So na Caçana, Alaior, Spain - SpottingHistory.com

So na Caçana dates from the Talayotic period (1000-700 B.C.) and remained occupied until the arrival of the Romans. It contains up to ten large structures. At first it was thought to be a settlement but archaeological excavation work uncovered up to three taula enclosures, which suggested it was more likely to have been a sanctuary and ceremonial site that may have been used by more than one community.The main features of the site are the central monument, the entrance to which was closed off in the 1st century B.C., and the taula enclosure on the west side. The capital of the taula has not survived, but you can see an unusual pilaster at the back. Also of interest are the niches in the perimeter wall. Archaeological excavation work inside the enclosure has uncovered evidence of the rituals carried out in this type of enclosure. There is also a necropolis in the area, comprising two natural caves and three underground burial chambers.

References:

menorca.es

Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Spain

User Reviews

Domingo Llull (2 years ago)
Un espacio con muchos restos arqueologicos desde donde se divisa la vecina isla de Msllorca. Recomendable es esta visita.

Jamie Hay (2 years ago)
Excellent ruins to wander around, in a nice rural setting.

Martí Carbonell (3 years ago)
El jaciment de So na Caçana és considerat com un conjunt de santuaris, ja que molts dels recintes documentats en aquest indret tenen una tipologia arquitectònica que així ho fa pensar als investigadors. Per tant, podria tractar-se d’un centre religiós vinculat als nuclis de població d’aquesta zona de l’illa. També hi ha una necròpolis formada per dues coves naturals retocades per l’home i tres hipogeus. El seu origen es situa en el Bronze Mitjà i és ocupat fins l’època romana, com ho demostren restes arqueològiques trobades en alguns dels seus monuments.

Chris Lloyd (4 years ago)
Very interesting place and really worth a visit if passing.

brendan cochrane (4 years ago)
Magical and mysterious!

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Me in ME

Historic Site of the week

Seville Cathedral

Seville's cathedral, Santa Maria de la Sede, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, and is recognised as UNESCO World Heritage. After its completion in the early 16th century, Seville Cathedral supplanted Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral in the world, a title the Byzantine church had held for nearly a thousand years.

History

The basilica occupies the site of the great Aljama mosque, built in the late 12th century by the Almohads, the ruling Moorish dynasty, of which the only remaining parts are the Patio de Naranjas, the Puerta del Perdon (on Calle Alemanes, on the north side), and the Giralda (formerly the minaret, now the belltower).

Shortly after Seville's conquest by Ferdinand III, the mosque was converted into the city's cathedral. Its orientation was changed and its spaces partitioned and adorned to suit Christian worship practices. The internal space was gradually divided into chapels by constructing walls in the bays along the northern and southern walls. Almost the entire eastern half of the cathedral was occupied by the royal chapel that would hold the bodies of Ferdinand, his wife and Alfonso the Wise.

In 1401, city leaders decided to build a new cathedral to replace the grand mosque that served as the cathedral until then. Construction continued until 1506. The clergy of the parish offered half their stipends to pay for architects, artists, stained glass artisans, masons, carvers, craftsman and labourers and other expenses. Five years after construction ended, in 1511, the crossing lantern, or cimborrio, collapsed and work on the cathedral recommenced. The crossing again collapsed in 1888 due an earthquake, and work on the dome continued until at least 1903.

Architecture

The interior has the longest nave of any cathedral in Spain. The central nave rises to a height of 42 metres. In the main body of the cathedral, the most noticeable features are the great boxlike choir loft, which fills the central portion of the nave, and the vast Gothic retablo of carved scenes from the life of Christ. This altarpiece was the lifetime work of a single craftsman, Pierre Dancart.

The Capilla Mayor (Great Chapel), dominated by a vast Gothic retablo (altarpiece) comprised of 45 carved scenes from the life of Christ, as well as Santa Maria de la Sede, the cathedral's patron saint. The lifetime's work of a single craftsman, Pierre Dancart, this is the ultimate masterpiece of the cathedral - the largest and richest altarpiece in the world and one of the finest examples of Gothic woodcarving anywhere.

The Giralda is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Seville. Its height is 105 m. The Giralda is the former minaret of the mosque that stood on the site under Muslim rule, and was built to resemble the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco. It was converted into a bell tower for the cathedral after the Reconquista, although the topmost section dates from the Renaissance.

The tomb of Christopher Columbus is one of the main attractions of the cathedral for visitors, housing the remains of the great explorer who died in poverty in Valladolid. The tomb itself is more recent, from the 1892, with four bearers presenting the kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarra.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Looks like you are a history fan!

Do you know an ancient castle or hidden ruins near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory. It's absolutely free, easy, and you can do it even without registration (of course you an also create an free account)!

So na Caçana

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby