Monuments — Spain — NextOnTrip

Talaia de s'Enclusa

Ferreries

Talaia de s'Enclusa is an 18th-century watchtower crowning the summit of s'Enclusa (275 metres), the second-highest hill on Menorca, in the municipality of Ferreries. The site brings together the island's coastal defense history, sweeping views over western Menorca, and the remains of a Cold War-era military base now being turned into a nature interpretation centre. What is the Talaia de s'Enclusa? The talaia is a rectangular stone tower raised in the second half of the 18th century, one of the last two towers of this design built on the island, alongside the tower at Binissarmenya. Watchtowers were erected across Menorca following destructive corsair raids in the 16th century, meant to spot approaching ships and warn nearby settlements. The tower standing today is badly weathered, though in the early 2000s it still served as a forest-fire lookout point. Why was the hill once called "Dalt Sa Torre"? Before the name s'Enclusa became common, locals in Ferreries referred to the hill simply as "Dalt Sa Torre" — "up by the tower." The name "Enclusa" itself means "anvil," and it ties into one theory about the origin of the town name Ferreries, linked by some researchers to the Catalan word for blacksmith, "ferrer." The hill also appears in the municipal anthem of Ferreries, sung as the peak that shields the town from the "great Tramuntanada," the strong northerly wind typical of the Balearics. What can you see from the summit? Thin vegetation on the summit means the views open up in every direction. On a clear day, visitors can pick out the villages of Es Mercadal, Es Migjorn Gran and Alaior, the southern coastline, and the ridge of hills running from Ses Fonts Rodones toward Santa Àgueda. A geodetic marker and an ADF radio antenna also stand near the top. Four separate viewpoints ring the s'Enclusa massif, though the paths leading to them have traditionally been hard to access, since much of the surrounding land is private and the area is protected as a Zone of Special Natural Interest (ANEI). What happened here during the Cold War? Between 1964 and 1993, the hill hosted a United States military base that formed part of a communications network supporting American forces stationed in the Middle East. The complex covered more than 43,000 square metres and comprised twelve separate buildings totalling around 2,193 square metres of built space. It closed in 1993 as the Cold War ended and newer communications technology made the installation obsolete. What is happening at the old base today? After nearly three decades of abandonment, Menorca's island council is now rehabilitating the former base into a Biosphere Reserve Interpretation Centre. The plans include a small museum on the history of the base, preservation of its American-style canteen, a picnic area, a stargazing spot, and accommodation for school groups. The project's first phase is expected to open the summit viewpoints to the public. Frequently asked questions How high is s'Enclusa? The summit reaches 275 metres above sea level, making it Menorca's second-highest hill after El Toro. Can visitors go inside the Talaia de s'Enclusa tower? The tower survives only in ruined form, and access to nearby paths and viewpoints can be limited, since parts of the land are private or protected for nature conservation. Where does the name "s'Enclusa" come from? It means "anvil" and connects to the region's blacksmithing tradition, an association also linked to the name of the nearby town of Ferreries. What was the old military base on the hill used for? From 1964 to 1993 it operated as a United States military communications station; the site is now being converted into a nature and heritage centre tied to the Menorca Biosphere Reserve.

Curro dos Lobos

Pías

Curro dos Lobos is a stone wolf trap standing a short walk from the village of Barjacoba, in the municipality of Pías, Zamora province, in the Alta Sanabria district right on the border with Galicia. It belongs to a small group of surviving "curros" - circular enclosures once built by shepherds across this corner of Spain to catch live wolves that preyed on sheep and goats. How was the trap built? The structure is a near-circular stone wall roughly 20 metres across, raised without any mortar. On its lower side the wall reaches about 3 metres in height, topped with flat slabs tilted inward so that a wolf inside could not leap back out. Builders took advantage of the slope: on the uphill side the wall meets ground level, letting an animal jump in easily, while the downhill wall stays tall enough to block any way out. A small stone mound in the middle served as a post for tethering live bait, usually a goat or a sheep. How did the hunt work? Drawn by the bleating of the tethered animal, a wolf would leap into the enclosure from the uphill side and then find itself unable to climb back over the taller downhill wall. Villagers had a set alarm call - "lobo no curro!" - and the church bells would ring to summon young men from the village to finish off the trapped animal. The trap was mainly used in winter, when wolves ventured closer to the settlement in search of food. Who built it, and when? No one knows exactly how old the enclosure is; estimates put it at several centuries, but there are no written records to confirm a date. It remains unclear whether it was raised by the people of Barjacoba themselves or by transhumant shepherds who passed through the area seasonally, moving flocks between southern Spain and the Cantabrian Mountains. What is known today rests mostly on oral tradition passed down in the village. Is the trap still used? No. Curro dos Lobos stopped serving its original purpose around the middle of the twentieth century, once strychnine poisoning and firearms replaced older herding and trapping methods, and traditional shepherding itself declined in the area. Even without formal restoration, the wall has held up reasonably well over time. Attempts to have it listed as a protected heritage site have so far not succeeded. How do you get there? A short, easy path leaves Barjacoba and climbs gently along the Lagoallo hillside toward the enclosure. The round trip covers a little over 2 to 3 kilometres, depending on the exact route taken, and takes about 20 to 30 minutes at an easy pace on the shorter option. The path crosses oak woodland, scrub and meadow, opening up views over the Barjacoba valley and the sierra along the Galician border. By car, the village is reached from the A-52 motorway via a local road running through Villanueva de la Sierra and Pías. What else is worth seeing nearby? The Alta Sanabria area holds a handful of similar pastoral structures, the best known being a comparable enclosure near the village of Lubián. The surrounding hills also make a good base for walking along the Zamora-Galicia border, with views over the Pías reservoir and the wider Sanabria mountain landscape. Frequently Asked Questions How old is Curro dos Lobos? Its exact age is unknown. It is thought to date back several centuries, but no written records confirm a precise period. Can visitors reach it on foot? Yes. A signposted, easy walking path leads there from Barjacoba and is open year-round. Do wolves still live in the area? Wolves are still present in the mountains of Sanabria, though the trap itself has not been used since the mid-1900s. How long does the walk take? The shorter route takes about 20 to 30 minutes round trip; a longer loop variant takes roughly an hour.

Cortello dos Lobos

Lubián

Cortello dos Lobos is a centuries-old stone enclosure standing just outside the village of Lubián, in the province of Zamora, Castile and León. Its name comes from the local Galician-Leonese dialect and literally means "wolf pen" — the structure was originally built as a trap for capturing live wolves, at a time when the predators posed a real threat to sheep and goats grazing in the mountains of Sanabria. How to get there Lubián sits in the western corner of Zamora province, close to the border with Galicia and Portugal, at the foot of the Sierra Segundera range. The village is reached directly from the A-52 motorway by taking exit 107 toward Ourense. Lubián also lies on the Camino Sanabrés, one of the branches of the Camino de Santiago connecting Castile with Galicia, so the site sees a steady trickle of pilgrims taking a short detour along the route. A signposted footpath to the cortello begins near the town hall and the local health center in Lubián. The route forms a loop of roughly 1.5 kilometers: the first 700 meters climb directly to the enclosure, while the return follows a gentler track that is also passable by 4x4 vehicles. The walk typically takes 20 to 30 minutes and requires no special fitness beyond a short uphill stretch. What the structure looks like The Cortello dos Lobos forms an almost circular enclosure roughly thirty meters across. Its walls, built from local stone without any mortar, rise three to four meters high and are capped with large flat slabs that jut inward over the enclosure. The whole structure was set into a steep hillside so that, on the uphill side, the top of the wall sits level with the surrounding ground. How the trap worked The design relied entirely on the slope of the land. Because the upper edge of the wall matched the height of the hillside behind it, a wolf could leap straight in, drawn by the sight of easy prey — usually a lamb or goat tied up in the middle of the enclosure by local herders as bait. Once inside, though, the animal faced a tall wall topped with an inward-leaning overhang that blocked any escape back the way it came. It was a passive trap in every sense: the predator walked in on its own, lured by what it could see from higher ground. History Because no written records document its construction, the exact age of the Cortello dos Lobos is uncertain — estimates place it at several centuries old. It also remains unclear whether it was built by residents of Lubián itself or by transhumant shepherds, who moved their flocks seasonally between mountain and lowland pastures. The trap stayed in use until roughly the middle of the 20th century, when changes in livestock farming and growing protection of wolf populations brought this kind of hunting to an end. The site has since been restored and now stands as a piece of the region's ethnographic heritage. Similar stone wolf traps, though rare, survive elsewhere across northern Iberia — in Cantabria, Galicia, Navarre, and northern Portugal — wherever shepherding and wild predators once shared the same mountains. Frequently asked questions What does the name Cortello dos Lobos mean? It comes from the local Galician-Leonese dialect and translates literally as "wolf pen," referring to the structure's original use as a wolf trap. Can visitors walk to the cortello today? Yes. A signposted trail from Lubián forms a loop of about 1.5 kilometers, walkable in roughly 20 to 30 minutes. How did the wolf trap actually work? A wolf entered from the hillside side, lured by bait tied in the center, then found itself unable to climb back out past the high overhanging wall. When did the cortello stop being used? It fell out of use around the middle of the 20th century and has since been preserved as part of the ethnographic heritage of the Sanabria region.

