fortified menorca
DESCRIPTION
Menorca’s key position in the Eastern Mediterranean has always been acknowledged and coveted by different cultures. There were battles on the coast and inland, from the Barbary pirate invasions to the British and French occupations. The evidence lies in the military network of forts and watchtowers – the Castle of San Antonio in Fornells, the Fortress of la Mola in Mahón, 14 watchtowers linking the coastline - eleven built by the English and three by the Spanish - Fort Marlborough or the San Felipe castle in Es Castell. A route which also takes us to the Military Museum in this town, where the collection and variety of documents, plans, maps, uniforms and models give us a clear vision of Menorca’s many historical events.TRANSCRIPT
Menorca’s strategic location in the middle of the western
Mediterranean made it vulnerable to pirate invasions; it also
attracted the attention of various European powers that saw the
island as a key vantage point from which to control the entire
Mediterranean area.From medieval times, shortly after Alfonso III of
Aragón retook the island from the Muslims, towers were being built
by rural landowners and used as places where the inhabitants could
take refuge from pirate attacks. The best preserved medieval towers
are those of En Quart, Saura, S'Argoçam and Binifadet.The military
situation in the Mediterranean in the 16th century was one of
constant conflict between the Spanish and Ottoman empires. As well
as battles between the two armies, the most widespread tactic
employed was the “razzia”, involving a raid or surprise attack on
points along the enemy coastline with the intention of causing as
much damage as possible. The islanders’ response to this constant
threat of danger was to build a network of coastal watchtowers and
sea defence towers. If the enemy was spotted, a fire would be lit so
the flames could be seen during the night and smoke signals would be
used during daylight hours. The best preserved watchtower is Torret
tower.
Modern era defensive structures were first built on Menorca
following the attacks launched by Barbarossa on Maó (1535) and by
Mustafà Pialí on Ciutadella (1558). These o!ensives prompted Felipe
II to build the fort of Sant Felip, reinforce the old medieval walls in
Ciutadella and Maó with bastions to house artillery, and also to build
the defence tower of Sant Nicolau. In the 18th century Menorca was
involved in historical events taking place in the Mediterranean and in
the sharing out of sovereignty and territory between the major
European powers. As a result of the War of Succession to the
Spanish throne, the island was handed over to the British (the 1713
Treaty of Utrecht). Menorca was British for nearly a hundred years,
except for a few brief periods under French and Spanish rule.
Building activity consisted mainly of positioning defence towers
along the coast, three built by the Spanish and eleven by the British,
to prevent enemy troops disembarking. Major military construction
projects included renovating and extending the castle of Sant Felip
and building Marlborough fort. Finally, in 1802, Menorca was
handed back to the Spanish crown (Treaty of Amiens). Carlos III
blew up the castles on Menorca and, as a result, the island was left
with no fortifications until Isabel II built the fortress of La Mola.
CAPÍTULO 2CASTLES AND FORTRESSES
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MARLBOROUGH FORT
DON’T MISS THIS
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OPEN TO VISITORS
Location: Cala de Sant Esteve
Town: Es Castell
Owned by: Consell Insular de Menorca (Government of Menorca)
Managed by: Fundació Destí Menorca
Telephone: 902 929 015
Web: www.menorca.es
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39º51’47,69’’ N 4º18’05,67’’ E
MARLBOROUGH FORT
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Fort on the south side of Cove Cala de Sant Esteve. Built by the
British between 1720 and 1726 to protect the southern sector of the
castle of Sant Felip and in the event of a siege, to prevent enemy
batteries being positioned on the northern side of the hill overlooking
the high ground where Sant Felip stood. The fort underwent two
sieges. In 1756 it was besieged by the Duke of Richelieu, who seized
the island from the British for seven years, and in 1781, by the Spanish
army commanded by the Duke of Crillón, who conquered the island
and returned it temporarily to Spanish sovereignty. It was demolished
on the orders of Carlos III only a few months after General Murray’s
surrender to Spanish troops. It was subsequently rebuilt when
Menorca fell to the British once again in 1798. During this period the
tower of En Penjat (the hanged man’s tower) was built on the hill
known as En Penjat or “del Turco” to prevent it being stormed during a
siege, as had previously occurred during the French and Spanish
attacks.
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Most of the fort has been excavated out of the solid rock and almost
seems to be part of the landscape. The entrance gallery, the
counterscarp gallery surrounding the moat and the countermines that
radiate out from it, were intended to protect the central enclosure and
its four artillery pieces positioned on semi-circular platforms.
The technology used in the exhibition has been designed to be in
keeping with the monument and invites visitors to take a journey back
in time to see what life was like in the fort, how the occupants lived
through the sieges and understand the history of Menorca and Europe
in the 18th century.
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CASTLE OF SANT FELIP
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OPEN TO VISITORS
Location: Carretera de Sant Felip s/n
Town: Es Castell
Owned by: Ministry of Defence
Managed by: Consorcio del Museo Militar de Menorca y Patrimonio
Histórico Militar (Consortium of the Military Museum of Menorca
and Historic Military Heritage)
Telephone: 971 362 100
Web: www.museomilitarmenorca.com
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39º51’57,44’’ N 4º18’19,61’’ E
CASTLE OF SANT FELIP
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The castle of Sant Felip stands on the entrance to the Maó Harbour.
This Italian style bastioned fortification was built by the Spanish in the
mid-16th century. This type of fortification typically consisted of a
series of architectural elements arranged concentrically in a star
pattern. The original Spanish fort (square shaped with four bastions)
was later extended to include a series of buildings at ground level
together with underground fighting and mining galleries. The castle
reached the height of its architectural and tactical powers in the
mid-18th century. During this period, the complex was one of the
most superb and impressive of its kind in Europe. The Sant Felip
cannons (363 in total) were aimed at all four compass points, sweeping
the surrounding area over a maximum range of two kilometres. The
island's defence was completed by other strongholds: Sant Carles (to
the SE), Marlborough (to the SW), Felipet (to the E, on the Illa del
Llatzeret, Llatzeret Island) and the forts of Argyle and Anstruther (to
the NE). The fort was also equipped with all kinds of other weaponry
(gunpowder magazines, storerooms, hospital, guard details,
watchtowers, kitchens and bakeries). The fort of Sant Felip was
besieged twice.
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The first time in 1756 by the French and the second time in 1781 by
the Spanish. It was demolished in 1782 after the Spanish siege by order
of Carlos III and was rebuilt years later by the British before being
destroyed definitively by the Spanish in 1802, after they recovered
Menorca under the Treaty of Amiens.
Very little remains at ground level but you can still walk along the
castle’s impressive underground galleries, which make for very
atmospheric night-time tours that are often dramatized to re-enact
scenes from past events, bringing history alive for today’s visitors.
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FORTRESS OF LA MOLA
DON’T MISS THIS
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FORTRESS OF LA MOLAOPEN TO VISITORS
Location: Carretera de La Mola (M-3)
Town: Maó
Owned by: Consorcio del Museo Militar de Menorca y Patrimonio
Histórico Militar (Consortium of the Military Museum of Menorca
and Historic Military Heritage)
Managed by: Cordial Hoteles
Telephone: 971 364 040 / 686 659 400
Web: www.fortalesalamola.com
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39º51’57,44’’ N 4º18’19,61’’ E
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En los años 40 del siglo XIX, los intereses coloniales de Francia y Gran Bretaña chocaban. La ruta norte-sur francesa (Francia-Argelia) se cruzaba con la británica (Gibraltar-India). Casualmente el punto de cruce era el puerto de Mahón. Ante el temor de que quisieran recuperar Menorca, que en ese momento se encontraba sin fortificaciones, debido a la demolición de la fortaleza de San Felipe por Carlos III (1782), se inició la construcción de la fortaleza de Isabel II en la Mola del puerto de Mahón. Es un ejemplo de fortificación alemana de sistema atenazado que había sustituido al antiguo sistema abaluartado del castillo de San Felipe. Sin embargo, su traza es irregular, pues los lados de la tenaza no son iguales. Esto se debe a que se aprovecharon los cimientos de una antigua fortificación británica de la última dominación inglesa (1798-1802), el «fuerte de la reina Ana». La fortaleza dispone de un amplio y profundo foso con ángulos entrantes con cañoneras. En su parte central, el Hornabeque, reforzaba la defensa de acceso terrestre a la fortaleza. La artillería de los distintos niveles de fuego, defendían el foso, con los niveles inferiores, y los accesos terrestres de la península y marítimos, con los niveles superiores. Cabe destacar la galería aspillerada, un corredor para fusilería de casi medio kilómetro de largo, que defendía el foso y el camino cubierto. La perfecta ejecución de la cantería, escaleras de caracol, gárgolas, escudos y, sobre todo, las bóvedas de arista de las casamatas, han causado la admiración de muchos arquitectos que han visitado la fortaleza.
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Para solucionar el problema de abastecimiento de agua en caso de sitio
construyeron una red de cisternas y canales de conducción de las aguas
pluviales que eran recogidas en grandes aljibes, siendo previamente
drenadas y liberadas de impurezas en varios decantaderos.
La fortaleza de Isabel II es una de las últimas de aquella calidad.
Paradógicamente, a su terminación, tras 20 años (1850-1870) trabajos
y penurias, ya había quedado obsoleta ante el impetuoso desarrollo de
las nuevas armas ofensivas, «revolución artillera», al avance de la
marina de guerra.
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CASTLE OF SANT ANTONI
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CASTLE OF SANT ANTONIOPEN TO VISITORS
Location: C/ Castell s/n. Fornells
Town: Es Mercadal
Owned and managed by: Es Mercadal Town Council
Telephone: 971 375 002
Web: www.aj-esmercadal.org
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The castle of Sant Antoni is the earliest trace of the village on the bay
of Fornells, a strategic spot on the island that grew alongside the fort.
Work on the castle began in 1637, during the reign of Felipe IV, and
was completed in 1671. It was built on a rectangular layout. Each of the
four angles had four bastions named after the four evangelists. Inside
there was a modest chapel, storerooms, a large water tank, living
quarters for troops and the quartermaster’s o#ce. In the centre was a
small parade ground.
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The fort was demolished in 1782, shortly after the island was returned
to Spanish rule, on the orders of Carlos III. The four bastions and the
s e c o n d fl o o r w e r e d e s t r o y e d .
The fort has now been restored and a number of underground galleries
plus the remains of one of the bastions have been preserved.
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CASTLE OF SANTA ÁGUEDA
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CASTLE OF SANTA ÁGUEDA
OPEN TO VISITORSLocation: Camí dels Alocs, Carretera Maó – Ciutadella.
Town: FerreriesOwned and managed by: Consell Insular de Menorca (Government of
Menorca)Telephone: 902 929 015
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In 903 the Balearic Islands became part of the Muslim world when
Issam al-Khawlaní annexed them to the Caliphate of Cordoba. The
Catalan troops under the command of Alfonso III disembarked in the
Maó Harbour on 17 January 1287. Hundreds of Menorca's inhabitants
abandoned their fields and took refuge with the Muslim leader in the
castle of Santa Águeda, where they surrendered on 21 January.
