Capocorb Vell

You walk through the ground plan of a whole prehistoric village: house walls of rough, unmortared stone, the passages between them, and the massive bases of talayots, the towers that gave the talayotic culture its name. Information signs run through the layout, so the shape of the settlement reads on the ground as you go.

Few talayotic sites in the Balearics have been dug as thoroughly. Beyond the main village, several more talayots stand off to the north-east, strung out along a south-west to north-east line that recalls the alignment at Son Oleza.

Trees shade parts of the site. Between the stones it is quiet, and there is room to sit under them and take the place in.

• There is no drinking fountain on the site. Bring a bottle: the walk over the stones is thirsty work in the summer heat.
• The ground is rock and ruined wall throughout. Wear closed shoes with a good grip.
• Information signs explain the village layout as you walk round.
• A nearby bar serves coffee, drinks and snacks, a useful stop before or after the visit.
• The site suits children, though small ones need a hand on the uneven stone.

Capocorb Vell sits beside a country road about 12 km from Llucmajor, and a car is the practical way to arrive. Parking lies about 100 m from the site in a straight line, and you can leave the car right outside the nearby bar. Wheelchair-accessible spaces are part of the parking.

The nearest bus stop, Cala Pi, is about 3.9 km away in a straight line, so coming by bus means a long walk to finish.

Best: spring and autumn mornings, soon after opening.

Avoid: Thursdays, when the site is closed, and midday in high summer.

The village is open ground of stone, and although trees shade parts of it, the midday sun in July and August turns the walk between the ruins into hot, thirsty work, while low morning light picks out the texture of the dry-stone walls.