Puntos de Interés
Culture
Santa Àgueda Castle
At 264 metres above sea level, nestled on the third-highest point on the island, only surpassed by Toro Mountain and S'Esclusa, stands this fortress built by the Arabs between the 10th and 13th centuries on the site of an ancient Roman castrum.
At the time of its construction, Menorca belonged to the Caliphate of Córdoba. The castle offered excellent panoramic views of almost the entire Hasmaljuda district (the municipality of Ciutadella), the Benissaida district (es Mercadal and Ferreries), most of the north-west coast and the capital Medina al Yazira (Ciutadella), since its function was to control the territory and, above all, the harbours on the north coast.
It was one of the most important defensive complexes in Al-Andalus and the last defence stronghold when Alfonso III's Catalan troops arrived in Mahón harbour on 17th January 1287. It remained the island's main military fortress until it fell into disuse during the 14th century.
The fortress consists of three separated but connected enclosures, two of which date back to the 10th century and were renovated, and the third to the 13th century, comprising 1800 metres of walls and 37 towers, approximately ten of which remain in good condition, the oldest of which is round in shape and the most modern of which is quadrangular.
It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1987.