Between the 10th and 13th centuries, one of the biggest and most
important defensive complexes of Al-Andalus was built on the summit
of Santa Águeda mountain. The castle gave panoramic views over
almost the entire districts of Hasmaljuda (the municipal area of
Ciutadella) and Benissaida (Es Mercadal and Ferreries), most of the
north-west coast and the capital city of Medina al Yazira (Ciutadella).
The fortification consists of three enclosures covering a total area of
6.5 hectares, 1,800 metres of outer walls and 37 towers, around ten of
which still survive in reasonably good condition. The oldest towers are
rounded and the newest are square (and were often built to strengthen
the round towers). The enclosures were self-contained but were
connected with each other. The first two were built around the 10th
century and were renovated over successive centuries, while the third
probably dates from the 13th century.
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The purpose of the castle was to defend the territory and especially
the ports on the northern coast. The choice of location would have
taken into account the proximity of the seat of political power,
providing a place of refuge for the authorities if the need arose. The
enclosures were large enough to provide shelter for people coming in
from the surrounding countryside. As well as being a permanent
barracks, the castle was likely to be a well-populated town.
During the early years of the Catalan conquest, the castle continued
to operate as one of the island’s main military fortresses. Despite this,
by the 14th century, fortified town centres open to the sea were
becoming more popular and so the castle gradually fell into disuse.
After the conquest, some of its buildings were maintained, such as the
church, which was eventually converted into a country home; later, on
the north side, the stable, the threshing floor and a water tank,
possibly already used in Muslim times, were also kept in good repair.
The castle can be reached by following the Camí dels Alocs until you
get to the old rural schools. Then, continue on foot, passing what looks
like a Roman path, but in fact dates from medieval times.
CAPÍTULO 3TOWERS
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TOWER OF EN PENJAT
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TOWER OF EN PENJATNOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Location: Cala de Sant EsteveTown: Es Castell
Owned and managed by: Consorcio del Museo Militar de Menorca yPatrimonio Histórico Militar (Consortium of the Military Museum of
Menorca and Historic Military Heritage)Telephone: 971 362 100
Web: www.museomilitarmenorca.com
39º51’34,02’’ N 4º18’14,63’’ E
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A large coastal defence tower built in 1798 by order of General Stuart,
conqueror and Governor of Menorca. The tower was built on the hill
known as En Penjat (the hanged man) or “el Turco”. At first, it was
called the Governor’s tower, then En Penjat (“the hanged man” in the
Menorcan language).
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The purpose of the tower was to defend the harbour entrance while
the castle of Sant Felip was being rebuilt. When the castle was
completed it was supposed to complement Fort Marlborough to
prevent siege batteries being positioned facing the fort in the event of
an attack. The tower is a typical example of its kind, with the ground
floor being used as gunpowder magazine and for storing spare parts,
the middle floor for the troops and the upper terrace for artillery
(cannons) and immediate defence. Over the original doorway, which
was on the middle floor, the parapet surrounding the terrace rested on
five corbels that left openings (loopholes) from which guns would be
fired to defend the port and prevent the enemy from storming the
tower.
The tower also had an earth moat around it. Attached to the moat
were two dry stone walls, one running towards the sea and the other
towards Fort Marlborough, about 500 metres away to the north. The
wall was a link to the fort and a cannon was positioned on the section
closest to the tower to protect this vital connection.
Restoration work carried out in 1989 removed the alterations made to
the tower in 1946, when it was used as the goniometer position for the
Vickers 38.1 artillery guns on La Mola (the goniometer is an
instrument that would have been used to measure the angle of fire).
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TOWER OF SON GANXO
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TOWER OF SON GANXOTOUR OF THE OUTSIDE (CURRENTLY USED PRIVATELY AS
A YOUTH HOSTEL)Location: Punta Prima-Son Ganxo Residential Complex
Town: Sant LluísOwned by: Consell Insular de Menorca
Managed by: Institut de la Joventut de Menorca (Menorca Youth Institute)
Telephone: 971 365 073Web: www.injovemenorca.com
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A Spanish coastal defence tower, also known as the tower of Punta
Prima. It is similar in size and appearance to the tower of Alcalfar, as
they were both built at the same time, in 1786 when the island was
under Spanish rule after being taken back from the British and while
the Count of Cifuentes was Governor of Menorca.
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Standing on the south-eastern tip of Menorca, around 7 km from the
Maó Harbour and facing the Illa de l’Aire (De l’Aire Island), the tower
dominates the low-lying coast and the nearby beach is the perfect
place for enemy troops to disembark. The tower was used for guarding
the cost up to the Cove Cala Canutells.
Like all coastal defence towers, it has three floors, with an entrance
doorway on the middle floor accessed by a movable stepladder. The
entrance was defended from above with riflemen positioned on the
machicolation that juts out from the upper terrace. Nowadays the
entrance is on the ground floor via a doorway cut into the wall years
after it was built. The terrace is reached from the middle floor via a
spiral staircase set into the wall and opening out into the machicolation
chamber.
It is currently owned by the Institut de la Joventut de Menorca, who
uses it as a youth hostel.
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TOWER OF ALCALFAR
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TOWER OF ALCALFARTOUR OF THE OUTSIDE
Location: Carretera Sant Lluís – Alcalfar.Town: Sant Lluís
Owned and managed by: Sant Lluís Town CouncilTelephone: 971 151 084
Web: www.ajsantlluis.org
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This Spanish coastal defence tower was restored a few years ago. It has a conical shape and three floors, visible from the outside by the projections that surround the tower like a girdle. The walls were built from mortar and are covered by masonry on the outside.The ground floor housed a small gunpowder magazine and a water tank. This small inside area was covered by a semi-circular dome, which is the roof of the middle floor. The spiral staircase leading up to the terrace from the middle floor is set into the wall of the tower.
