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Ses Coves de Mare de Déu (Portals Vells — Caves of the Virgin Mary)

Caves

Ses Coves de Mare de Déu (Portals Vells — Caves of the Virgin Mary)

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Ses Coves de Mare de Déu (Portals Vells — Caves of the Virgin Mary)

Recommended by 358 hikers out of 374

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Location: Calvià, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

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Best Hikes to Ses Coves de Mare de Déu (Portals Vells — Caves of the Virgin Mary)

4.7

(239)

875

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1. Faro de Cala Figuera – View from the Cliffs loop from Portals Vells

10.4km

02:57

230m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.7

(127)

564

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2. View from the Cliffs – Cala Figuera Lighthouse loop from el Toro

13.8km

03:58

340m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.7

(98)

413

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3. Cala Figuera Lighthouse – View from the Cliffs loop from Portals Vells

11.5km

03:19

280m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

Tips

Landlinien

June 2, 2016

At the eastern end of the bays of Portals Vells are impressive caves, also called "Ses coves de Mare de Déu" (The Caves of Our Lady). Already in the Middle Ages, three large holes were cut into the rock in order to then be able to hollow it out. The mined sandstone was used at that time mainly for the construction of the cathedral in Palma. The stone carvings at the entrance to the caves as well as the altar testify to the history of the seamen who anchored here.

Translated by Google •

Andreas Müller

September 12, 2019

At that time, seafarers from Genoa were stranded in the narrow bay in the southwest. They were caught in a cap de fibló, a cyclone, on their way to mainland Spain. They came from one of the most developed and densely populated regions in Europe. Genoa was one of the most important seaports of the old continent at the beginning of the modern age, where the voyages of discovery of the New World were to begin a little later. In contrast, Mallorca's southwest was uninhabited no man's land in the middle of the 15th century.

Nevertheless, the sailors blessed this lost piece of earth as if it were paradise. After all, with their hulls broken, their masts broken and their sails torn apart, they hadn't believed in escaping the tornado. In their distress they had vowed on board to build an altar to the Virgin Mary should they ever enter land again.

The place of the redeemed vow is called "Ses coves de Mare de Déu" (The Caves of the Blessed Mother). It is about a hundred meters from the small beach of Portals Vells and gives it its name (Portals - Tore). Actually, it is only one, deep and expansive cave But because workers in the Middle Ages punched three huge, gate-like holes in the rock to gradually hollow it out, these are called coastal caves in the plural. The sandstone became the building of the cathedral and city palaces of Majorcan Commercial families were transported to Palma, leaving a dark hole that served as a shelter for sailors, so the legend says.

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Bine_Serenity4u

January 26, 2020

Impressive what can be found off the beaten path. While the actual paths, some of which are difficult to see, lead up the hill, you always have to stay along the banks of the caves. The large rectangular entrances to the caves themselves can already be seen from Cala Portals Vells on the right bank.

Translated by Google •

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Informations

Elevation 20 m

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Thursday 4 December

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8°C

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Max wind speed: 38.0 km/h

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Location: Calvià, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

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Ses Coves de Mare de Déu (Portals Vells — Caves of the Virgin Mary)

1. Faro de Cala Figuera – View from the Cliffs loop from Portals Vells

2. View from the Cliffs – Cala Figuera Lighthouse loop from el Toro

3. Cala Figuera Lighthouse – View from the Cliffs loop from Portals Vells

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