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BALEARIC ISLANDS
1 2
3 4
1.– Dry-stone walls
2.– Pine forests in the north of Ibiza
3.– Terraced crops integrated into the landscape
4.– Hills surrounding the Ariant Valley
La Finca Galatzó, en el municipio de Calviá, necesitaba,
para el aprovechamiento agropecuario, bancales para
cultivar sus laderas, molinos para sus cosechas y un
sistema de regadío, todo construido en época islámica.
Los edificios de la finca agropecuaria destinados a alma-
cenes, establos o a vivienda ahora están convertidos en
refugio de montaña para alojar a senderistas que reco-
rran los 170 km del sendero GR221, dividido en 8 etapas,
denominado Ruta de la Piedra Seca.
Walking to feel the landscape
Despite the beach-and-fun tourism that exists in the Ba-
learic Islands, it is easy to find natural spots and footpaths
that weave through forests and along cliffs overlooking
film-worthy coves. Coastal paths on promontories abo-
ve the sea become natural viewpoints. Balconies among
pine trees reveal rocky outcrops breaking the deep blue
and displaying a range of blues and greens that colour the
waters of the Mediterranean.
In Menorca, the GR223 is a scenic 185-kilometre rou-
te (about 115 miles) for walking, cycling or horse riding
that completely circles the island in 20 stages, offering
a beautiful collection of coastal scenery, forests and Me-
norcan farmland — all worthy of the island’s designation
as a Biosphere Reserve.
In the north of Ibiza, several trails set off from Sant Joan
de Labritja, some of them winding among pine trees. For
example, the PR101 climbs a hillside, enters a pine fo-
rest and follows a series of ridges from which the coast
can be seen; it then crosses vineyards, descends throu-
gh carob and holm oak trees and continues along the
riverbed until it finishes at the marvellous Cala de San
Vicente. The walk ends perfectly with a relaxing swim
in the sea. And from the beach, you can admire the dis-
tinctive silhouette of the little island of Tagomago, or, by
looking down at your submerged feet, see the beautiful
seabed covered in posidonia and the diverse multitude of
fish and molluscs that inhabit it
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