From Mahón you can take excursions to some of the prehistoric relics in the area. One of these, marked off the Mahón-Villacarlos highway, is Trepucó, where you'll find both a 4m (13-ft.) taula (huge T-shaped stone structure) and a talayot (circular stone tower). The megalithic monuments stand on the road to Sant Lluís, only about 1.6km (1 mile) from Mahón. Of all the prehistoric remains on the island, this is the easiest to visit. It was excavated by Margaret Murray and a team from Cambridge University in the 1930s.
Another legacy of prehistoric people can be visited at Km 4 (a stone marker) off the Mahón-Ciudadela highway. The trail to Talatí de Dalt is marked. Your path will lead to this taula with subterranean caves.
Yet another impressive prehistoric monument is Torre d'en Gaumés, 15km (9 miles) from Mahón off the route to Son Bou. (The path is signposted.) You can take a bus from Mahón to Son Bou if you don't have a car. This megalithic settlement spreads over many acres, including both taulas and talayots, along with ancient caves in which people once lived. The exact location is 3km (2 miles) south of Alayor off the road to Son Bou.
The restored Naveta d'es Tudons is accessible 5km (3 miles) east of Ciudadela, just to the south of the road to Mahón. This is the best preserved and most significant prehistoric collection of megalithic monuments on Minorca. Its naveta (a boat-shaped monument thought to be a dwelling or a burial chamber) is said to be among the oldest monuments constructed by humans in Europe. Archaeologists have found the remains of many bodies at this site, along with a collection of prehistoric artifacts, including pottery, decorative jewelry, and weapons -- but they have now been removed to museums. The site is more easily visited if you stay in Ciudadela.
