Holiday apartment in Alaior: Art, Talayots and Coastal Trails
Accommodation in Alaior
LÔAC is a contemporary art centre in Alaior founded in 2021. As LÔAC, Alaior Art Contemporani, it houses a collection of contemporary artworks by internationally renowned artists such as Joan Miró, Miquel Barceló, Marina Abramović, Jaume Plensa, Antonio Saura and Antoni Tàpies. In Menorca, it is the only public exhibition of a private collection of this kind.
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Photo: Anka D. via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Culture
A special event is the Festes de Sant Llorenç, which takes place on the weekend after 10 August and puts the horse at the centre of the celebrations. A Qualcada led by the Fabioler, featuring traditionally dressed horses and riders, makes its way through the streets of Alaior and ends with the Jaleo.
The Mercat de Nit d'Alaior is a seasonal market in the town's historic centre. It begins in June and ends in the first half of September. The market combines paintings, jewellery, costume jewellery, macramé and gifts with the cultural, gastronomic and leisure activities usually organised there.
The route exploring Alaior's craft and industrial tradition visits a bakery, a costume jewellery workshop, a shoe factory, a woodworker and a cheesemaker. The Centre d'Estudis Locals d'Alaior also organises themed tours in Alaior. A sensory tasting of local products includes wines or beer, cheese, seasonal fruit, nuts, saffron infusion and bread.
History
Torralba d’en Salort comprises two Talayots, a hypostyle hall, the remains of dwellings and an area featuring a taula as its most prominent element. The site has Menorca's best-preserved taula; it faces east and is 5 m high. The Talayotic settlement of Torralba d’en Salort is one of Menorca's most spectacular and best-preserved settlements.
Torre d'en Galmés is a Talayotic settlement covering 12 acres. It includes three Talayots dating from 1000 to 800 BC, as well as a taula sanctuary built from large stone slabs dating from the 4th century BC.
The church of Santa Eulàlia crowns the hill around which Alaior was built and historically served as a refuge for the population during attacks. Alaior's medieval old town has winding, steep streets. The Pati de sa Lluna is a former Franciscan cloister. The Palau de Can Salort is a former manor house and now houses the UIB's university extension. The architectural complex dedicated to Saint Diego was built in the 17th century.
Nature and Coast
At 2,400 m, Son Bou is Menorca's longest beach. Long walks along the shore are possible at Son Bou beach all year round. Behind the beach lie a dune system and the significant Son Bou wetland, where many birds stop during migration; both areas are protected as an Área Natural de Especial Interés.
The Son Bou ornithological circular route is 5.5 km long and passes through a wetland, a sandy coastal strip with its associated dune system, and the lower sections of two ravines. It allows visitors to observe numerous bird species. The Son Bou floristic circular route is 2 km long and runs from Son Bou beach to Punta Redona. Along the way, it highlights the dune system, coastal salt marsh, coastal meadow, endemic flora and the vegetation of the rocky coast.
The Son Bou geological route allows visitors to observe the dune system, coastal karst and former Marès quarries along the coast.
At Cales Coves, a path leads from a small car park to the beach in about 20 minutes. Suitable footwear is recommended, and there are no services at the beach. Cales Coves contains 90 burial caves carved into the rock, the largest concentration of such burial caves in Menorca.
Other Places
For further exploration, the local pages lead to Cala En Porter and Sant Jaume.
For the overarching travel overview: Menorca.
Further Destinations
Other places in the same destination:
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