The secrets of the castle of Sant Carles and of the lighthouse of Portopí, uncovered

PalmaThe castle of Sant Carles and the lighthouse of Portopí were the stars of a new guided tour last Saturday to discover the historical and maritime heritage of the port of Palma. The activity is part of the initiative The secret heritage of the ports of the Balearic Islands, promoted by the newspaper ARA Balears with the collaboration of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands and guided by Fita a Fita, which proposes bringing some of the most unique and unknown spaces of the Archipelago's ports closer to the public.

Led by journalist and cultural guide Joan Carles Palos, the participants were able to learn about a part of the history of Portopí, the ancient port of Palma, and its strategic importance for the defense of the city and the development of maritime trade.

A good part of the itinerary focused on the Castle of Sant Carles, a fortress built in 1610 to ensure the safety of the ships that took shelter in Portopí and of the merchandise that entered and left the port. The Merchants' Guild of Palma played a prominent role in promoting this military infrastructure, which helps to understand the extent to which the protection of trade routes was fundamental to the city's economy.

The other great protagonist of the day was the Portopí lighthouse, considered the third oldest operating lighthouse in the world, after the Tower of Hercules, in A Coruña, and the Lanterna of Genoa. On this occasion, however, the participants could only contemplate it from the outside, as the works being carried out at the lighthouse museum prevented access to the facilities.

An initiative to discover the ports of all the Islands

The visit is part of a cultural project that aims to highlight the maritime and port heritage of the Balearic Islands, often unknown even to residents. The program combines walking routes, historical explanations, and, on certain routes, boat trips that allow for observing the ports from a different perspective.

The initiative by ARA Balears, with the support of the Port Authority and the guidance of Fita a Fita, extends to the five ports of general interest in the Islands: Palma, Alcúdia, Maó, Eivissa, and La Savina in Formentera. The objective is to explain how these spaces have conditioned the economy, landscape, daily life, and the Islands' relationships with the outside world over the centuries.

The program has included itineraries through the historic center and the coastline of Palma, the port of Alcúdia, Dalt Vila, and the port facilities of Eivissa, as well as the port of La Savina in Formentera. The routes allow one to learn about both the large maritime infrastructures and the heritage elements that bear witness to the historical relationship between the cities and the sea.

Menorca will host the next visits on November 21st and 22nd

After Saturday's visit to Palma, the program will continue on the weekend of November 21 and 22 in Menorca, with a two-day proposal dedicated to discovering the port of Mahón and some of its most emblematic historical and natural spaces. The route, organized by Fita a Fita, will combine routes by sea and land to learn about the strategic importance of one of the great natural ports of the Mediterranean.

The day of Saturday, November 21, will begin with the trip by plane from Palma to Mahón. At 11 a.m. a two-hour boat trip around the port is scheduled, which will allow for contemplating the port facilities, fortifications, and the landscape surrounding the harbor from the sea. In the afternoon, starting at 4:30 p.m., participants will take a walk through the center and the port of Mahón to the Colàrsega and the hermitage of Sant Joan des Vergers, an itinerary that will allow getting closer to the history and heritage of this area.

The next day, Sunday, November 22, the activity will move to the La Mola fortress and Cala de Sant Esteve, with a guided route that also includes Fort Marlborough. The visit will allow you to discover some of the main defensive elements built around the port of Mahón, a space of great military and commercial importance throughout the centuries.

The proposal includes round-trip flights between Palma and Mahón, one night of accommodation with breakfast at the Hotel Catalonia Mirador des Port, bus transfers, and guidance for all activities. The general price is 250 euros per person in a double room and 300 euros in a single room. ARA Balears subscribers have special rates of 230 and 280 euros, respectively. Lunches and dinners, as well as tickets to La Mola and Fort Marlborough, are not included in these amounts.

Interested persons can consult the complete program, conditions, and availability of places on the Fita a Fita page: https://fitaafita.com/esdeveniment/ruta-guiada-port-de-mao/. They can also request information by calling 650 777 596 or by email at info@fitaafita.com.

With this new event, the project The secret heritage of the ports of the Balearic Islands will continue to bring participants closer to the history of spaces that, beyond their function as transport infrastructure, constitute an essential part of the memory, landscape, and maritime identity of the Islands.