El Puig de Santa Magdalena
Itinerary:
The municipality of Inca features three clearly distinct zones based on its terrain: the southwestern area has gentle slopes, slightly tilting toward the Pla, while the northern zone is marked by two hills bordering the municipality of Selva. To the east lies the Santa Magdalena massif, a small mountain ridge running from south to north, which includes the Puig de Santa Magdalena at 287m, and the Puig de la Minyó, which at 307m is the highest elevation in the municipality.
On this itinerary, visitors will discover the eastern part of the municipality, a lesser-known area of Inca where we will walk along uncrowded paths and stop to discover and admire many remnants of the island’s old pre-tourism society, some of which led to this area being declared a Natural Area of Special Interest (ANEI) in 1991.
1. Camino Viejo de Alcúdia
2. Waterwheel of the Camino Viejo de Alcúdia
In the Balearic Islands, waterwheels have been documented since the Middle Ages, but most of those preserved today date back to the 19th century or the first half of the 20th century.
Next to many of them, you can still see one or more fruit trees planted.
3. Creu d’en Roca
4. Covered well of the Camino Viejo de Alcúdia
5. Ses Veles
The possessió (traditional country estate), documented since the 18th century, consists of the farmhouse with a cobblestone driveway and various annexes with auxiliary buildings, such as the oil mill.
6. The smallholders’ cottages
Most of the existing structures were built less than 250 years ago, although they have been known to exist since the 14th and 15th centuries.
7. Camino de Santa Magdalena
On this path, which is part of the old road from Artà to Lluc, you can see several sections of the ancient trail, or shortcuts, featuring stone steps. The final uphill stretch to the Santa Magdalena hermitage features a stone stairway with 86 steps, designed in 1914.
8. Puig d’Inca
The Puig d’Inca, or Santa Magdalena massif, is a small, elongated mountain ridge with two peaks at its ends: the Puig de la Minyó and the Puig de Santa Magdalena.
9. Santa Magdalena Hermitage
There is evidence of the hermitage’s existence dating back to 1284.
To the left of the church is the visitor reception building, while to the right is the convent building.
10. Puig de la Minyó Archaeological Site
The site, dating from the Talayotic period (900–500 BC), consists of three levels of walls adapted to the natural slope of the terrain.
11. Puig de la Minyó Cross
The monumental cross, dedicated to Christ the Redeemer, was blessed in the spring of 1902.
This cross has been struck by lightning twice, destroying two previous crosses. The current one dates back to 1971.
12. Son Catlar – Can Roca
In the 17th century, it was one of the largest possessions (estates) in Inca, owned by the Descatlar family.
13. Pozo des Rasquell
According to some historians, it is a public well, likely of medieval origin, although it has been documented since the 18th century.