Orenín

Elburgo / Burgelu

Orenín is a vanished village turned lake island, sitting in the Ullíbarri-Gamboa reservoir within the municipality of Elburgo/Burgelu, in the Llanada Alavesa district of Álava, in Spain's Basque Country. What was Orenín before the reservoir existed? Orenín was a small rural settlement that, in the mid-nineteenth century, counted around 52 inhabitants living in roughly fifteen houses, one of which served as the town hall. The village belonged administratively to the old municipality of Gamboa, and daily life there revolved around grain farming, livestock raising, and fishing along the Estraza river, which ran through the area. Orenín had its own parish church dedicated to San Lorenzo, and its cemetery sat beside a hermitage devoted to San Sebastián — the usual markers of a self-contained farming community rather than a mere hamlet. Why did the village disappear? The turning point came with the construction of the Ullíbarri-Gamboa reservoir on the Zadorra river, finished in 1957. The new dam flooded much of the enclave where Orenín and the neighboring village of Azúa stood. On 10 May 1957, this territory — until then part of Gamboa — was folded into the municipality of Elburgo, but by then the rising waters had already made normal village life impossible. Both Orenín and Azúa were abandoned as their fields and houses went under water, one of several settlements in Álava that vanished to make way for the reservoir system supplying Vitoria-Gasteiz and Greater Bilbao. What is left to see today? Not everything went under. The portion of Orenín that sat on slightly higher ground survived the flooding and now forms Orenín Island (Orenin uhartea in Basque), an uninhabited lake island rising from the reservoir waters. It stands as one of the more evocative traces of the villages the dam erased — a quiet reminder, visible from the shoreline and from the water, of a working farming community that existed here for centuries before 1957. What else can you do around the reservoir? Ullíbarri-Gamboa is the largest reservoir in the Basque Country, covering about 1,477 hectares only fifteen kilometers from Vitoria-Gasteiz, and it draws plenty of visitors well beyond history enthusiasts. Its two Blue Flag beaches, Landa and Garaio, are popular summer spots for swimming, and paths around the shoreline suit both walking and cycling. Anglers rate the reservoir highly too: it holds one of Europe's best-known populations of large European perch, with specimens of 2.5 to 3 kilograms or more drawing fishermen from across the continent, alongside pike, pikeperch, trout, black bass, carp, barbel, tench, chub, and bleak. How do you get there, and when's the best time to visit? Elburgo/Burgelu sits in the Llanada Alavesa, the plain east of Vitoria-Gasteiz, and the reservoir shoreline is reachable by local roads from the city in a short drive. Summer suits the beaches and water-based activities, while spring and autumn are quieter and better suited to walking or cycling the paths around the water and taking in views toward the island. Frequently asked questions What is Orenín exactly? It was a small farming village near Elburgo/Burgelu, in Álava, whose fields and houses were flooded when the Ullíbarri-Gamboa reservoir was built in 1957. The unflooded remnant is now known as Orenín Island. Can you visit Orenín Island? It is an uninhabited lake island, visible from the reservoir's shoreline and from the water rather than a site with organized access. Why was Orenín abandoned? The construction of the Ullíbarri-Gamboa dam on the Zadorra river submerged most of the village and the surrounding farmland it depended on, making it uninhabitable. What else is there to do near Orenín? The surrounding Ullíbarri-Gamboa reservoir offers two Blue Flag beaches, walking and cycling routes, and fishing well known for producing exceptionally large European perch.

Palacio de las Leyes

Toro

Palacio de las Leyes is one of the most historically significant buildings in Toro, a town in the province of Zamora, in Castile and León. Only its facade survives today, but behind that facade lies an event that shaped Spanish civil law for centuries. Why is it called the "Palace of the Laws"? The name comes directly from the Cortes de Toro, the assembly of the Castilian estates that opened its sessions in this building on 11 January 1505. Queen Isabella I of Castile had died a few weeks earlier, on 26 November 1504, and it was here that her will was read and the succession settled: her daughter Juana was proclaimed queen of Castile. The assembly's most lasting achievement was the Leyes de Toro, a body of 83 laws promulgated on 7 March 1505 that regulated inheritance and succession of property. These laws became a cornerstone of Castilian civil law and continued to influence Spanish legal codification for centuries afterward. It is from these laws that the building takes its name, the "Palace of the Laws." Who owned the palace? The building dates from the 15th century and served as the seat of a noble family tied to the Ulloa-Pereira entailed estate (mayorazgo). The poet and Baroque-era writer Luis de Ulloa Pereira was born in this palace, linking the building to local family history as well as to the wider events of the Castilian crown. What does the palace look like today? Only the facade of the original residence has survived; the rest of the building was destroyed by a fire in 1923 that consumed the interiors and most of the structure. The surviving facade is Gothic in style: the portal is framed by a decorative alfiz carved with plant motifs, topped by coats of arms of Castile and León together with the arms of the Sosa and Ulloa families, a reminder of the lineage of the palace's former owners. This facade is the main reason visitors still stop in front of the building today. Where is the palace located? Palacio de las Leyes stands in the historic centre of Toro, next to the Church of the Santísima Trinidad (Holy Trinity), among the other historic mansions for which Toro is known within the Zamora region. Why is it worth a visit? Even reduced to its facade, the palace carries real symbolic weight: it is the place where the succession of the Castilian crown was decided and where a body of law took shape that would govern generations. For visitors interested in the legal and dynastic history of Spain at the turn of the 16th century, it remains one of the more meaningful stops in Toro. Frequently asked questions Can visitors go inside the palace? No — after the 1923 fire, only the facade remains; the interior was destroyed. Why is it called the "Palace of the Laws"? Because the Cortes de Toro met in this building in 1505 and enacted the Leyes de Toro, a set of 83 laws on inheritance and property that became foundational to later Castilian civil law. What happened to the palace in 1923? A fire destroyed the structure and its interiors, leaving only the Gothic facade standing. Who owned the palace? It belonged to the entailed estate of the Ulloa-Pereira family; the poet Luis de Ulloa Pereira was born there. Where exactly is the palace in Toro? Next to the Church of the Santísima Trinidad, in the town's historic centre.

Castle of Irulegi

Aranguren

Castle of Irulegi is the ruin of a fortified hilltop settlement more than two thousand years old, sitting atop Mount Irulegi in the municipality of Aranguren, a short distance south of Pamplona in Navarre, Spain. It was here, in 2021, that archaeologists made one of the most talked-about epigraphic discoveries in recent Spanish history: a bronze hand-shaped object bearing the oldest known inscription in a language related to the ancestors of modern Basque. What can you see on the hill today? Mount Irulegi rises above the Arga river valley and holds the remains of an Iron Age fortified settlement — surviving wall foundations, house remains, and the layout of a community that once guarded the approaches to Pamplona. The site forms part of a trail promoted by Navarre's regional tourist board, combining a walk across the hilltop with the story of the excavation and the find that brought the site international attention. How was the discovery made? On 18 June 2021, during excavation work near the entrance of one of the uncovered dwellings, archaeologists came across a small bronze object. It wasn't until cleaning and conservation work began on 18 January 2022 that an inscription on its surface came to light — a discovery that quickly made headlines among researchers of Iberian Peninsula history. What exactly is the Hand of Irulegi? The object is shaped like a right hand with extended fingers, measures roughly 14.5 centimeters, and dates to the 1st century BCE, the closing phase of the Iron Age. Four lines of characters — around forty symbols in total, written in the northeastern Iberian script — are carved into the back of the hand, likely forming five separate words. Researchers consider it the oldest and most extensive known text written in a language of the Vasconic family, ancestral to today's Basque. Resembling a pendant, the object was probably an amulet meant to be hung near a doorway, intended to bring good fortune or ward off harm. Why was it found at this particular spot? The mud-brick building where the hand was unearthed was destroyed by fire during the Sertorian Wars (82–72 BCE), a Roman-era conflict fought across the Iberian Peninsula. That very fire, paradoxically, is what helped preserve the object for two millennia, burying it under rubble and shielding it from decay. Why does this discovery matter so much? Researchers regard the Irulegi inscription as key evidence that writing existed among the ancestors of the Basques well before the Roman period. The find sparked wide scholarly debate about the relationship between the ancient Vasconic language and historical Basque, as well as the territorial extent over which this script was once used. Frequently asked questions Where is the Castle of Irulegi located? On top of Mount Irulegi, in the municipality of Aranguren, a short distance south of Pamplona, in the Navarre region of Spain. What is the Hand of Irulegi? A bronze, hand-shaped object from the 1st century BCE, bearing what is considered the oldest known text in a Vasconic language related to Basque. When was the inscription discovered? The object itself was found on 18 June 2021, but the inscription only became visible during conservation work that began on 18 January 2022. What else is there to see besides the artifact itself? The remains of an Iron Age fortified settlement — sections of defensive walls and house foundations — accessible via a trail promoted by the Navarre tourist board.