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The machicolation is positioned over the entrance door as defence. The original door is the one on the middle floor. The entrance door on the ground floor was opened up many years after the tower was built. The terrace varies little from those on English towers. It is surrounded by a parapet and the area used for the artillery piece (cannon) is o!-centre because of the space taken up by the machicolation, so the scope available for gunfire is limited to 180 degrees, coinciding with the lowest section of the parapet. On this terrace you can still see where the oven for “red cannon balls” once stood. These projectiles were heated until they were red-hot, and then fired on ships with wooden hulls and decks, where they would be embedded and set fire to the ship.
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TOWER OF SA MESQUIDA
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TOWER OF SA MESQUIDATOUR OF THE OUTSIDE
Location: Sa Mesquida Residential ComplexTown: Maó
Owned and managed by: Private
39º54’50,06’’ N 4º17’10,35’’ E
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This British coastal defence tower stands on a high rock in the centre of the bay and has a very large, reinforced machicolation, capable of repelling an attack on the tower from land to the west. The gallery is higher than the terrace parapet and the many loopholes enabled riflemen to fire on attackers to great e!ect. This arrangement is what makes this tower unique. This one and the tower of Castellar in Ciutadella are the two exceptions to the design produced by Lt. Col. Pasley normally used by the British. Its remaining features are similar to those of other towers on the island. The middle floor has collapsed, but the spiral staircase set into the wall and leading to the upper platform still survives. The upper platform was prepared to house a revolving cannon that would be fired on ships entering the cove. The vertical masonry reinforcements are especially clear on the south side of the tower, which is in a very poor state on the outside. The original doorway is in the defensive gallery described earlier. A later door was opened on the ground floor and a water tank was dug out on the ground floor.At the bottom of the tower is a paved artillery platform with a barbette to protect a heavy field gun. Behind the tower and the battery is an enclosure with living accommodation for the troops and the guards, together with a sentry post. Nowadays both the tower and the enclosure are privately owned as living accommodation.
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TOWER OF RAMBLA
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TOWER OF RAMBLANOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Location: Facing the Illa d’en Colom (En Colom Island). Albufera des Grau Nature Park
Town: MaóOwned and managed by: Coastal authority
39º57’46,26’’ N 4º15’54,52’’ E
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This British coastal defence tower stands on the Rambla headland,
which separates the Cove Cala de sa Torreta from the Cove Cala des
Tamarells. It was built between 1799 and 1802. It is conical, made of
roughly hewn stone and mortar on a base. Two rings of local “mares”
limestone, an upper and a lower, jut out slightly from the wall, marking
the terrace parapet.
Like all these towers, it consists of a ground floor, middle floor and a
fighting terrace. The ground floor was a storeroom for supplies,
gunpowder and spares. The garrison accommodation was on the middle
floor. It consisted of a single octagonal room with a vaulted ceiling. It
was linked to the terrace by a chimney. The ground floor housed a
square water tank dug into the ground. The original doorway, as usual,
was rectangular with a slight arch over the top and was defended by an
upper machicolation supported by four corbels, with loopholes
between the corbels through which guns could be fired. The terrace is
circular with an opening in the parapet next to the machicolation,
probably used for pulling up the cannon and the projectiles.
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The tower has been preserved in its original layout except for the
doorway cut into the wall at ground floor level. It has not been restored
and the outside surface of the wall is in very poor condition; the
masonry seams no longer have their original mortar and the building is
in danger of collapse, so it is advisable not to go too close or venture
inside.
Nearby are the remains of a building once used as accommodation for
dragoons, cavalry soldiers who carried forecasts of foggy weather and
patrolled the blind spots not covered from the tower.
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TOWER OF SANT FELIPET
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TOWER OF SANT FELIPETNOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Location: Illa del Llatzeret (Llatzeret Island), Maó HarbourTown: Maó
Owned by: Ministry of DefenceManaged by: Consorcio del Museo Militar de Menorca y Patrimonio
Histórico MilitarTelephone: 971 362 100
Web: www.museomilitarmenorca.com
39º52’20,53’’ N 4º18’22,96’’ E
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The tower was built in 1798 at the entrance to the Maó Harbour, on the westernmost tip of Illa del Llatzeret, an area that all shipping entering the harbour had to pass through. It was built on the site of the old stronghold of Sant Felipet, which was demolished in 1782 by Carlos III.
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This large British coastal defence tower has three floors, like all the towers built during this period: the lower floor, for the gunpowder magazine, provisions and spares; the middle floor for troops’ living quarters and with the tower entrance doorway, connected to the terrace via a spiral staircase, and with the lower floor via a trapdoor. The terrace, which was circular and surrounded by a parapet, had a machicolation with loopholes for firing on anyone trying to force their way into the tower.There is a lower artillery placement near the tower, on the western tip of the old fort.In the late 19th century two buildings were added adjoining the tower. They had barrel vaulted ceilings and were used for storing material for the underwater defence of the Maó Harbour. Later they were converted to house projectors for illuminating the coast at night.
