In the Pla de Mallorca, you can discover and visit a series of archaeological sites that closely connect the history of the region and our island with the neighboring island of Menorca. One of the most common yet fascinating heritage resources that can be found, and which also writes a fundamental chapter in trying to understand how the settlement of the islands of the surrounding sea, the Mediterranean, must have occurred, is the Talayotic culture.
First, let’s understand what these sites exactly are, or what is known about them today. Talayotic sites are archaeological locations specific to the Balearic Islands—particularly Menorca and Mallorca—that date back to prehistory. They are typically recognizable by the talayots or watchtowers that characterize and give them their name. While there is no consensus on their exact origin, the Talayotic culture is the first evidence of settlement and complex social organization in the Balearic Islands.
Its significance is so great for understanding Mediterranean culture that, since 2023, the Talayots of the neighboring island of Menorca have been included in the
UNESCO World Heritage List. However, as we have pointed out, this is not a unique heritage resource in Menorca; the Talayotic culture is especially significant in the Pla de Mallorca. Let’s review some interesting figures to understand its relevance.
As the Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030 notes, there are 317 Cultural Heritage Sites documented in the Pla de Mallorca, which accounts for more than 15% of the cataloged elements on the entire island. If we take a quick look at the catalog of the Ministry of Culture, most are talayots, prehistoric caves, and other remains of fortifications linked to this culture.
If we consult the Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Council of Mallorca, which manages heritage on the island, the picture is not very different: in the just under 800 km² that make up the Pla de Mallorca region, 232 archaeological sites are cataloged, including BIC (Cultural Interest Sites) and other sites of interest, meaning there is one archaeological site for every 3.5 kilometers of the region’s total area.
This diversity of resources offers countless opportunities to learn more about the original and native culture of the Balearic Islands. To facilitate its discovery, there are already some successful initiatives that we invite you to explore and enjoy in the Pla de Mallorca:
For example, since 2013, Sencelles and, since 2015, Costitx, offer a marked route to visit six Talayotic sites in the Pla de Mallorca in one go, in whatever way you prefer (on foot, horseback, by car, by bike…), featuring important sites like the Sanctuary of Son Corró or the Talayot of Son Fred, two of the most relevant sites in the region and the island.
To organize the visit and learn more: Archaeological Route Sencelles Costitx
Another important site in the Pla de Mallorca region is Son Fornés, excavated since 1975. Today, it has more than 2,200 square meters of documented excavations, revealing a spectacular open-air museum.
To organize the visit and learn more: SON FORNÉS ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
The work to better understand and explain how the settlement of the Pla de Mallorca, Mallorca, and the Balearic Islands occurred through Talayotic culture is still necessary today, as seen with the Talayots of Es Racons in Llubí. Although they had been covered with vegetation until recently, the local council has been working on their recovery since 2018.
The mysteries and certainties of the Talayotic culture are also a driving force and reason to explore our region. Who knows if what is left to be discovered will help us understand in detail how the first inhabitants had the privilege of inhabiting our island.
