Thursday 11^th September – Mahón, Menorca (Trepucó Settlement)

39:53.543N 4:16.329E

This morning Richard battled with the internet as we have been having trouble uploading the blogs for the last few days – we have managed to get the text up now but the pictures from the fiesta are not there yet.

This afternoon we went to see the Trepucó Settlement, one of the largest settlements of the Talayotic era in the Balearics.  The Talayotic era runs from 1400 BC until 123 BC, ending with the Roman conquest.  I love looking at old stones as Richard remembers from our trip across Ireland, driving along footpaths and trekking across remote fields to see small ancient stones in some very unlikely places. 

Here we only had to go one mile south of Mahón and we were even able to take the local bus part of the way (we had popped into the tourist office to check where it was and the chap said it would be easiest to get the bus just outside the office and ask the driver to drop us off at the cemetery, and then walk from there).

So, once at the cemetery, we walked down a narrow country lane (for ages) following the signs to the site.  It was very hot and humid (in town the temperature was showing on the pharmacy sign as 31 degrees) so it was quite tiring and we were glad we had taken the bus part way.

At the settlement, there are two talaiots (surveillance and territory control towers) that have survived (of the original four), one quite large.  There is also a large taula which is a ‘T’ shaped monument that is thought to be of religious significance, and the remains of houses or domestic areas. 

Also dotted around are the ancient walls of the settlement and there is even a small cave on the way in that you can climb down into; it was full of bluebottles and smelled rather damp and peaty, but very cool compared with the outside heat.

We enjoyed wandering round – we had the place to ourselves – and a very helpful leaflet in English supplied by the nice ladies at the entrance.

Afterwards we walked back to town via another Eroski that we had spotted from the bus and came back to Pyxis for a rest.

Trepucó Settlement

© Pyxis 2008