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TOWER OF LA MOLA
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TOUR OF THE OUTSIDE
Location: Cala Teulera. Carretera de La Mola
Town: Maó
Owned by: Ministry of Defence
Managed by: Consorcio del Museo Militar de Menorca y Patrimonio
Histórico Militar (Consortium of the Military Museum of Menorca
and Historic Military Heritage)
Telephone: 971 362 100
Web: www.museomilitarmenorca.com
39º52’27,84’’ N 4º18’27,53’’ E
TOWER OF LA MOLA
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A British coastal defence tower with a structure similar to the tower of La Princesa and to the small towers built by the British on Menorca. It was built in 1799 in times of the Lieutenant Governor General Saint Clair-Erskine, and was originally called Saint Clair tower, although it was later known as the tower of La Mola or of Cove Cala Teulera. Its purpose was to defend a withdrawal of troops on the peninsula of La Mola and at the same time to protect the anchorage in the cove from the possible disembarkation of enemy forces.
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The tower is built from stone and mortar and the outside is covered with limestone blocks. The parapet is surrounded above and below on the outside by two rectangular-shaped ridges. Like all these towers, it has three floors. The lower floor was used to store provisions, weapons and gunpowder. The middle floor was the troops' living quarters. The terrace on the upper floor was used for fighting and could take one or several cannons. The original doorway was on the middle floor and was defended from the machicolation above. It has a mid-height cannon emplacement pointing towards Es Freus, which must have been added at a later date when the fortress of La Mola was built in the second half of the 19th century. A doorway was cut into the wall at ground level after the tower was built. It was restored recently.
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TOWER OF LA PRINCESA
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TOWER OF LA PRINCESA TOURS FROM JULY ONWARDS
Location: Angle 3 in the fortress of La Mola precinct
Town: Maó
Owned by: Ministry of Defence
Managed by: Consorcio del Museo Militar de Menorca y Patrimonio
Histórico Militar (Consortium of the Military Museum of Menorca and
Historic Military Heritage)
Telephone: 971 362 100
Web: www.museomilitarmenorca.com
39º52’27,84’’ N 4º18’27,53’’ E
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This British coastal defence tower stands on the cli! of La Mola and was built to prevent enemy troops landing in Es Freus. It was built in 1799 and was called the Erskine tower (after the Governor of Menorca), although it was also known as the tower of Es Freus. It was probably built by Captain D'Arcy, the British Chief Engineer. This tower is similar to the one at Cove Cala Teulera. It had a ground floor, a middle floor and a terrace for a revolving artillery piece. The doorway was at middle floor level and the ground floor was used to store gunpowder, provisions and spares. The troops were accommodated on the middle floor and the cannons were fired from the terrace, which defended the entrance to the tower.In the mid-19th century the interior structure was changed when it was made part of the Princesa front of the fortress of La Mola. Another structure was superimposed onto the terrace, reinforcing the vaulting and adapting the design to fit the 3rd angle jutting out from the fortress. A cannon emplacement was opened up in the wall facing Es Freus.The tower was damaged in 1958 when the gunpowder store blew up after being struck by lightning.The tower’s museum project and the e!ects of the explosion mean that visitors can see the internal structure of the building and get a clear idea of how the vaulting was built. Nothing has been rebuilt, the work has merely made the tower safe and provided access routes to guarantee visitors’ safety.
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TOWER OF COVE CALA MOLÍ
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TOWER OF COVE CALA MOLÍ
TOUR OF THE OUTSIDELocation: Addaia Harbour
Town: Es MercadalOwned and managed by: Private
40º00’43,17’’ N 4º12’03,16’’ E
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A British coastal defence tower standing between Cove Cala Molí and Addaia, on the peninsula separating both coves. It was built by the British between 1798 and 1802 to house a garrison of 18 men plus spares and provisions for one month. It has a conical shape and consists of three floors: the ground floor was for storing gunpowder, provisions and spares, plus a water tank sunk into the ground. The middle floor was covered by a barrel vaulted ceiling and housed the troops. This floor and the one beneath were connected via a trapdoor, while the floor above was reached by an opening in the ceiling that gave access to the inside of the machicolation on the upper terrace. The terrace is surrounded by a wide parapet edged with two circular ridges. The machicolation jutted out over the parapet supported by five corbels, leaving space between for firing weapons. The “red balls” oven would have been installed nearby, where cannon balls were heated until they were red hot and then fired at enemy ships. A revolving cannon stood on the terrace.The typical external vertical reinforcements can clearly be seen arranged perpendicular to the surface.The tower was restored by the owners in 1973. The restoration work did not replace the machicolation that had collapsed and eliminated the original doorway at middle floor level. The doorway is now at ground level. The inside of the tower was well preserved and did not need major restoration. The staircase was added at a later date.
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TOWER OF FORNELLSFoto: Cisco Moll
DON’T MISS THIS
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OPEN TO VISITORS
Location: Fornells Tower headland
Town: Fornells
Owned by: Consell Insular de Menorca (Government of Menorca)
Managed by: Fundació Destí Menorca
Telephone: 902 929 015
Web: www.menorca.es
€
40º03’41,59’’ N 4º07’50,06’’ E
TOWER OF FORNELLS
Foto: Cisco Moll
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A British coastal defence tower built between 1801 and 1802. It is one
of the largest of all the British towers on Menorca and its outer
appearance is di!erent to the others built in the same period. The
ground floor includes a reinforcement or incline and it also has a
cylindrical parapet around the upper floor with a moulded overhang,
which juts out over the outer surface of the tower and rests on corbels.
