Menorca, Spain
Undeterred by the north wind, or tramontana, that was blowing strongly today, we went ashore by Zodiac this morning at the west end of the island to the small port town of Ciutadella. From here we set out across the island stopping at sites of interest as we travelled from west to east down the spine of the island. Menorca has been described as an open air museum, reflecting the abundance of historical sites here.
We had an excellent opportunity to experience the rich archaeology of the island at Torralba. Here we could examine fine examples of the some of the 350 talayots and 31 taulas that dot the island. The talayot is the most significant building of Minorcan and Majorcan prehistory and gives its name to a period, beginning in 1500 BC and continuing to the start of the Roman conquest of the Balearic Islands in 123 BC. These dry-stone towers were typically built on high ground with a commanding view of the surrounding countryside and were primarily used as watchtowers. Close to the Torralba talayot stands an impressive taula, a structure that is unique to Menorca. These megalithic structures consist of a rectangular slab of stone set horizontally on a vertical shaft. Excavations around taulas provided evidence that they were the centre of symbolic or religious activity within the settlements.
The Torralba site serves as a strong reminder of the continuous occupation of Menorca over millennia by different cultures. This view of many layers of history was reinforced by our afternoon in the famous port city of Mahon. This port is considered one of the finest natural harbors in the Mediterranean, and we were reminded of the strategic importance of the location and checkered history of this island which at times was controlled by the British and the French before ending up under Spanish control. A late afternoon departure gave excellent views of the fortifications around the harbor entrance as we set a course for our arrival in Sardinia tomorrow.
