The Plan boosts its heritage with the purchase of the Rincones de Llubí and the Buitre cave in Petra

LlubíThe municipalities of Llubí and Petra have taken an important step in protecting and providing controlled access to their prehistoric and natural heritage with the purchase of the Racons and the Cueva del Buitre (Vulture Cave), respectively. With the support of the Consell de Mallorca (Island Council of Mallorca) and corresponding municipal investments, two plots of land of significant heritage value have recently been acquired, and work will begin on their restoration, accessibility, and management. In fact, aside from being able to carry out maintenance, one of the most important aspects is managing access and consequently keeping the sites in optimal condition. These two acquisitions follow the purchase of the Cueva del Camp del Obispo (Bishop's Cave) by the Sencelles Town Council, as this online publication recently reported. It is an important archaeological site within the municipality. The acquisition was for €36,000, financed by a grant from the Consell de Mallorca.

Llubí

In Llubí, the mayor, Magdalena Perelló, explained that the purchase was made in several phases: "Last February, with the first grant, we acquired two plots of land—one next to Talayotic number 1 and another where there is a Talayotic wall. Later, with funds from the Town Hall, we bought plot number 2." In total, the purchase cost €75,000 from the Consell de Mallorca and €30,000 from the Llubí Town Hall. (Consell de Mallorca within its heritage network.)

Petra

Regarding Petra, the City Council has acquired the Buitre Cave, also known as Son Montserrat Cave, for a total of €100,000, €90,000 of which came from the Consell de Mallorca (Island Council of Mallorca) and €10,000 from the City Council. It is an archaeological site declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) in the Monument category. Mayor Salvador Femenias explained that the next objective is to improve access and organize visits: "We will ask the Consell de Mallorca to help us create a proper path and mark the route so that visitors can only access the public, not private, areas." Femenias added that they also plan to clean the area, replace barriers, install signage, and possibly establish opening and closing hours.

"Right now, people don't know where they're supposed to go, they knock down walls and leave manure. The route we want to open is overgrown and almost impassable. It has to be done right, and that won't happen in two days," the mayor emphasized.

Los Rincones

Els Racons is one of the most important Talayotic sites in the municipality of Llubí. This archaeological complex is located in a rural area near the town and preserves remarkable remains from the Talayotic period, corresponding to the Early Iron Age, within the Late Prehistory of the Balearic Islands. Among the visible remains are large circular talayots and cyclopean walls that attest to the existence of a complex and organized settlement. One of the best-preserved talayots, according to various sources, reaches nearly five meters in height and has an interior with a passageway and openings, making it one of the most interesting examples in the area. The site occupies a considerable area, partially surrounded by vegetation. This situation has motivated the interest of conservation and volunteer organizations, which have promoted cleaning and restoration projects to remove invasive vegetation and enhance the site. In parallel, a three-year publicly funded archaeological intervention project has been proposed, aimed at studying, conserving, and disseminating this historical heritage. Llubí is also a municipality with remarkable archaeological wealth: more than thirty sites have been identified, spanning from the pre-Talayotic period to later eras, demonstrating the historical importance and continuity of settlement throughout the centuries. The Vulture Cave

The Vulture Cave, also known as the Son Montserrat Cave or the Cave of the Vultures, is a cavity of both natural and artificial origin, with Talayotic characteristics. Its interior is structured into three chambers separated by pillars carved into the rock. Over time, the cave has served a variety of purposes. In addition to its value as a prehistoric site, it has been used as a grazing and livestock shelter, and even as a sandstone quarry, taking advantage of the quality of the local stone for traditional construction. This combination of historical and natural uses has contributed to maintaining its relevance in the cultural landscape of the region. The area surrounding the cave, located in the Valleta de Petra valley, has significant scenic and heritage value. The area includes the n'Orenga spring, ancient paths and traditional trails, as well as natural features that create a space of both archaeological and tourist interest. To reinforce the protection of the site, the Consell Insular de Mallorca initiated proceedings in 2009 to delimit the protected area surrounding the monument, thus ensuring the preservation of its historical and landscape values within the current legal framework.