Torre de los Alarconcillos

Alarcón

Torre de los Alarconcillos is a medieval defensive tower standing above a bend of the Júcar River, right next to the walled town of Alarcón in the province of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha. It served as an outlying post guarding the approach to the town from across the river gorge. How to get there? Alarcón sits along the road linking Cuenca with Motilla del Palancar and Requena, roughly an hour's drive south of the provincial capital. The tower stands on high ground on the far side of the Júcar's meander, facing the historic Puerta del Río, the gate that opens onto the town from the riverside. It's reached on foot from the center of Alarcón along a path that follows the riverbed, offering good views of the rocky gorge that wraps around the town on three sides. What will you see? The tower dates from the 14th century, built after the Infante Don Juan Manuel took control of Alarcón's lands. A nephew of Alfonso X the Wise, Juan Manuel was also one of the most important writers of medieval Castile, best known for his collection of moral tales, El Conde Lucanor; local tradition holds that he wrote part of his work during stays in Alarcón. After gaining the territory, he rebuilt and reinforced its defenses. The tower itself has a central body reinforced by four corner buttresses, topped by a smaller watch-post used to survey the surrounding land and the river below. Its purpose was to deny attackers the high ground opposite the river gate, from which the town or its castle could otherwise have been threatened. A similar role, on the opposite western side of the peninsula, was played by the Torre del Cañavate, which together with a walled enclosure sealed off access to Alarcón from the west. Alarcón's overall defensive network ranks among the best preserved in the region: the town is ringed by three successive lines of walls, each with its own gate and tower — the Puerta and Torre del Campo, the Puerta and Torre del Calabozo (also known as de Enmedio), and the Puerta del Bodegón. Although it stands apart from the main circuit, the Torre de los Alarconcillos was an integral outpost within this wider system. A brief history The area around Alarcón was settled as far back as Iberian and Roman times, and the town's name has Arabic roots. Following a campaign led by Alfonso VIII in 1177, Christian troops under Martín de Ceballos took the town in 1184 after a nine-month siege, one of the longest recorded in the region's Reconquista. In the early 14th century the lands passed to Don Juan Manuel, who rebuilt the fortifications, likely including this tower. The wider defensive complex remained militarily active for centuries afterward — the last recorded fighting within its walls dates to 1471, during the conflicts over the Marquisate of Villena. When to visit? Spring and early autumn are the best times to visit, when temperatures in this part of Castile-La Mancha are milder than the peak summer heat, making the riverside walk to the tower more comfortable. It's worth setting aside at least half a day to see both Alarcón itself and its surrounding fortifications — the river's dramatic bend is especially striking at sunrise or sunset, when the light brings out the shape of the gorge. Frequently asked questions What was the Torre de los Alarconcillos? A 14th-century defensive tower built as an outlying post guarding the approach to Alarcón from the river gate. Who built the tower? It was built under the Infante Don Juan Manuel, who took control of Alarcón in the early 14th century and rebuilt its fortifications. How does the tower relate to Alarcón's walls? It was part of the town's broader defensive system, which included three rings of walls and other outlying towers such as the Torre del Cañavate on the western side. Can visitors access the site today? Yes, the site belongs to the Alarcón town council and is freely accessible; the whole defensive complex is protected as a Historical-Artistic Ensemble (Conjunto Histórico-Artístico).

Cal Balaguer

Castellet i la Gornal

Cal Balaguer is the ruin of an old Catalan farmhouse and the small rural settlement built around it, in the municipality of Castellet i la Gornal, right in the heart of Foix Natural Park, in the Alt Penedès comarca (Barcelona province). Abandoned for decades, the site is now mainly a stop for hikers tracing the remnants of Penedès's old mountain farming life. Where exactly is Cal Balaguer? The settlement sits on high ground within the Serra Mala, at roughly 250-260 metres above sea level, inside Foix Natural Park — one of the wilder corners of Alt Penedès. There is no road access, electricity, or water supply left on site today, which is part of why the ruins feel so cut off from the surrounding villages. What will you find on site? Cal Balaguer was never a single house — it was the largest farm in a small cluster of homesteads scattered across the surrounding hills, alongside neighbours such as Can Gat Negre, Cal Pastor Xic, Cal Pigot, and Cal Feliciana Vell. The main house stood out for its size, with outbuildings and a perimeter wall together forming a wide courtyard. The buildings were raised from stone, earth, and lime, materials typical of rural Penedès construction, in a style associated with the 18th and 19th centuries. There was no church or other monumental structure here — this was purely a working agricultural settlement built around farming and livestock. How did the settlement come to be? The land Cal Balaguer stood on fell under the direct authority of the lords of Castellet, the local feudal rulers of this stretch of Penedès. No founding records have survived, so it's not possible to pin an exact date on the earliest buildings. What is clear is that, over generations, the families of Cal Balaguer and its neighbouring farms made their living from the steep, modest plots typical of the Penedès highlands. Why was it abandoned? Cal Balaguer shared the fate of dozens of similarly humble mountain settlements along the coastal and pre-coastal ranges of Penedès, all of which emptied out definitively during the 1960s and 1970s. Several factors combined at once: recurring forest fires that ravaged the area, a mass exodus of residents toward the cities in search of work, and a lack of roads and basic services, made worse by institutional neglect. Today every building on site is in ruins — none are in a condition that could realistically be restored — and the settlement carries no formal heritage protection. How do you get there? Cal Balaguer is reached on foot, typically starting from the nearby villages of Clariana or Torrelletes — the Torrelletes route is the shorter of the two, at under a kilometre. The site appears on several hiking-trail maps covering Foix Natural Park and is a popular waypoint for visitors walking longer routes through this part of Alt Penedès. Sturdy footwear is worth packing, since the terrain is hilly and the settlement itself lies well away from any paved road. Frequently asked questions What was Cal Balaguer? The largest farm in a small cluster of Catalan farmhouses, set on high ground inside Foix Natural Park, in the municipality of Castellet i la Gornal. When and why was it abandoned? During the 1960s and 1970s, due to a combination of forest fires, rural exodus toward the cities, and a lack of roads and basic services. Can visitors go inside the buildings today? No — every structure on site is completely ruined, and none can be entered or explored from within. What's the easiest way to reach the ruins? On foot, via the trail from Torrelletes (the shortest route) or from Clariana — both pass through Foix Natural Park.

Acueducto de Sabatini

Madryt

Acueducto de Sabatini is a historic aqueduct in Casa de Campo, Madrid's large city park, built in 1778 to a design by the Italian architect Francesco Sabatini. Also known as the Acueducto de la Partida, it once carried water to the riverside gardens along the Manzanares. Where is it located? The aqueduct stands inside Casa de Campo, the sprawling park west of central Madrid, running between the park's lake and the garden grounds known as la Partida, right next to the Manzanares river. Visitors typically come across it while walking or cycling through the park rather than seeking it out as a standalone sight, which makes it a pleasant discovery for anyone exploring Casa de Campo. Why was it built? Before 1778, water reached the riverside gardens — which also supplied the Royal Palace — through an older wooden aqueduct. That structure was unstable and needed constant repairs, which eventually pushed the court of Charles III to commission a sturdier replacement. The job went to Francesco Sabatini, an architect already busy with several other royal commissions in Madrid at the time. Who was Francesco Sabatini? Sabatini was born in Palermo in 1721 and trained as an architect in Rome. His path to Madrid ran through Naples, where he worked on the royal palace at Caserta for King Charles VII — the same monarch who, after becoming Charles III of Spain, brought him to the capital in 1760. In Madrid, Sabatini left behind a substantial body of work, including the Puerta de Alcalá and the convent of San Pascual in Aranjuez. He died in 1797, and the aqueduct in Casa de Campo remains one of the lesser-known, though no less distinctive, pieces of his Madrid legacy. How was the aqueduct built? The new channel was built in brick, with a water-carrying system made of granite pieces joined by tongue-and-groove fittings — a technique that let the structure handle changes in ground level without the frequent upkeep the earlier wooden aqueduct had demanded. As a result, it kept functioning for decades before the city's evolving water needs eventually reduced its practical role. What can you see today? Today the aqueduct survives mainly as a heritage structure and a landscape feature rather than working water infrastructure. Madrid's city authorities have carried out conservation work to protect it from further deterioration, treating it as part of the architectural heritage of Casa de Campo. Walking along the lake, visitors can still make out the line of arches and masonry spans that once traced the water's route. Frequently asked questions Where exactly is the Acueducto de Sabatini? Inside Casa de Campo park in Madrid, between the park's lake and the la Partida gardens, near the Manzanares river. When was the aqueduct built? In 1778, replacing an earlier wooden aqueduct that required too much frequent repair. Who designed it? The Italian architect Francesco Sabatini, who worked in Madrid for King Charles III from 1760 and also designed the Puerta de Alcalá. Does the aqueduct still carry water? No, it no longer serves its original function — today it stands as a protected heritage structure and part of the park landscape. Is it worth visiting as part of a trip to Casa de Campo? Yes, it's an interesting stop for anyone exploring the park on foot or by bike, combining natural surroundings with a piece of 18th-century Madrid history.

