Iron age archaeology in Talayotic Menorca: Spain

16 October 2023 - 5 days for £1,495

The Talayotic Period is the name used to describe a society that existed in the Balearic Islands during the Iron Age. Visit a host of Talayotic archaeological sites on Menorca, the most beautiful Balearic Island, with local archaeologist Elena Sintes Olives, who has worked on many of the sites personally. 

Menorca boasts some of the best archaeology in Europe with some 1,574 sites throughout the island. This wonderful tour takes you to some of the best, as well as more recent sites that reflect periods of more recent occupation. A delightful climate, the charming village of Es Castell and the historic town of Ciutadella will add to the experience.

Menorcan archaeologist Elena is one of the leading experts in the field and she will give evening talks and accompany you throughout the archaeological visits, providing context and insight as you explore well off the tourist map.

Plus, local archaeologist Cristina Bravo Asensio will give a talk on the passing of the Talyotic Period due to the incursion of the Romans and naturist Javier Mendez will show you some of the flora and fauna of the island.

In partnership with Travel Editions

DAY 1: ARRIVE INTO ES CASTELL

On arrival transfer to the village of Es Castell and check in to the Hotel Agamenon for your first three nights. The village of Es Castell is full of history and charm and provides a good base for our first few days of the tour. 

In the evening enjoy a welcome drink and talk from accompanying archaeologist Elena Sintes Olives ‘Talayotic Menorca, the prehistory of the island’, followed by dinner with wine at the hotel.

DAY 2: TORRE D’EN GALMES, COMERMA DE SA GARITA MONUMENT AND MENORCA MUSEUM

The village of Torre d’En Galmés is the best-preserved Talayotic settlement on the Balearic Islands and the most widely studied on Menorca. It is particularly noted for its cercles or post-Talayotic houses. 

Next, you’ll visit the Comerma de Sa Garita monument, a great enigma of prehistoric Menorcan architecture, but which historians can only guess at its function and chronology. After free time in the capital Mahon, you’ll visit the Menorca Museum which houses many unique artifacts that describe the whole of Menorca’s history under one roof.

DAY 3: TALYOTIC REMAINS IN CORNIA NOU, TALATI, RAFAL RUBI, TAULA DE TORRALBA, TORELLO AND ES FORNAS

Your first visit of the morning is to the Cornia Nou, where a team of archaeologists have been carrying out excavations since 2007 and is one of the most impressive talayots on the island. The excavations have unearthed numerous tools used for food processing and it is believed the site was used as a centralised food production point for the entire settlement. 

Next, you will visit the Talayotic village of Talati de Dalt, set in beautiful natural surroundings and memorable for its Stonehenge-like monument. You will then visit the Navetas of Rafal Rubí, built on a monumental scale, with huge blocks of stone. Your final visit of the morning is to Taula de Torralba de’n Salort, one of the best-known and most visited sites on the island. 

After free time in 13th-century whitewashed town of Sant Climent, you will visit some of the most impressive talayots on the island, starting with Torello, said to be the tallest and certainly one of the best preserved on the island, and the Palaeo-Christian Basilica of Es Fornàs. 

This evening you will enjoy another talk from Elena, ‘Menorca, conquest after conquest (903 – 1802)’, followed by dinner with wine at the hotel.

DAY 4: SANTO TOMAS NATURE WALK, ES MIGJORN AND THE CAVALLERIA LIGHTHOUSE

The forests, coasts and wetlands of Menorca are particularly beautiful, so this morning you will join local guide Javier Mendez for a nature walk to Santo Tomas. The walk of around 3 miles will take you through reed beds and marshes where you will be able to see lots of waterfowl and wildlife. 

After relaxing in the sleepy hamlet of Es Migjorn, you will transfer to the Cavalleria lighthouse on the northernmost point of the island. There are wonderful views of the northern coast of Menorca from here as well as local bird life and endemic plants. 

Later in the afternoon you will travel to the port town of Ciutadella and check into the Port Ciutadella hotel. It’s known for its Old Quarter with many distinctive buildings spanning the 13th to 19th centuries. There will be an early evening visit to the Ciutadella Museum which contains ethnological and archaeological artifacts from the surrounding area and its caves.

DAY 5: TALAYOTIC REMAINS IN SON CATLAR, MONTEFFI, NAVETAS D’ES TUDONS AND CALA MORELL

Today is packed with archaeological treasures, starting with the walled Talayotic village of Son Catlar, then the talayots and cave of Monteffi.

Later in the morning, explore the funerary chamber of Navetas d’Es Tudons, a remarkable megalithic chamber tomb. It is an iconic attraction used to promote the island and features in history and social science textbooks of Spanish schools.

After some free time in Ciutadella, you will visit the Necropolis of Cala Morell, a key site in the understanding of Menorcan prehistory. The caves were carved out of the walls of a small gorge, some of which may date back to 2100 BC, with many still in use well into Roman times.

In the evening, local archaeologist Cristina Bravo Asensio will give a talk ‘The Talayotic world meets the Romans: Conquest and Romanisation of Menorca’, followed by a farewell dinner at the hotel with wine

DAY 6: TALAYOTIC VILLAGE OF TORRELLAFUDE PLUS ES MERCADAL VILLAGE, EL TORO MOUNTAIN AND THE REMAINS OF SANT VICENC D’ALCAIDUS

After checking out you will visit the Talayotic village of Torrellafuda, which was inhabited from 1000 BC until the end of the Roman occupation and stands in a shady old wild-olive grove of particular beauty. Followed by a walk to the nearby site at Sant Agusti Vell.