Sa Torre d'en Gaumes. The main farm estate.

Along the medieval period Menorcans built towers located on hillocks from where they could spot the arrival of enemies that often attack villages and farms.

It is not difficult to appreciate the farm house in Sa Torre d'Gaumés is set around one of these towers. The red colour painted front facade, that has so often been used in houses of the island was obviously built some centuries later and the ornamental arrangement of symmetrical order and neoclassic style showing us the property has its splendor time along the 1800's.

Sa Torre d'en Gaumes

Torre d'en Galmés is a prehistoric site located between Alaior and Son Bou.

The town developed from the start of the Talayotic era (1400 BC)  and expanded until the end of the Roman occupation, after which it was abandoned. Buildings were reoccupied and adapted by Muslim refugees from the Reconquista Period  (reconquest of Spain by Christian kingdoms) until the end of the Muslim occupation of the island.

The town is situated on a small hill which is steeper on its south side. It has clear views over a large stretch of southern coast (and even to the mountains of the next island, Mallorca). As the town grew it expanded southwards, and used a remarkably sophisticated water collection system to collect water coming down the hill in cisterns.

The town was one of the biggest in the Balearic Islands, and its high position overlooked other neighbouring towns.

There are three talayots, and  also a horseshoe shaped enclosure with a characteristic Minorca Taula, Talayotic houses, other buildings used as storage places and a big wall made of large stone around the town.

13th. Regiment of foot

The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) was an infantry regiment of the British Army which served under various titles from 1685 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles.

They fought at the Battle of Roucoux (October 1746) and the Batlle of Lauffeld or Val (July 1747). In both cases, the allied forces were defeated by the French. The regiment returned to England in 1747 and it entered a thirty-year period of garrison service in England, Ireland, Gibraltar and Minorca, returning to the British Isles Feb 1776. Sent to the Barbados Nov 1780 and returned to the British Isles in 1782.

...Spring is knocking at the door

 Felicia Amelloides, indigenous to South Africa has become natural to Menorca

 Watering trough for sheep in Santa Caterina farm.

New beams for the house'roof

Narcissus Tazetta and a walk to Mongofre.

Narcissus Tazetta is a perennial flower plant that grows from a bulb. Well known in the United Kingdom and other Northern European countries for their ornamental use. It is native to southern Europe, and in Menorca it grows in fields, meadows and garigue, especially in damp places.

 

I found those specimens on the path that leads to the salt flats at Mongofre.