Son Jaumell

Cala Agulla

Talaia de Son Jaumell is the ruin of a coastal watchtower perched on a hill between Cala Mesquida and Cala Agulla, in the municipality of Capdepera on Mallorca's northeastern coast. Little more than weathered stone remains standing today, but the spot has long served as both a lookout point and the destination of one of the area's most popular short hikes. Why was the tower built here? Construction dates to 1581, part of a wider coastal defense network raised from the sixteenth century onward to counter repeated raids by Turkish and Berber pirates along Mallorca's shores. The tower originally had a slightly conical shape and a wooden staircase leading up to its lookout platform, from which watchmen scanned the sea for approaching ships and passed warnings along the coast. Centuries of exposure have taken their toll: part of the structure has collapsed, and what remains is a broken outline of bare, sun-bleached stone, exposed to the elements on several sides. What made this particular hilltop so valuable? Its position was no accident. Standing at roughly 273 meters above sea level, the tower sits on the same sightline as Cap de Freu, the narrowest stretch of the channel separating Mallorca from Menorca. That alignment gave Son Jaumell a second life in the nineteenth century, when it was folded into an optical telegraph system relaying signals between the Almudaina palace in Palma and the naval command in Mahón, Menorca. Messages passed on to the nearby Calicant tower and from there across the water; the telegraph apparatus itself was secured to the structure with four iron chains. The tower is sometimes referred to locally by the names of the coves it overlooks, Cala Moltó or Cala Agulla. How do you reach it? The most common approach starts from the car park at Cala Agulla beach, generally considered the more moderate of the available routes. A second option climbs via the Coll de Marina, roughly 50 minutes one-way, while the direct path from Cala Mesquida is shorter but far steeper, crossing exposed rock and patches of loose gravel underfoot. Hikers looking for a longer outing can link both coves into a circular route, though that takes more planning and stamina than the out-and-back options. What do you see once you're up there? From the ridge, the two neighboring bays — Cala Mesquida and Cala Agulla — come into view together, along with a wide stretch of the Capdepera coastline and the hillier terrain typical of Mallorca's northeastern tip. It's this combination of a short but demanding climb and a wide coastal panorama that keeps the hike popular with visitors who want more than a day on the sand. Frequently asked questions Can you go inside the tower? No. The structure is a ruin, with part of it collapsed and the rest standing as an open, unroofed shell. Visitors approach it from the outside as a viewpoint and hiking destination rather than a building with an accessible interior. Where's the best place to start the hike? The car park at Cala Agulla beach is the usual starting point, offering the more moderate of the routes up to the tower. How long does the hike take? It depends on the route: the Coll de Marina path takes about 50 minutes one-way, while the Cala Agulla approach runs a comparable moderate length, though rocky and steep sections can slow the pace. What was the tower originally used for? It was built in 1581 as a watchtower against pirate raids, and later repurposed in the nineteenth century as a relay station in the optical telegraph line linking Palma with Menorca via the Calicant tower. Can the hike be combined with a beach day? Yes. Most routes begin or end at Cala Agulla, one of the best-known beaches on this stretch of Mallorca's coast, making it easy to pair the climb with time in the water.

Tower of Malamoneda

Hontanar

Malamoneda Tower rises above the Cedena river valley at the foot of the Sierra del Puerco, in the municipality of Hontanar, in the southern part of Toledo province, Castile-La Mancha. Together with the nearby Malamoneda Castle, less than a kilometer away, it once formed part of a defensive network guarding the natural mountain pass carved by the Cedena through the Montes de Toledo. How old is the tower, and who built it? Archaeological evidence shows the site around Malamoneda was occupied continuously from the Neolithic period onward, with successive layers left by Vettones, Romans, Visigoths, and Muslim settlers. Following the Christian advance into the region, Mozarabic communities resettled the valley during the reign of Alfonso VII in the 12th century. The tower itself was raised in the 13th century, and its builders reused stone taken from Roman structures already standing nearby. Local tradition credits the Knights Templar with its construction, though no direct historical source confirms this — it remains a hypothesis passed down through regional history rather than an established fact. Unlike the older castle just below it, the tower sits at a higher point on the hillside and is architecturally later, dating to the 13th and 14th centuries. It functioned as a watchtower overseeing the Cedena passage and as a refuge for residents of the small settlement of Malamoneda that grew up at its base. Who controlled Malamoneda over the centuries? In 1210, King Alfonso VIII granted the surrounding villages and fortresses, Malamoneda among them, to the nobleman Alfonso Téllez de Meneses, in recognition of his role in resettling the reconquered territory. Within the following decade, Téllez transferred these holdings to the Archbishop of Toledo, Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada. By 1246, the city council of Toledo had purchased Malamoneda outright for 45,000 gold maravedís, bringing the settlement under direct municipal control. What happened to the original village? The settlement of Malamoneda gradually declined. According to the Relaciones of Philip II, compiled in the second half of the 16th century, the nearby town of Hontanar was founded around 1376, likely as former Malamoneda residents relocated there once their own village began emptying out. Traces of a necropolis and a hermitage once home to Hieronymite monks can still be found on the old Malamoneda site today. What condition is the tower in now? The tower stands in a state of progressive ruin, and the wider archaeological site has repeatedly suffered looting of architectural fragments and artifacts. Despite this, the area remains freely accessible to visitors at no charge. As with most Spanish castles and defensive towers, it falls under legal protection through the 1949 heritage decree and Spain's 1985 Historical Heritage Law. Frequently asked questions Are the Malamoneda tower and castle the same building? No. They are two separate structures roughly 700 meters apart. The castle sits lower and is the older of the two, while the tower occupies higher ground and dates from the Christian period of the 13th and 14th centuries. Can visitors go inside the tower? The site is open and free to visit, but since the structure is in an advanced state of ruin, visitors should exercise caution — there is no official tourist infrastructure or pathway on site. Were the Knights Templar really responsible for building it? Regional tradition links the tower to the Templars, but no historical document proves this connection outright. It remains one hypothesis about its origin rather than an established fact. Why did the village of Malamoneda disappear? Historical sources point to a gradual depopulation, closely tied to the founding of nearby Hontanar around 1376, where many of its former residents are believed to have resettled.

el Corto Pio

Vacarisses

El Corto Pio is a small, traditional rural building (a casalot) in the municipality of Vacarisses, in the Vallès Occidental comarca, Barcelona province, Catalonia. It sits away from the town center, in a hilly, wooded stretch of countryside, and today it's known less for itself than for the natural spot that borrows its name nearby — a spring and pools of the same name. Where does the name come from? The name "Corto Pio" traces back to this modest countryside house. It lent its name to a nearby spring, the Font del Corto Pio, which today draws far more visitors than the building itself. The building's coordinates (41.622074, 1.921104) place it in a rolling, inland stretch of Vacarisses, typical of this part of the Vallès Occidental. What is there to see at the Font del Corto Pio? The spring and pools sit along the Torrent dels Oms streambed. Unlike many nearby streams that dry up in summer, this stretch usually holds water, forming a small waterfall and a natural pool (a "gorg" in Catalan) inside a shaded, wooded setting. One distinctive feature is the reddish, clay-toned streambanks, a result of the local geology. Flow is strongest after rain, since the Torrent dels Oms doesn't carry water year-round. Is there anything else historic nearby? Yes. A few hundred meters from the casalot, at coordinates 41.62757, 1.92264, stands the Barraco del Corto Pio — a circular dry-stone hut built using the traditional vernacular technique once common across rural Catalonia. It's currently unused, privately owned, and carries no formal heritage protection, though it is listed in the Diputació de Barcelona's cultural heritage catalog under record 08291-152. Similar dry-stone huts turn up throughout the Vallès Occidental, remnants of the area's small-scale farming past. How do you get there, and what hiking routes pass through? Corto Pio sits along several circular hiking routes that link the main landmarks of rural Vacarisses: La Torrota, Masia Sanana, the Can Còdol mill, Masia Vendranes, and the summits of Cingle Gros and Cingle Petit. Several of these routes also pass close to another farmhouse in the area, el Lleonard, making it possible to combine both stops on a single outing. The terrain is rocky and only partly signposted, so sturdy hiking boots and a map or GPS app are worth carrying — some of the side trails can be confusing even for experienced hikers. When is the best time to visit? The best time to see the Font del Corto Pio at its fullest is after a stretch of rain — typically spring or autumn — when the Torrent dels Oms carries the most water and the small waterfall is at its most impressive. In the drier summer months, the spring runs lower, but the surrounding woods still offer shade and cool relief for a walk. Frequently asked questions What exactly is el Corto Pio? It's a small, traditional rural building in Vacarisses that gave its name to a nearby spring and a dry-stone hut in the same area. Can visitors go inside the building? No — the casalot sits on private land and isn't set up for visits. The real draw for hikers is the surrounding natural area: the spring and pools. What's worth seeing nearby? The Font del Corto Pio, with its natural pool and small waterfall, the nearby Barraco del Corto Pio dry-stone hut, and a network of hiking trails connecting other rural sites, including el Lleonard. When should I plan a visit? Spring and autumn, after rainfall, when the Torrent dels Oms runs fullest and the waterfall at the spring is most dramatic.

