St. Philip's Castle, Military fortress at Cala de Sant Esteve, Spain
St. Philip's Castle, also known as Castillo de San Felipe, is a stone fortress in Es Castell, Menorca, built on a rocky promontory at the entrance to the natural harbor of Mahón. The site spans several levels, with above-ground stone walls and an extensive network of underground tunnels and chambers cut into the rock below.
The fortress was designed in 1554 by an Italian engineer to guard the entrance to Mahón harbor, and it grew steadily under Spanish rule over the following two centuries. The British, who occupied Menorca for much of the 18th century, expanded it further before Spanish authorities ordered its demolition in 1802.
The fortification is known in Spanish as Castillo de San Felipe and in Catalan as Castell de Sant Felip. Walking through its corridors, visitors can notice how different sections were built with different techniques, reflecting the hands of more than one ruling power.
Much of the site lies underground, so bringing a torch and wearing sturdy shoes is a good idea, as the tunnels can be poorly lit and the ground uneven. The underground passages are narrow and sometimes damp, which makes the site harder to visit for people with limited mobility.
Although Spanish authorities ordered the fortress demolished in 1802, the underground tunnels were largely left intact and can still be explored today. The demolition was meant to prevent any future enemy from using the site, yet the part most visitors come to see was never destroyed.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
