Castle Santa Àgueda (Menorca)

Castle Santa Àgueda

Arabic influence in Menorca
Castle Santa Àgueda

Arabic influence in Menorca
Castle Santa Àgueda

Arabic influence in Menorca
Castle Santa Àgueda

Arabic influence in Menorca

Castle Santa Àgueda

The Santa Àgueda Castle is the most significant vestige of Islamic Menorca. It is located in the municipality of Ferreries at the summit of the Santa Àgueda hill, which stands 264 metres above sea level.

The Castell de Santa Águeda is one of those corners of Minorca that transports you back in time with every step you take and leaves you breathless with the marvellous views that surround it. It is also one of the few remaining testimonies of the Muslim era on the island.

It is a fortress from the Muslim period and is located on a 267-metre high hill. To reach this historic site, start from the Alocs road until you reach the old rural schools, where you can leave your vehicle and start your adventure on foot. The route, which is just over three kilometres long, follows a Roman road, albeit from the Middle Ages, which climbs up the hill where the castle stands. Despite the climb, the difficulty is low and the route is suitable for almost any hiker.

As you climb, it is easy to imagine how this castle became a key refuge for the Muslim population in the 13th century. From there they controlled a large part of the territory, which included Ciutadella, Ferreries, part of Es Mercadal and the ports on the north coast.

Once at the top, you will be impressed by the sheer size of the defensive complex. The fortress was built between the 10th and 13th centuries and stretched over 6.5 hectares, with 1,800 metres of walls and 37 towers, some of which are still standing, both round and square. Although the castle fell into disuse in the 14th century, remains of its former glory can still be seen, such as the church, which later became a country house, other elements such as the stable and a cistern.

The name Sent Agaiz, which is derived from "Santa Águeda", could indicate a pre-Islamic settlement on the site, possibly Roman. It is known that in the 5th century, the Sicilian martyr Saint Agatha was worshipped here, and it is speculated that in the 9th century, the Christians of Minorca and Majorca took refuge in castles like this one.

A tour of the Castell de Santa Águeda is a perfect day trip for the whole family: it is simple, short and enables you to discover a part of Minorca's past that has left few witnesses of its passage through the island.

A significant section of its structure is still standing. It served as a refuge for the inhabitants of the municipality and the surrounding rural settlements. It was from here that the Arabs handed over the island to Alfonso III of Aragon in 1287. It was declared a Cultural Interest Site in 1987.

We can observe three different areas in the castle. The first is the central area, which is located at the summit, and forms the shape of a seven uneven-sided polygon; it had sixteen towers, the majority of which were circular and it was accessed through a door in the wall. Another area is the Castellet, which has a rectangular layout with circular and square towers and a water supply. The third and most recent area is known as the Casa de Armas (weapon store).

There are indications of pre-Islamic settlements in the castle, which could possibly be Roman and Byzantine. The building techniques of the round towers date back to the Caliphal period (11th century), whilst the square towers date back to the Almoravid period (12th century). Christians would later change the fort and there is proof of repair work in the years 1338 and 1339. A chapel was also built to worship Santa Àgueda with a pointed arch vault.