Torre de Norfeu

Roses

Torre de Norfeu is a 17th-century watchtower perched on the tip of Cap de Norfeu, a rocky headland on the Costa Brava within the municipality of Roses, in Girona province, Catalonia. Built around 1604, it formed part of a chain of coastal towers erected to defend the Gulf of Roses against raids by Barbary corsairs and pirates operating across the western Mediterranean. How do you get there? Cap de Norfeu lies just south of central Roses, between the town's bay and the cove of Cala Montjoi. No road reaches the tower — the only way in is on foot, via a well-known circular trail that loops around the entire headland, usually starting from Roses or Cala Montjoi. The path runs along dramatic sea cliffs and ranks among the most rewarding coastal walks on this stretch of the Costa Brava, with views stretching across the Gulf of Roses toward Cap de Creus. The tower itself sits roughly 169 meters above sea level, a height that once gave its lookouts command of a wide stretch of open water. What will you see? The tower was built from roughly hewn, irregular stone blocks on a circular plan, with a base that flares slightly outward. Originally it rose two stories to an artillery platform, reaching a height of about 7.5 meters. The ground floor held a vaulted, covered cistern for storing water — the single element that has survived in the best condition. Its garrison kept watch over the sea, ready to warn nearby settlements of approaching corsair ships, and also guarded freshwater sources in the surrounding coves that passing vessels, hostile ones included, relied on. Today only about 7 meters of the original lower story still stand; the rest has crumbled away over the centuries. Even reduced to a stump, the tower remains a striking silhouette against the sky and one of the most recognizable landmarks on this part of the coast. A tower with a turbulent past The tower played a part in Catalonia's 17th-century conflicts. During a 1645 siege in the Reapers' War (Guerra dels Segadors), it was known as the Torre del Rey, the King's Tower. Late in the same century it suffered damage from French forces raiding the Catalan coast. Its final blow came from nature rather than war: a lightning strike in the mid-18th century wrecked the structure, ending its defensive role for good. In the following decades the surviving base was put to agricultural use before eventually settling into the protected ruin visitors see today. When to visit? Because the trail offers no shade, spring, early summer, and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking out to Cap de Norfeu. In peak summer, an early start is worth it to avoid the hottest hours on this exposed stretch of coastline. Sturdy walking shoes and plenty of water are essential, since there are no facilities along the route. Frequently Asked Questions When was Torre de Norfeu built? The tower dates from around 1604, built as part of a coastal defense network protecting the Gulf of Roses from corsair raids. Can you go inside the tower? No — only about 7 meters of the lower story survive, along with the old cistern. It's a ruin best viewed and photographed from the outside. How do you reach the tower? On foot only, via the circular hiking trail around Cap de Norfeu, typically starting near Roses or Cala Montjoi. Why was it called Torre del Rey? It earned that name — "the King's Tower" — during a 1645 siege in the Reapers' War, when it served the royal forces defending the coast.

Casa del Racó

Rellinars

Casa del Racó is the ruin of an abandoned masia (traditional Catalan farmhouse) in the municipality of Rellinars, in the Vallès Occidental comarca, Barcelona province, Catalonia. The remains sit at roughly 384 metres above sea level, on the right bank of the Torrent del Racó stream, which took its name from the house — the stream itself is a tributary of the larger Torrent de l'Esbarzer. What survives of Casa del Racó today? Of the main building, essentially only the stone façade remains, with window openings framed by stone lintels and arches built from cut stone voussoirs. Around the main structure stand several smaller, separate outbuildings, in a similarly advanced state of ruin — only façades and wall fragments survive, with no roofs left anywhere on the site. Together they form a small cluster of rural buildings, typical of the scattered farmstead settlement pattern found at the foot of the Sant Llorenç del Munt range. What else is on the site? Right next to the main ruin stands a separate tina — a circular wine vat built from stone bonded with lime mortar, its interior lined with glazed ceramic tiles. The tina survives in very good condition, though an oak tree growing nearby threatens its walls with its roots and branches. The property also holds two circular stone wells and a spring, structures once used to collect and store water, now standing as evidence of how earlier generations managed water in this dry, hilly terrain. A short distance uphill, the remains of a small fortified structure known as el Casot also survive; it was surveyed archaeologically in 1976. Where does the name come from, and what's the history? The name Racó (Catalan for "corner" or "nook") refers to the farmstead's position tucked into a side branch of the valley. The building complex is typical of the region's 18th- to 20th-century masies, with winemaking forming part of the household economy — evidenced by the surviving tina, characteristic of the vineyard expansion that swept Catalonia in the second half of the 19th century after phylloxera devastated French vineyards in 1863. The farmstead was eventually abandoned, and its buildings gradually collapsed into ruin; today they form part of the cultural landscape of the Rellinars valley, recorded in the local heritage inventory. How do you get to Casa del Racó? One approach starts from the hamlet of Les Ferreres, following the Torrent de l'Esbarzer stream, through a metal gate and several bends in the path, up to the point at the top of the climb where the ruins stand. An alternative route runs from the Camí de les Codines path via Cal Manel; either way, the trail crosses dense forest and can be hard to follow without a good map. Casa del Racó lies within the protected area of the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park, near other points along the local hiking network, such as the Font del Càntir spring and the Casajoana farmhouse. Frequently Asked Questions Can you go inside the ruins? Only façades and wall fragments remain, with no roofs, so visits are limited to viewing the buildings from the outside — entering the unstable structures isn't safe. What is there to see besides the main building? The standout feature next to the ruin is the well-preserved wine vat (tina), along with two stone wells and a nearby spring, all evidence of past water management on the site. Are there other historic sites nearby? Yes — a short walk away lie the remains of the el Casot fortified structure, and the surrounding trails also lead to other abandoned farmhouses and water points within the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park. How difficult is the walk in? The approach runs through forested terrain and requires some route-finding, since the paths aren't heavily signposted — it's worth bringing a map or GPS app before setting out.

Clivelleres

Mediona

Clivelleres is an abandoned masia (traditional Catalan farmhouse) in the municipality of Mediona, in the Alt Penedès comarca, province of Barcelona, Catalonia. The building sits on the slope of the hill sharing its name, at an elevation of nearly 680 metres, and although uninhabited and partly collapsed, it still draws hikers — mainly for the view over the Penedès valley. Where exactly is Clivelleres? The farmhouse stands south of Mediona's town centre, at the foot of the Turó de les Clivelleres, between the hills of Turó dels Pins Verds and la Piula. The whole area, known as the Serra de Clivelleres, is a ridge in Alt Penedès whose highest point (744 metres) carries a geodetic survey marker. From the terrace beside the farmhouse there are views over the Valldellòs gorge and the Penedès plain, rated by locals among the best vantage points in the region. What does the building look like? Clivelleres is a cluster of farm structures arranged around a rectangular main building with a ground floor and an upper storey under a two-pitched roof, much of which has now caved in. The walls are built from roughly hewn stone laid dry, without mortar, with traces of old plaster still visible in places. The entrance, set off-centre in the façade, is framed by a stone segmental arch. Rectangular window openings survive upstairs, and the rear of the building was rebuilt in brick at some point. A separate small structure houses a brick bread oven, a reminder of how self-sufficient the farm once was. Where does this farmhouse come from? The exact construction date is unknown, but researchers link the building to the late 18th century, when vineyard acreage around Mediona expanded rapidly to supply grapes for distilling brandy exported to Holland and the Americas. During the 19th century the farm likely gained importance as wine prices rose, a consequence of the phylloxera blight that devastated French vineyards and, for a few decades, made Catalan wine especially sought after. The people who lived here worked the terraced fields cut into the hillside nearby; once abandoned, those terraces were gradually reclaimed by forest. What condition is the building in today? The masia is abandoned and in poor condition — its roof has partly collapsed, and parts of the structure are buried under earth and vegetation. It remains privately owned, but is listed in Mediona's municipal heritage catalogue (entry ARQ063, approved July 2012) under a lower tier of heritage protection (BPU classification). It currently serves no function: nobody lives there and no farming takes place on site. How do you get to Clivelleres? The easiest way to reach the farmhouse is on foot, along a trail linking Sant Joan de Mediona with the surrounding hills. One popular route starts at the Els Rentadors washhouse and covers about 12.6 km round trip with roughly 370 metres of elevation gain. Along the way it passes the Font de Conilles spring, a good rest stop, and the Cova de Bolet cave, which carries several local legends. The farmhouse lies roughly halfway along the route, after which the trail continues toward the geodetic marker atop Turó de les Clivelleres and the Roques Blanques rocks, with views straight down onto Sant Joan de Mediona. Frequently asked questions Can you go inside Clivelleres? The building is private property, badly deteriorated and partly collapsed, so entering it is neither safe nor advisable — it's best admired from the outside. How long does it take to reach the Clivelleres farmhouse? It depends on the route, but the popular loop from Sant Joan de Mediona runs about 12.6 km with 370 metres of elevation gain, usually taking 3-4 hours round trip. What else is worth seeing nearby? Along the way it's worth stopping at the Font de Conilles spring and the Cova de Bolet cave, while the geodetic marker on Turó de les Clivelleres and the Roques Blanques rocks offer some of the best views over the Penedès. Why is the farmhouse abandoned? Like many Catalan rural farmsteads, Clivelleres lost its purpose as rural depopulation took hold during the 20th century — the surrounding cultivation terraces stopped being worked and were gradually reclaimed by forest.

