Lithica

General information

Destination	Category
Menorca, Spain	Sightseeing Tours

Program details

Discover one of the most unusual and visually stunning attractions in Menorca with a visit to Lithica, a former quarry located in the outskirts of Ciutadella. It was abandoned two decade ago but devoted locals ensured that rather than becoming an eyesore, it became a sight to behold. Today it has been landscaped and boasts gardens, sculptures and even a labyrinth.

Discover one of the most unusual and visually stunning attractions in Menorca with a visit to Lithica, a former quarry located in the outskirts of Ciutadella. It was abandoned two decade ago but devoted locals ensured that rather than becoming an eyesore, it became a sight to behold. Today it has been landscaped and boasts gardens, sculptures and even a labyrinth.

The quarry of s’Hostal as it was known was first mined by hand and then by machine. The contrast between the different extraction methods is dramatic, with the former having a haphazard appearance and the latter taking all forms of geometric – and inadvertently artistic – shapes. Had the quarry not been converted, it would have been filled with rubbish and rubble, and probably forgotten for good.

Lose yourself in the labyrinth, wander the complex and explore the lush landscaped gardens, which stand in stark contrast to the sandstone. The end result is an environment where a harsh stone landscape that feels like another planet merges with a botanic world.

There is a general route, which takes about an hour to cover, or alternative pathways. Pause and admire the 10 themed quarries, with names such as Almonds, Amphitheatre and Pond, and breathe in the fresh scents of the Piranesi Garden. A place to explore, to celebrate, to create, to discover, to imagine... a place to lose yourself and a place to find yourself.



Meeting/pick-up point: Cami Vell, km 1, Ciutadella.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to2.30pm and 4.30pm till sunset. Sunday from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

Location
Starting point:
Camí Vell, km 1 - 07769 - Ciutadella - ES