Prehistoric Minorca

Minorca's prehistory dates back to the third millennium BC, when the first human communities arrived on the island. Although these early settlers shared characteristics with those of the neighbouring islands and the cultures of the Pyrenees and Languedoc, Minorca's insularity gave rise to a unique cultural development, especially during the second millennium BC.

One of the most emblematic monuments from this period is the Naveta des Tudons, a funerary construction unique to Minorca in the shape of an inverted nave, which has survived to the present day in perfect condition. It is a megalithic construction that housed collective burials, as the remains of a hundred individuals were found inside along with personal objects and funerary offerings. This monument offers a unique window into the rituals and life of the first Minorcan communities.

The 4.5-hectare Talayotic settlement of Torre d'en Galmés is another essential site for understanding the Bronze Age in Minorca. With a strategic location offering views of the south coast, this settlement was a centre of power during its heyday. Its ruins include three talayots, circular houses and a water collection system, all of which are carefully explained to visitors.

Don't miss the settlement of Trepucó, one of the largest on the island, with the remains of a wall and its imposing taula and central talayot, and the necropolis of Cales Coves, with over 100 caves and hypogeum burials dug into the cliffs.