Mas Canyet

Palamós

Mas Canyet is the ruin of a traditional Catalan farmhouse with an attached defensive tower, standing in the municipality of Palamós, in the Baix Empordà region of Girona province. The site ties together the story of rural settlement on the Costa Brava with centuries of coastal defense against pirate raids. Where exactly are the ruins? Mas Canyet lies inland, in the Sant Joan de Palamós district, in an area known as Castell. The buildings sit in a narrow gorge, a location that was no accident — tucking the farmstead into this ravine kept it hidden from pirates who once raided this stretch of coast. Today the spot is a quiet, wooded corner of the Palamós countryside, just a few kilometers from the town's harbor and beaches. How old is this place? The earliest known record of the farmhouse dates back to 1315, when a capbreu — a medieval property register — tied to the nearby Vila-romà castle listed a mas standing in this same gorge. The tower that still dominates the ruins today is older than the rest of the structure, believed to date from the 16th century, when it served a purely defensive purpose as a lookout and refuge in case of danger from the sea. It was only in the 18th century that a proper farmhouse was built directly against the tower, merging the two into the single block typical of Catalan mas architecture. From that point the tower lost its defensive role and became just one wing of a working farm. The carved date 1787 is still visible above the entrance portal, marking that stage of construction. What survives on site? The tower itself is fairly compact — roughly 5.57 by 4.90 meters at the base and just under 7 meters tall — yet it rises through three levels. Its ground floor still holds a bread oven dating from the 16th century, a small trace of everyday life for the people who once lived here. The upper floors were originally linked by a trapdoor and an internal doorway, and the thick walls still show three windows and narrow loopholes, all framed in cut granite — leftovers from the tower's original defensive design. The whole building was once covered by a double-pitched tile roof, which has since collapsed. The ruins are now in an advanced state of decay: window and door frames are missing, ceilings in the farmhouse section have caved in, and even the tower — despite its thicker walls — has lost sections of its structure over time. Mas Canyet is listed in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia, and the property currently belongs to the Generalitat de Catalunya, the region's autonomous government. Is it worth the visit? For anyone interested in the region's history or rural Catalan architecture, Mas Canyet is an offbeat destination — a genuine ruin with no visitor facilities, tucked into a wooded gorge away from the busy Costa Brava resorts. It suits travelers who enjoy the quieter, inland corners of Palamós and want to see the remains of an old coastal defense outpost firsthand. Given how badly the structure has deteriorated, visitors should stay cautious around the site — the building is unstable and the area has no tourist infrastructure. Frequently asked questions What is Mas Canyet? It is the ruin of a Catalan farmhouse built onto an earlier defensive tower, standing in a gorge within the municipality of Palamós. Why was the farmhouse built inside a gorge? The location kept the buildings hidden from pirates who used to raid the Costa Brava coastline in earlier centuries. How old is the tower? It is believed to date from the 16th century, though the mas itself was already mentioned in a document from 1315. The farmhouse was added in the 18th century, as shown by the date 1787 carved above the entrance. What condition are the ruins in today? The site is heavily deteriorated — the roof has collapsed, doors and windows are missing, and parts of the structure have caved in. Mas Canyet is listed in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia and belongs to the Generalitat de Catalunya.

Mas de Tinet

Alcover

Mas de Tinet is an abandoned stone farmhouse — a traditional Catalan masia — in the municipality of Alcover, in the Alt Camp comarca, Tarragona province. The ruin sits deep in the Glorieta river valley, at roughly 700 metres above sea level, surrounded by pine and oak woodland, well away from any paved road. How to get there? Mas de Tinet lies a few kilometres from the centre of Alcover, toward the neighbouring municipality of l'Albiol, inside the Glorieta valley at the foot of the Serra de Prades range. No road reaches the ruin — it's accessible only on foot or by mountain bike, along a forest track that also passes a spring bearing the same name as the farmhouse. Most visitors set out from Alcover itself; the route connects with other well-known spots in the valley, such as the Ermita del Remei, Mas de Forès, the Niu de l'Àliga viewpoint, and the Fonts del Glorieta. What will you see? What remains on site are the ruins of a former farming estate — walls and foundations that hint at the scale the farmstead once had. Local hiking chroniclers point to Mas de Tinet as one of the oldest masies in the whole municipality of Alcover. The building is listed in Alcover's catalogue of protected farmhouses within the local urban planning plan (POUM), under the reference M051, confirming its value as a witness to the area's old agricultural settlement pattern. Right next to the ruin runs a spring known as the Font de Tinet (also called Font dels Capellans), which for generations supplied the farmhouse and passing travellers with water. Within a few hundred metres, hikers can find the remains of other abandoned farmsteads — Mas de Messeter, with its own basin and spring, and the smaller Maset d'en Joan Bo. The whole area is wrapped in dense pine-and-oak forest typical of the Serra de Prades interior, offering shade in summer and vivid colour along the valley in autumn and spring. Condition and outlook Mas de Tinet has stood uninhabited for a long time, and its decay has progressed over decades — hikers were already describing it as a ruin visible from the forest trails in the early 2000s. In recent years the property, roughly 600 square metres of built area on a wooded plot of close to 52 hectares, has been marketed for sale as a restoration project, aimed at rural tourism or a small-scale guesthouse. From the site there are views across the Camp de Tarragona plain toward the Mediterranean coast, which keeps the location appealing despite the advanced state of the ruins. When to visit? Since the approach runs mostly through forest, spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons to walk it, with mild temperatures and colourful woodland. In summer, an early start is worth it, as the open stretches of the Glorieta valley can get quite hot around midday. Winter brings quieter trails, though it's worth checking conditions after rain, since the forest track can turn slippery. Frequently asked questions What is Mas de Tinet? It's the ruin of a traditional Catalan masia (farmhouse) in the municipality of Alcover, listed in the local catalogue of protected farmhouses under reference M051. Can you drive there? No — the site sits deep in the forest of the Glorieta valley and can only be reached on foot or by mountain bike, via a forest track that also leads to the nearby Font de Tinet spring. What else is there to see nearby? Close by are the ruins of other abandoned farmsteads, Mas de Messeter and Maset d'en Joan Bo, and the valley's trails also lead to the Ermita del Remei, the Ermita de les Virtuts, and the Niu de l'Àliga viewpoint. Is the building protected in any way? Yes, Mas de Tinet is listed in Alcover's catalogue of protected farmhouses under its municipal planning scheme (POUM), even though the structure itself has remained a ruin for years and would need substantial restoration.

Castillo de Tejeda y Segoyuela

Tejeda y Segoyuela

Castillo de Tejeda y Segoyuela stands on the eastern edge of the village of Tejeda y Segoyuela, in the province of Salamanca, Castile and León. What remains today is a striking, partly collapsed fortress, officially listed as a protected heritage site, that appeals to travelers curious about the feudal history of rural Spain. Why was the castle built? The fortress was raised in 1453 on the orders of Fernando de Tejeda, the feudal lord who held power over the village at the time. Unlike most Spanish castles, it was not designed to repel outside armies. Fernando wanted to establish his own civil and criminal jurisdiction, separate from the authority of nearby Salamanca, and the castle was meant to back up that claim by force. In practice, it functioned as an instrument for keeping the local population under control and putting down any resistance to his rule, rather than as a shield against foreign invaders. What does the structure look like? The defensive layout is a square enclosure roughly 23 meters to a side, reinforced with towers at each corner and an extra one guarding the entrance gate. A large rectangular keep once rose from one corner of the enclosure; two of its walls are still standing today. Inside, the keep had timber floors, and the lower sections of its walls were pierced with loopholes designed for early firearms, with a crenellated parapet running along the top. Builders used slate bonded with mortar for the main walls, reserving cut granite for the corners and window and door openings. A moat encircled the whole complex, and an outer barbican, together with a drawbridge and gatehouse, formed the first line of defense — none of which survives today. Stables once stood alongside the fortified enclosure. How did it end up in ruins? As late as 1965, a third defensive wall was still in place, complete with the entrance bridge, the moat, and the stable buildings. Since then, the site has lost most of its remaining structure piece by piece, and what stands today is largely limited to fragments of the keep and part of the perimeter wall. The castle is now in a state of ongoing decay: exposure to the weather wears down the stonework, encroaching vegetation works its way into the walls and pulls them apart, and vandalism has added further damage over the years. Is it protected, and can you visit? Like nearly every historic castle in Spain, the site was granted protected status under a 1949 decree that classified all Spanish castles as Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), the country's top tier of heritage protection, later reinforced by the national Historical Heritage Law of 1985. Despite that legal status, the castle remains in private hands, and its owner lacks the funds needed for proper consolidation and restoration work. Because of its worsening condition, the site appears on the Red List (Lista Roja) maintained by Hispania Nostra, a registry of Spanish heritage at risk. Entry to the ruins is free, but visitors should move carefully given the unstable state of the remaining walls. Frequently Asked Questions When was Castillo de Tejeda y Segoyuela built? Construction began in 1453, ordered by Fernando de Tejeda, the local feudal lord. Why was the castle built in the first place? Not to defend against outside attack, but to reinforce Fernando de Tejeda's claim to independent judicial authority over the village, separate from Salamanca, and to control the local population. What survives of the original structure today? Mainly two walls of the rectangular keep and part of the square perimeter enclosure with its corner towers; the barbican and drawbridge have disappeared entirely. Can visitors access the site? Yes, entry is free, though the castle is privately owned and in a state of ongoing ruin, so visitors should be cautious around the unstable walls.

