Talayot de Torelló. There, you will marvel at the size and unique architecture of one of Minorca's most impressive talayots. Although much of the site was affected by agriculture and the construction of the airport, two talayots, the remains of a Talayotic dwelling and an clever water collection system are still preserved. 

The great talayot of Torelló is, without a doubt, the jewel of the place. It's the most monumental structure on the island, and is notable for its unique entrance with a lintel at the top, which leads to a small circular room. This unique feature makes it an exceptional example of Minorcan Talayotic architecture.

From there, take the path along the Camí de Torelló and turn off towards the Camí Vell de Alaior. This route avoids the traffic on the main road and takes you directly to Talatí de Dalt, another of Minorca's great Talayotic settlements. This site is known for its emblematic taula, surrounded by mysterious stone pillars. Unlike other taulas, the Talatí taula has a leaning column that rests on the taula itself, giving it a mystical and unique appearance. 

In addition to the taula, you can explore the central talayot, funerary hypogeum and the remains of dwellings that show how the ancient inhabitants of this place lived. Talatí de Dalt is one of the best preserved sites on the island, where each stone tells a story about the daily life, beliefs and customs of a civilisation that left an indelible mark on Minorca and is now a World Heritage Site.

This tour not only connects you with Minorca's prehistoric legacy, but also allows you to enjoy the peace and beauty of its rural paths.