Cavalleria lighthouse, the northernmost point of Menorca

This lighthouse is situated at the tip of the headland of Cavalleria, the most northerly point of Menorca, a good place to enjoy summer sunsets.

The white tower of Cavalleria lighthouse is 15-m high and was built on the island’s tallest and most impressive cliffs. It stands 94 m above sea level. Its lamp, visible from 22 nautical miles, flashes twice every ten seconds.

The facilities include the Cap de Cavalleria Interpretation Centre, open during the tourist season.

History

Before the Cavalleria lighthouse began to operate in 1857, over 700 shipwrecks had occurred on this part of the north coast of Menorca since the fourteenth century. Despite the improvement in safety brought about by the opening of this lighthouse, this coast was still dangerous and so two more lighthouse were built at the beginning of the twentieth century, at Favàritx lighthouse and Punta Nati lighthouse. The Cavalleria lighthouse was kerosene-fired until the 1980s and was the last lighthouse in the Balearic Islands to use this type of fuel.

Cavalleria cape surroundings

Cap de Cavalleria is a 3-km-long headland that reaches out as far as the lighthouse, which is perched on the island’s most spectacular cliffs, providing the best view of the island’s northern coast. This rocky headland is covered by low vegetation and is also home to the old Roman settlement of Sanitja, the port for the city of Sanisera. At the entrance to this natural port, there is a defence tower constructed by the English during their second period of occupation (1798–1802) of the island.

How to get there

Cap de Cavalleria is 13.2 km from the town of Es Mercadal. To get there, take the road towards the northern beaches from this town as far as the Camí de Tramuntana. Turn left along this road and then, after 1km, turn right along the Carretera de Cavalleria. Ignore the first turn-off to the left to a beach car park and then, a little further on, turn left to the lighthouse where the road goes off to the right to Santa Teresa.

Fornells is 15.1 km from the lighthouse. Four kilometres out of Fornells on the way to Es Mercadal, you will come to a roundabout; turn right on the Camí de Tramuntana. After 4 km on this road, turn right along the road to Cavalleria.

Please close the gates that lead to the lighthouse, as they are there to control the livestock.

Video with aerial imagery

Map of Cavalleria lighthouse

See the map Lighthouses Menorca a Google Maps

  See all the lighthouses of Menorca