Castell de Camarasa

Camarasa

Castell de Camarasa is a medieval castle set on a hilltop above the town of Camarasa, in the Noguera comarca of Lleida province, Catalonia. The ruins overlook the area close to where the Noguera Pallaresa river meets the Segre, a position that made the site a natural lookout controlling river crossings and routes through the valley for centuries. Where did the fortress come from? The oldest surviving elements of the castle date back to the period of Muslim rule in this part of Catalonia, when the site functioned as a fortified watchpoint (an Arabic hisn) guarding river crossings and the route toward nearby Cubells. A stretch of wall and a rectangular tower on the northeastern edge of the hill are thought to be remnants of this earliest, pre-Christian phase of construction. How did Camarasa pass into Christian hands? The turning point came in 1050, when the Muslim ruler of Lleida, Yusuf al-Muzaffar, handed over the castles of Camarasa and Cubells to Ramon Berenguer I, Count of Barcelona. He soon granted both strongholds to Arnau Mir de Tost, lord of Àger, one of the most active nobles pushing the Christian frontier forward along the Segre valley. The area sat at the meeting point of the County of Barcelona and the neighboring County of Urgell, which was carrying out its own southward expansion at the same time. What does the site look like today? The castle isn't a single unified structure — three distinct building phases can still be made out on the hilltop, each built in a different period. That layered appearance is typical of border fortresses that changed hands between different rulers and had to be adapted repeatedly to new defensive needs over the centuries. What was the Marquisate of Camarasa? In 1330, King Alfonso IV of Aragon, known as the Benign, created the Marquisate of Camarasa, bringing together settlements that had previously belonged to the County of Urgell under a single lordship. The move gave the area a new administrative status and permanently tied the Camarasa name to a noble title that still survives in Spanish heraldry today. Why visit? Castell de Camarasa is listed as a cultural property and remains one of the area's most recognizable landmarks. The hilltop offers views over the reservoir and the surrounding hills of the Noguera, and the climb to the top is a straightforward way to get a sense of a Christian-Muslim frontier that was contested here nearly a thousand years ago. Its coordinates (41.876211, 0.878011) make it easy to pinpoint on a map before a hiking or cycling trip through the area. Frequently asked questions Where is Castell de Camarasa located? On a hilltop above the town of Camarasa, in the Noguera comarca of Lleida province, near where the Segre and Noguera Pallaresa rivers meet. Who built the castle? Its oldest section began as a Muslim-era fortified watchpoint; after 1050 it passed into Christian hands and was expanded over time, including by the lords of Àger. What's the castle's connection to the County of Urgell? It stood on the border between the County of Barcelona and the County of Urgell, and in 1330 it became the seat of the Marquisate of Camarasa, formed from former Urgell territories. How many building phases does the castle have? Three separate construction phases, built in different periods, are still visible on the hilltop, reflecting centuries of rebuilding.

Barraca del Cigarro

Vilanova i la Geltrú

Barraca del Cigarro is a stone barraca — a traditional rural dry-stone hut, built without mortar — standing on the hillsides above Vilanova i la Geltrú, the main town of the Garraf comarca in Barcelona province, Catalonia. Only the lower courses of its walls survive today, yet the ruin still works as a landmark along the walking trails that cross this rocky, scrub-covered stretch of the Garraf massif. Where exactly is it? The barraca sits within the Garraf Natural Park, on a slope near the La Talaia hill (roughly 290 metres), one of the massif's well-known viewpoints over the surrounding countryside and coastline. Close by is the trail junction at Corral d'en Roc and the old farmhouse Mas Roig, while the Portal del Roc Pitch & Putt golf course lies just beyond it. That juxtaposition — a weathered stone ruin next to a modern golf facility — is part of what makes the spot memorable to hikers passing through. What is left to see today? What remains is mostly low, broken wall sections: enough to trace the outline of the original structure, but not enough to call it intact. Huts of this kind — known in Catalan as barraques de pedra seca — are a common feature of the Garraf hills and the neighbouring Penedès wine country. Farmers built them as shelter from sun and rain and as tool storage while working terraced, stone-walled plots (marges) planted with vines, olives and almonds. The name "Cigarro" most likely comes from a local nickname tied to the site or a past landowner, though available sources do not confirm the exact origin. How do you get there, and what does the route look like? The easiest access starts from the car park at Peu de la Talaia, the trailhead for a network of paths through the Garraf hills. From there the route passes Mas Roig, crosses the Corral d'en Roc junction, climbs toward the La Talaia summit and loops back down, passing the ruined Barraca del Cigarro along the way — usually on the left of the path, with the golf course already visible ahead. The full loop is a popular short outing for residents of Vilanova i la Geltrú, doable in a few hours without leaving the town's outskirts. Why stop here? The barraca itself isn't a monumental attraction — it's a modest ruin, one of many scattered across the Garraf hills. Its interest lies instead in what it represents: a trace of the farming life these hillsides once supported, land that has since shifted largely toward hiking, cycling and leisure use, with the golf course right next to it a clear sign of that change. For anyone walking the Garraf trails, it's a natural waypoint on the route; for those interested in rural heritage, it's a small piece of the picture of how people worked this land before it became a natural park. Frequently asked questions What is Barraca del Cigarro? It's the ruin of a traditional dry-stone rural hut, typical of the Garraf hills and the Penedès region, of which only fragments of the walls survive today. Where is it located? On a hillside near La Talaia, inside the Garraf Natural Park, within the municipality of Vilanova i la Geltrú, close to Mas Roig farmhouse and the Portal del Roc golf course. How do you reach it? On foot, via the trail starting at the Peu de la Talaia car park, passing through Corral d'en Roc and the area around the La Talaia summit. Can you go inside? No — it's a roofless, largely collapsed ruin best viewed from the outside as part of a walk along the trail. What else is worth seeing nearby? The viewpoint on La Talaia hill, the old Mas Roig farmhouse, and more broadly the trails and landscape of the Garraf Natural Park right above the town.

Torre del Torn

Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant

Torre del Torn is the ruin of a 16th-century watchtower standing on a small rocky islet by the beach of the same name, in the municipality of Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, on the Costa Daurada in Tarragona province. It's a modest but worthwhile stop for anyone walking the coast between l'Hospitalet de l'Infant and Vandellòs, and a reminder of a time when this stretch of the Mediterranean regularly came under attack from pirates. Why was this tower built? The tower went up in the 16th century on the orders of the Dukes of Cardona, who paid for its construction through tolls charged for passage and anchorage at the nearby Coll de Balaguer. It was one of several lookout points strung along the Catalan coast in response to frequent raids by Berber pirates, normally manned by around three watchmen whose job was to spot approaching ships and warn the surrounding villages. How was it built? Torre del Torn has a circular plan and was raised from rounded beach stones (còdols) laid with very little mortar, with eleven visible courses bonded together in lime mortar. Inside, a set of walls radiated out from the centre to the perimeter, bracing the structure and making it harder to bring down in an assault. Perched on its rocky outcrop, the tower gave watchmen a clear line of sight that, on a clear day, reached as far as the Ebro Delta. What happened to it? The tower served its original purpose for close to two and a half centuries before it was destroyed by English forces in June 1813, during the Peninsular War. It has stood as a ruin ever since — never rebuilt, and further worn down over time by exposure to the sea. What can you actually see there today? What survives is mainly the circular base, standing around two metres high on average, along with the remains of several interior radial walls cut into the rock of the islet itself. Conservation work carried out in 2021 aimed to stabilise what remains of the walls against further erosion. The site is registered as a Cultural Asset of National Interest (BCIN), which protects it from further deterioration, though its small size and ruined state limit it mostly to a quick look rather than an extended visit. How do you get there? The ruins sit right on Torn beach, on a small rocky spit known as l'Illot del Torn, just off the road connecting l'Hospitalet de l'Infant and Vandellòs. It's a short drive or bike ride from central l'Hospitalet, and the beach itself is easy to reach on foot. It makes a good short stop on a walk along the coast, especially in spring or autumn, when the heat has eased and the beach is quieter than in peak season. Frequently asked questions Can you walk into the ruins? The surviving wall sections are low and mostly visible from outside; the area is open, but given the ruin's condition and protected status, it's best not to climb onto the walls themselves. How long does a visit take? Just a few minutes are enough to see the tower itself — it's a small, compact site best combined with a walk along Torn beach. Are there information panels on site? Basic signage marking the site's protected status can be found there, while fuller historical background is easier to find through municipal and regional heritage materials for Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant. What else is worth seeing nearby? Beyond Torn beach itself, the neighbouring towns of l'Hospitalet de l'Infant and Vandellòs hold other traces of the old coastal defence system, plus walking paths along the Costa Daurada that pair well with a visit to the tower.

els Hostalets del Davi

Rellinars

els Hostalets del Davi are the ruins of a former roadside inn in the municipality of Rellinars, in the Vallès Occidental comarca, Barcelona province, Catalonia. The remains sit at roughly 640 metres above sea level, on a ridge between the Coll de la Morella and Coll de Daví passes, right along the old Camí Ral, the historic route that once linked Barcelona and Manresa. What kind of place is this? Despite the plural name, Hostalets del Davi was a small cluster of buildings functioning as a single wayside inn. Travellers crossing on foot or on horseback between Barcelona and Manresa — a journey that took roughly thirteen hours — could stop here for the night during the 18th and the first half of the 19th century. The inn already appears on a 1780 map drawn by Pau Janer, and records show it was still inhabited as late as 1862. Why does it have such a dark reputation? Locals nicknamed the place Hostal de la Mort, the "Inn of Death," after reports of robberies and assaults on travellers who stopped there, some of whom were said to have vanished without explanation. That grim reputation still circulates in local stories today. There is also a documented historical event tied to the site: on 29 July 1850, three members of a republican group — Ramon Bosch from Girona, Jaume Foix from Barcelona and Miquel Jové from Reus — were executed here and later buried in Rellinars. Why was the inn abandoned? New roads and a rail line built between Barcelona and Manresa in the second half of the 19th century drew traffic away from the old Camí Ral, and with it went the inn's customers. The buildings were abandoned by the end of the century and have been falling into disrepair ever since. What can you actually see on site? The surviving structures follow a rectangular plan under single-pitched tile roofs; the oldest part of the complex originally had a ground floor and an upper storey, a two-pitched roof and wooden lintels. Walls were built from stone bonded with lime mortar, with some sections using rammed-earth (tapia) construction. A round well with a false-domed cover, once used to collect water for travellers and animals, still stands, along with the remains of an arched stone entrance portal. The overall condition is poor — the buildings are partly collapsed and heavily weathered, though some walls have been shored up in recent decades by the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park, within whose boundaries the ruins lie. The site currently carries no formal heritage-protection status and remains privately owned. How do you get there? The ruins sit inside the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park and can only be reached on foot or by mountain bike, forming a stop along hiking and biking routes out of Rellinars, Matadepera and Terrassa. The old Camí Ral itself is still walked and cycled today as a route linking several villages at the foot of the range. Frequently asked questions Can you go inside the ruins? The buildings are heavily damaged and partly collapsed, so visits are limited to viewing the outer walls and the remains of the well from outside — climbing into unstable sections isn't safe. Is the "Inn of Death" story actually true? The Hostal de la Mort name comes from local accounts of attacks on travellers, and the site is also documented as the place where three republicans were executed in 1850 — so the dark reputation rests on both legend and recorded history. How long does it take to reach the ruins? It depends on the trail and starting point — routes from Rellinars or Matadepera are generally multi-hour hikes through the natural park. Is there anything else worth seeing nearby? Yes — the ruins lie within the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park, so the visit pairs easily with other stops along the Camí Ral, such as the nearby Coll de la Morella and Coll de Daví passes.

Rocaguinarda

Oristà

Rocaguinarda is an abandoned masia — a traditional Catalan farmhouse — in the municipality of Oristà, in the Osona region, at the heart of the Lluçanès area. The building itself is now a ruin, but its name is well known locally as the birthplace of one of early 17th-century Catalonia's most famous bandits. Where is Rocaguinarda located? The ruins sit a few kilometers from the center of Oristà, on the rural Lluçanès plateau, close to the Cal Miquelet farmstead. The site is best reached on foot via a path from Sant Feliu Sasserra, a popular walking route among visitors exploring this part of the countryside and its historical connections. What is the history of the farmhouse? Records show the farmhouse existed as early as 1439, and it also appears in a 1553 tax census (fogatge) — meaning the property predates the events that later made it famous. The surviving walls date to a 17th-century rebuild. Today only the side walls and parts of the interior walls remain standing, with no roof left, though the original layout — ground floor, first floor, and attic — is still recognizable. The main facade, facing northeast, retains an imposing doorway with a semicircular arch, and the walls were built from irregular stone bound with mortar; a paved threshold at the old entrance is also still visible. Because of its historical value, Rocaguinarda is listed in Catalonia's inventory of architectural heritage. Who was Perot Rocaguinarda? It was at this farmhouse, on December 18, 1582, that Perot Rocaguinarda was born, son of Joan Rocaguinarda and Caterina, the farm's owners at the time. At nineteen he joined the nyerro faction led by Carles de Vilademany in Vic, and took part in an attack on the bishop's palace there in 1602. Between 1603 and 1604 he formed his own band, and by 1607 he had become one of the most notorious bandits in the Principality of Catalonia, known by the nickname "Perot lo Lladre" (Perot the Thief). His reputation reached literature — he appears as a character in the second part of Cervantes' Don Quixote. In 1611 he was pardoned and joined the Spanish army, taking command of a tercio company in Naples, where he later died. What else is there to see nearby? A path leads from the farmhouse ruins to the nearby Cingle dels Tres Còdols cliff, where local tradition says Perot Rocaguinarda used to hide. Carvings attributed to him are still visible on the rock, including his name along with simple drawings and maps. The route today forms part of a network of marked walking trails dedicated to the bandit's story, and the Lluçanès area also has a small interpretation center devoted to his life. It makes a fitting addition to a visit for anyone interested in local history as well as walking through Catalonia's rural backcountry. Frequently asked questions What is Rocaguinarda? It is a ruined masia (traditional Catalan farmhouse) in the municipality of Oristà, known chiefly as the birthplace of the bandit Perot Rocaguinarda. How old is the farmhouse? Documents confirm its existence from 1439, while the surviving walls date from a 17th-century rebuild. Who was Perot Rocaguinarda? A bandit born at the farmhouse in 1582 who led his own gang in the early 17th century, was pardoned in 1611, and later served as an officer in the Spanish army in Naples. Can the surrounding area be explored on foot? Yes — a trail runs from the ruins to the Cingle dels Tres Còdols cliff, where carvings attributed to the bandit remain, and the route forms part of the popular walking paths of the Lluçanès region.

Castell de Lillet

la Pobla de Lillet

Castell de Lillet stands as a ruined medieval castle perched on a rocky outcrop above la Pobla de Lillet, in the Berguedà region of Catalonia. Though little more than a fragment of wall survives today, the fortress once controlled the whole Lillet valley and the routes linking Berguedà with Cerdanya. What is the history behind the castle? The site's earliest known mention dates back to 833, when the consecration document for the nearby church of Santa Maria de Lillet referred to it by its Latin name, "castro Lilietto." During the 10th century the estate belonged to Emma, abbess of Sant Joan de les Abadesses, and later records from the same century describe a further stronghold known as "Lillet superior." In 1086, Count Guillem Ramon of Cerdanya granted privileges to the church of Santa Maria de Lillet, a sign of the area's growing importance. By the early 12th century the castle belonged to the Lillet lineage, vassals of the lords of Mataplana; charters from 1144 and 1154 name family members as holders of the stronghold. After the 13th century, the Lillet name disappears from the record. A turning point came in 1297, when Ramon d'Urtx and his son Hug de Mataplana issued a charter of settlement founding the town of la Pobla de Lillet at the foot of the hill, part of a wider policy of repopulating and defending the valley. During the 14th century the Mataplana lords built a new castle-palace within the town and moved their residence there, leaving the hilltop fortress to fall gradually into ruin — a decline remembered in its old name, "Lillet Vell" (Old Lillet). What can you see on site? Only a stretch of the northern wall has survived, roughly 6 metres long and up to 3 metres high, about 90 centimetres thick, built from roughly cut stone laid in uneven courses. A small window with a slightly pointed arch is still visible in the wall, around a metre tall and 80 centimetres wide, framed by plain stone jambs. Everything else has collapsed almost entirely, and the bedrock beneath the wall still shows marks left when it was cut to support the foundations. From the outcrop, the view stretches across the Lillet valley and the surrounding hills — this vantage point once allowed the castle to watch over the old route through the Coll de la Creueta pass, connecting Berguedà with Cerdanya, as well as the paths toward Sant Jaume de Frontanyà and Castellar de N'Hug. How do you get there? The ruins sit on a hill south of the monastery of Santa Maria de Lillet, between the Arija river and the Junyent stream, within the municipality of la Pobla de Lillet. The easiest approach is on foot, along a signposted path of about 800 metres starting near the monastery; a forest track also allows access by 4x4 vehicle. The final stretch climbs steeply over rock, so sturdy footwear is worth bringing. When should you visit? The castle stands in the open air and can be visited year-round, free of charge. Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable conditions for the climb, along with the clearest views from the top. In summer, carry water, since there is no shade along the way, while after winter rain the path can turn slippery and muddy. Frequently Asked Questions What is Castell de Lillet? It is a ruined medieval castle on a rocky hill above la Pobla de Lillet, first documented in 833, once the seat of the Lillet family, vassals of the lords of Mataplana. Why was the castle abandoned? After la Pobla de Lillet was founded in 1297 and a new castle-palace was built within the town during the 14th century, the Mataplana lords moved their residence there, and the hilltop fortress fell gradually into ruin. What exactly remains on site today? A stretch of the northern wall about 6 metres long, with a small pointed-arch window — the rest of the structure has almost entirely collapsed. Is there an entrance fee? No, the ruins stand in the open air and are freely accessible year-round, with no ticket required.

Monuments in Spain

Talaia de s'Enclusa

Curro dos Lobos

Cortello dos Lobos

Orenín

Palacio de las Leyes

Castle of Irulegi

Torre de los Alarconcillos

Cal Balaguer

Acueducto de Sabatini

Son Jaumell

Tower of Malamoneda

el Corto Pio

Torre de Norfeu

Casa del Racó

Clivelleres

Mas Canyet

Mas de Tinet

Castillo de Tejeda y Segoyuela

Castell de Camarasa

Barraca del Cigarro

Torre del Torn

els Hostalets del Davi

Rocaguinarda

Castell de Lillet

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