A Guide To Ferreries: Nature, Culture And History

Set it the western part of Menorca, Ferreries is a traditional island town surrounded by amazing views, places to walk, cycle or go horseback riding to enjoy nature, historical sites and close to some of the islands most spectacular beaches.

In this, brief guide to the region of Ferreries, we will try to give you a glimpse into what this area has to offer – Ferreries in a nutshell.

The Famous Black Horses of Menorca

These magnificent black horses, indigenous to the island, are the pride of Menorca and feature prominently in many of the island’s festivals and pageants. During your stay in Ferreries, you mustn’t miss the Somni Horse show, held every Tuesday and Thursday between May and October at the Son Martorellet Horse Farm. This farm, which breeds and trains the island’s horses, also puts on a show that will enchant you.

This is truly amazing and exciting show that combines this magnificent animal with magic and fantasy to provide an enthralling display. For a “total” experience, we recommend the VIP Premium tickets as these give you front row seats, a VIP room with refreshments and a chance to mingle with the riders and performers, as well as an exclusive guided tour of the stables and an official show program.

Ancient History

Any guide to Ferreries must include the ancient remains of the Son Mercer de Baix settlement. This remarkably well preserved settlement, which is thought to have been inhabited from 1400 BC to 800 BC was most likely the home for an extended family of farmers. Remains found here also suggest that the inhabitants used a bronze foundry and/or workshop.

A dirt road and farm track lead to the settlement, so you should be able to enjoy the site in relative peace. After your visit, pay a visit to the nearby Mascaró farm to sample some of their delicious Mahón-Menorca cheese.

San Agueda Castle

Originally constructed by the island’s Moorish invaders, the castle sits on top of one of Menorca’s most important vantage points and offers spectacular views. To get there and enjoy some great scenery along the way, you need to take a 45-minute hike along an ancient route, parts of which are over 2000 years old and are thought to have been built by the Romans.

As with many ancient castles, San Agueda has also been the source for many stories and legends including tales of buried biblical treasure – Indiana Jones perhaps?

Algendar Gorge (Barranc d'Algender)

Yet another site that appears in almost every guide to Ferreriesis the Algendar Gorge. This 6-kilometre long gorge begins just outside of Ferreries and runs down to the southern coast. In 1998 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are numerous paths along and through the ravine which will take you past thick woods, rolling hills, the remains of many ancient buildings and fields where ancient agricultural techniques are still used today.

There is even more…

Unfortunately, we don’t have the space in this guide to Ferraris to show you everything that this great little town and area have to offer. We hope that we have given you a taste of what there is to see and do and that this will encourage you to explore even deeper this fantastic part of Menorca.

Author Plate

Brenda Jaaback, Managing Director of Bartle Holidays, is a renowned Menorca expert who personally selects the finest properties for her clients. From its history to its people and from its wildlife to its cuisine, no secret of the island remains hidden to her. For anyone looking for information on the island, like a guide to Ferreries, Brenda is the go-to person. Bartle Holidays makes no warranty as to the accuracy of information contained in this article and excludes any liability of any kind for the information.