The ground floor was a storage area with spaces for gunpowder,
weapons and ammunition plus provisions. To get ammunition quickly
from this floor to the floor above, a pulley system was used to pull
supplies up through an opening in the ceiling. The o#cer’s room is on
the first floor, along with troop accommodation, the water supply and
the fire area. The entrance doorway is also at this level and was reached
via a set of wooden steps that could be pulled up in the event of an
attack. The upper floor was reached via a spiral staircase leading from
the first floor and housed the artillery platform. There would have been
at least one cannon, protected by an extremely thick parapet that ran
round the entire platform.
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The parapet also housed a small “red ball” oven where projectile were
heated until red hot and then fired at ships to set them alight. The
machicolation is a covered parapet jutting out and supported by
corbels. Between the corbels there are gaps that were used for
defending the entrance from above against enemy attack.
The tower was restored and opened to the public in 2000. The site
information is simple and clearly set out. Visitors can see how this
defence tower stood firm against threats coming from the sea, a
constant feature of Menorca's history.
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TOWER OF SES SARGANTANES ISLAND
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TOWER OF SES SARGANTANES ISLAND
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLICLocation: Illa de Ses Sargantanes (Ses Sargantanes Island), Fornells
HarbourTown: Mercadal
Owned and managed by: Private
40º02’51,71’’ N 4º08’11,31’’ E
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The Illa de Ses Sargantanes is in the centre of the bay of Fornells, dominating its entrance and the central area of anchorage. The tower stands on the northern tip of this small island and was probably one of the last to be built by Captain D’Arcy. It replaced the wooden fort that once stood in the same spot.The tower forms an enclosure with the artillery emplacement beneath it and was equipped with three cannon positions. Its design and layout are di!erent to other British towers on Menorca, although the structure is the same, with stone and mortar and vertical lines of masonry reinforcements perpendicular to the parapet. It has no middle floor, so the ground floor was used for accommodating the troops and for storage. This floor was connected to the fighting terrace by a chimney with a movable set of steps. The tower has two adjoining wings on the outside, one facing north and the other facing east, which continue as a broad wall enclosing the artillery position. The entrance doorway to the enclosure is at ground level in the east wing. The north wing has a large fireplace that was probably used to heat cannon balls until they became red hot; they were then fired at the enemy’s wooden ships to set them alight. On the other side of the island is an old building that was once the o#cers’ mess. There are two water tanks close by. The white towers are signs for shipping.
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TOWER OF SANITJA
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TOWER OF SANITJANOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Location: Sanitja HarbourTown: Mercadal
Owned and managed by: Coastal authority
40º04’24,34’’ N 4º05’02,47’’ E
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A smaller British coastal defence tower dating from the late 18th century. It once defended a cove protected from the north wind that was an important harbour known as Sanisera in classical antiquity (1st to 3rd centuries).The tower was built from stone and mortar with vertical lines of reinforcement masonry. It had three floors, with the entrance at middle floor level. A doorway was later opened on the ground floor that opened up into an octagonal space consisting of three rooms with barrel vaulted ceilings, used as storage for gunpowder, spares and other materials. The ground floor connected with the middle floor via a trapdoor in the ceiling, as these smaller towers had no stone staircase. The middle floor was linked to the terrace via a chimney cut into the ceiling of the entrance passageway, which has partially collapsed. The circular upper terrace is surrounded by a parapet edged by two stone ridges, upper and lower, on the outer surface of the tower and there would also have been an artillery piece mounted on a central revolving platform.The tower is in very poor condition, especially the original entrance doorway and the machicolation for defending the doorway from above. The remains of a building can also be seen in the area near the tower, probably accommodation for dragoons, cavalry soldiers who carried messages from the towers when bad weather prevented smoke signals from being sent. They also patrolled blind spots that could not be seen from the tower.
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TOWER AND CASTLE OF SANT NICOLAU
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TOWER AND CASTLE OF SANT NICOLAU
TOURS BY APPOINTMENTLocation: Plaça de l’Almirall Ferragut
Town: CiutadellaOwned and managed by: Ciutadella Town Council
Telephone: 971 381 050Web: www.ajciutadella.org
40º04’24,34’’ N 4º05’02,47’’ E
80
A coastal defence and watchtower that was used to keep watch over the Ciutadella Harbour entrance and was built from plans drawn up by military engineer Josep Castellón between 1680 and 1682. It was named after the little chapel that once stood on the same spot.The building has an octagonal layout and stands on a rocky plinth. The moat running round the tower is crossed via a wooden bridge in front of the doorway. The entrance is decorated with a caryatid and an atlante topped by three royal coats of arms, made in 1990 to replace the originals, which were in very poor condition. The tower is surrounded by a moat excavated from the rock and measuring 8 metres across by 2 metres deep. The inside is reached via a rectangular doorway with a lintel decorated in the Baroque style. Inside, a central pillar supports the roof on which the artillery platform was built. There is also a spiral staircase set into one of the side walls and leading to the other floors.
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TOWER OF ES CASTELLAR
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TOUR OF THE OUTSIDE
Location: Sa Caleta Residential Complex
Town: Ciutadella
Owned and managed by: Ciutadella Town Council
Telephone: 971 381 050
Web: www.ajciutadella.org
39º58’50,11’’ N 3º49’54,32’’ E
TOWER OF ES CASTELLAR
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This is one of the defence towers built by the British between 1799 and
1802 to defend the island’s coves and support the castle of Sant
Nicolau against possible enemy landings.
It has a circular layout and is built in a conical shape. It is surrounded
by a 6-metre wide moat and an embankment of loose stones.
The tower was built of stone and mortar, with an outer layer of regular
blocks of the local “mares” stone (a type of limestone). Unlike other
defence towers, the tower is accessed via an underground corridor
linking the ground floor with a counterscarp underneath the
embankment.
