Basílica de Son Bou

Low stone walls trace out a whole church on the ground: three aisles, an apse, and a baptismal font carved from one block of stone. Christians gathered here in the late 5th or early 6th century, and the graves of their necropolis lie beside the building.

The ruin sits next to coastal walks, and a quiet cove beside it is good for snorkelling, so it slots easily into a beach day at Son Bou. It rewards a stop when you are already there. On its own, it does not justify a drive across the island.

• There are no toilets at the ruins and none nearby, so plan around that before you set out.
• The site is open ground with no shade; in summer bring water and a hat.
• An information board stands at the ruins and helps make sense of the low walls.
• Pair the visit with the coastal walks or a swim in the cove next to the site.

The last stretch is on foot. Two car parks lie about 440 m and 480 m from the ruins in a straight line, and the nearest bus stops, Son Bou - Platja and Son Bou rotonda, are at a similar distance, about 420 m and 480 m. From either, you walk the rest towards the beach. An information board marks the ruins when you arrive, with a map board close by.

Best: early morning or late afternoon, when low sun throws shadows along the lines of the walls.

Avoid: the middle of a summer day.

The ruins stand on bare ground with no shade, and the beach resort around them is at its busiest in high summer, while the site itself is open at any hour.