The tower also has a series of 12 loopholes on the ground floor that
would have been used to defend it against possible land attack.
It stands 8 metres high and the parapet of the terrace juts out from
the wall all the way round. One or two artillery pieces would have been
positioned on the upper floor. As the artillery terrace was slightly
sunken, when seen from the sea it would not have been spotted by
enemy ships. The tower would have been mistaken for a small fort,
making it much more dangerous and e!ective.
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TOWER OF EN QUART
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TOWER OF EN QUARTOPEN TO VISITORS
Location: Camí Algaiarens, km 3. CiutadellaTown: Ciutadella
Owned and managed by: PrivateTelephone: 971 480 512
Web: www.torredenquart.com
40º04’24,34’’ N 4º05’02,47’’ E
87
The tower of En Quart is one of Ciutadella’s most characteristic defensive buildings. It is an ancient possession received by Father Bernardo Quart from King Alfonso III. The family obtained their noble rights through Juan Quart in 1579 but they were terminated in the late 17th century.Menorca's rural architecture is incredibly varied, but buildings with towers are rarely seen in the island’s countryside. The tower was the only immediate defence that the local inhabitants of more remote rural areas could rely on in the event of a pirate attack. When this strategic function was no longer needed, the tower did not have to stand in an isolated spot and could be made into part of the town.Its solid and powerful appearance makes it stand out from the other buildings adjoining it and it is a real landmark in the flat terrain surrounding it. The ground floor has a rectangular layout and the roof is marine stone. At one end is a staircase leading to the floors that were once used as a grain store. The outer walls of the tower were originally stone and mortar with vertical trimmings, and were reinforced with very broad buttresses standing at di!erent heights.The building is very plain and has no fancy decorative elements like the ornamental work on the tower of Saura or the top of the tower of S’Argossam.
CAPÍTULO 4MUSEUMS
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MILITARY MUSEUM OF MENORCA
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OPEN TO VISITORS
Location: Plaça Explanada
Town: Es Castell
Owned and managed by: Consorcio del Museo Militar de Menorca y
Patrimonio Histórico Militar (Consortium of the Military Museum of
Menorca and Historic Military Heritage)
Telephone: 971 362 100
Web: www.museomilitarmenorca.com
€
39º52’46,63’’ N 4º17’24,49’’ E
MILITARY MUSEUM OF MENORCA
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The Military Museum of Menorca occupies the old Calacorp barracks (home of the Costa de Menorca Artillery), built by the British in the late 18th century in Es Castell. The Museum consists of two floors and nineteen rooms tracing the history of Menorca, especially its military history, from prehistoric times up to the present day. There are some particularly interesting displays on the 18th century and the various occupations of the island by foreign powers. The magnificent collection includes old cannons, models of the island’s fortifications, models of ships, of portable weapons, and the like.Sant Felip has a section on its own. The Carlos III and Isabel II rooms are also fascinating, the former containing displays on how Menorca was seized back for Spain and the latter on the fortress of La Mola. There is also a room on the topic of Civil War fortifications on Menorca (1936-1939).Over time, the Museum collections were expanded with the contents of libraries and archives from military units that were gradually being dissolved. This meant that the Museum had to set up its own library and archive, holding more than 700 plans from the Engineering Corps based onMenorca.Touring the Military Museum enables visitors to get a feel for the various periods and foreign occupations that have shaped the character of Menorca’s people.
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HERNÁNDEZ SANZ - HERNÁNDEZ MORA MUSEUM COLLECTION
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HERNÁNDEZ SANZ - HERNÁNDEZ MORA
MUSEUM COLLECTIONOPEN TO VISITORS
Location: First floor of the cloister of El Carme. Plaça Miranda, 5
Town: Maó
Owned and managed by: Maó City Council
Telephone: 971 350 597
39º53’19,31’’ N 4º15’57,96’’ E
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In 1983, distinguished professor Joan Hernández Mora donated his
magnificent collection to the city of Maó. The collection consists of a
large number of furniture items, objects and pictures, all from
Menorca, plus a well-stocked library containing practically everything
ever published about Menorca or written by Menorcan authors. In
1987, Maó City Council installed his legacy in one of the rooms in the
cloister of El Carme, as a museum and library. The overall layout of the
museum is designed to look like the inside of a Menorcan house. The
books, papers and other exhibits are arranged chronologically in all the
rooms, starting with the 18th century through to 19th and 20th
century publications, although three of the collections stand on their
own: the characters gallery, the map collection and works by his
relatives. The characters gallery contains around thirty portraits, most
of which are prints, but there are some oil paintings and photographs
of leading figures such as British, French and Spanish governors and
soldiers, including Lannion, Kane, Murray and Cifuentes. The map
collection is superb, with seventy exhibits of watercolour tinted prints.
The maps are split into three sections, from the more general ones of
the Mediterranean and the Balearic Islands, to the more detailed, such
as the plans for the castle of Sant Felip, plus a wide range of maps of
Menorca. The oldest map shows the islands in 1534.
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MUSEUM OF MENORCA
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MUSEUM OF MENORCAOPEN TO VISITORS
Location: Pla des Monestir
Town: Maó
Owned and managed by: Balearic Islands Government
Telephone: 971 350 955
Web: www.ajmao.org
€
39º53'27,88'' N 4º15'39,78'' E
97
The museum is based in the old Franciscan convent that dates from
the late 17th century and early 18th century. The convent was
dissolved in 1835 and the building later underwent restoration work
lasting 25 years before being re-opened to the public in the early 21st
century. The small cloister is now an inner courtyard in which arts and
cultural events are held during the summer. The ground floor, arranged
around the cloister, is split into rooms housing temporary exhibitions.
The permanent exhibition occupies the first floor, with displays on
prehistory through to the arrival of the Romans, and the second floor,
concentrating on the medieval period through to the 20th century.
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On the second floor, room 2 contains exhibits from 18th century
Menorca under British rule, with two brief periods of French and
Spanish occupation. It was a time of upheaval, but also of cultural
splendour, especially in the fields of painting and literature. Intense
economic and military activity was concentrated on the edge of the
Maó Harbour during the 18th century, which is reflected in the large
number of paintings produced at the time. Some of the paintings
depict the castle of Sant Felip, the shipyards and the Llatzeret. Room
4 is given over to maps of Menorca, and the island’s strategic
importance can be seen very clearly from the sheer number of maps
made by European powers showing the island and its harbours and
fortifications.
CAPÍTULO 5OTHERS
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LLATZERET
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LLATZERETTOURS BY APPOINTMENT
Location: Illa del Llatzeret (Llatzeret Island)
Town: Maó
Owned by: Ministry of Health
Telephone: 902 929 015
€
39º53'27,88'' N 4º15'39,78'' E
102
The arrival of the Bubonic plague on Menorca’s shores from ships
coming in from the East and from northern Africa prompted the
Count of Floridablanca, Minister of King Carlos III to commission the
building of the Llatzeret in Maó on the King's orders in 1793.
This unusual historical building complex was originally meant as a
sanatorium where patients could be quarantined during the constant
outbreaks of Bubonic plague. The British government had already built
a small complex on what was known as Illa de la Quarantena
(“quarantine island”), which was used in the 19th century when the
harbour became severely congested.
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The sanatorium was opened in 1817 and was closed down after a
century until, years later and following some refurbishment, it was
converted into a venue for meetings and for national and international
conferences. It is also a place where visitors can get a sense of what life
was like in the 19th century, thanks to the wonderful spaces and
buildings that have been preserved all over this small island.
The complex was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1993 and is
in one of the most beautiful places on the Menorca coast, on a small
island in the centre of the harbour of Menorca's administrative capital.
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BRIDGE OF SAN ROQUE
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BRIDGE OF SAN ROQUETOUR OF THE OUTSIDE
Location: Carrer Sant Roc y Plaça Bastió
Town: Maó
Owned and managed by: Maó City Council
Telephone: 971 369 800
Web: www.ajmao.org
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The first set of walls was built around the old castle, the original centre of the city of Maó. Following the conquest of Menorca, the Catalans started to build the new walls on the orders of Pedro IV in 1359. They were made of stone and mortar and stood around 8 metres high and 1.5 metres wide with no embankment, a classic medieval wall. Inside, a narrow street followed the wall around the city. Gateways were set into the wall at intervals, allowing access to the city from the outside. Towers were also built along the length of the wall as part of the city defences. One of the entrances was the bridge of San Roque, which was also known as “Portal de Arriba” (the upper gateway) to di!erentiate it from the “Portal de Abajo” (the lower gateway) on Isabel II Street, and was the exit used for the road to Sant Climent and Ciutadella. This is the only surviving section of the wall. What you can see today are two square towers of di!erent heights, with solid walls of stone and mortar with reinforcements of local “mares” stone (a limestone quarried on Menorca) and topped with machicolations. Between the towers, a passageway over the doorway allowed defenders to pass along the entire length of the wall. When the city began to spill over the confining walls, they lost their defensive power and the towers became living accommodation. Extensions were added to them and houses were built adjoining them. The site has recently undergone restoration work, which has removed a building from between the two towers and given them back their original appearance.
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BASTION OF SA FONT
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BASTION OF SA FONTTOUR OF THE OUTSIDE
Location: Pla de sa Font
Town: Ciutadella
Owned and managed by: Ciutadella Town Council
Telephone: 971 380 297
Web: www.ciutadella.org
39º53'27,88'' N 4º15'39,78'' E
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The bastion belongs to the walled precinct of Ciutadella and was built during the 17th century on the site of the old medieval wall dating from after the 1287 conquest. The medieval wall was in very poor condition following Turkish plundering in 1558. The bastion of Sa Font was completed in 1692 to protect the gateway of the same name, which was demolished in 1889. It has always been used to store tithes. Once its military role had ended, it passed into municipal control in 1881 and in 1902 it was leased for use as a factory for making acetylene lighting. Up until 1986 it was used as a tap water supply tank. In May 1995, after being restored, it was opened as the headquarters of the Municipal Museum of Ciutadella in Menorca.
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WALLS-GOVERNOR’S BASTION
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WALLS-GOVERNOR’S BASTION
TOUR OF THE OUTSIDE
Location: Ciutadella Harbour Paseo marítimo
Town: Ciutadella
Owned and managed by: Ciutadella Town Council
Telephone: 971 380 297
Web: www.ajciutadella.org
39º53'27,88'' N 4º15'39,78'' E
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The medieval wall around Ciutadella was built in the 14th century after the town was made part of the kingdom of Aragón. It was designed to imitate the city walls at Perpignan although there was another wall protecting the Islamic Medina and that was separated from the old citadel. This wall was in very poor condition after the Turkish plundered the town in 1558, prompting the authorities to order a new wall to be raised in the 17th century along the same route but adapted to accommodate new artillery weaponry. The bastion of Sa Font and the Governor’s bastion are the only two remaining sections of that old wall, after most of it was demolished in the 19th and 20th centuries to make way for the town's relentless growth. The town council building stands on the site of the residence occupied by the Governor of the island, after whom the bastion is named.
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