Necròpolis de Son Real
A Talayotic burial ground right beside the sea between Can Picafort and Son Serra de Marina. Around 110 tombs occupy eight hundred square metres, where roughly four hundred people were buried.
Necròpolis de Son Real
Necròpolis de Son Real in 30 seconds
The essentials at a glance
- Worth visiting for
- A short visit
- Best for
- You’re in Can Picafort or Son Serra de Marina and enjoy a coastal walk.
- Best months
- January–June, September–December
- Time to allow
- Half an hour at the site, or two hours including the return walk.
- Without a car
- Hire car recommended
- Parking
- In Can Picafort or Son Serra de Marina, not at the site.
- Keep in mind
- You want to drive to the entrance; access is on foot only.
- Access
- Pushchairs: Not a practical choice. · Wheelchairs: Not suitable.
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Close up, you can see the stacked slabs and small openings clearly.
Round and angular chambers stand close together.
One of the rounded chambers, showing its layered stone walls.
Getting to know Necròpolis de Son Real
Does Necròpolis de Son Real suit your plans?
What to expect and what to know before you visit.
Who it suits
- You’re in Can Picafort or Son Serra de Marina and enjoy a coastal walk.
- You’re interested in Talayotic culture.
- You’d like a walk with a destination.
- You can come early or late for better light beside the water.
Things to bear in mind
- You want to drive to the entrance; access is on foot only.
- You expect an exhibition or guided tour.
- You’re coming at midday in high summer; there’s no shade.
- You find walking difficult.
Drive from the airport
45 minutes
52 km
Bus connections
To Can Picafort
Region
Pla de Mallorca
Nearest beach
Can Picafort
3 km
Elevation
5 m
above sea level
A glimpse of Necròpolis de Son Real
Season guide for Necròpolis de Son Real
November Worth a visit
Very quiet Open
Worth visiting in January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December.
Location
Location of Necròpolis de Son Real
- Region
- Pla de Mallorca
- Municipality
- Santa Margalida
- Elevation
- 5 m above sea level
- Airport
- 52 km , around 45 minutes
- Hire car
- recommended
- Worth visiting for
- a brief stop
- Coordinates
- 39.7550,3.1822
About Necròpolis de Son Real
A Talayotic burial ground immediately beside the sea, between Can Picafort and Son Serra de Marina.
Between the seventh and fourth centuries BC, around 110 tombs were built across roughly eight hundred square metres, containing the burials of about four hundred people.
What makes it distinctive
The tombs echo the structures built for the living: round and square chambers, with construction similar to domestic and defensive buildings, reduced to a much smaller scale.
Why the graves are now at the water’s edge
It’s easy to assume the tombs were deliberately built this close to the sea. The picture is more complicated.
Sea level was only slightly lower then. In the western Mediterranean, changes since antiquity have been within a few tens of centimetres. What changed more dramatically was the coastline itself. The tombs stand on sandstone worn away by salt, wind and particularly severe winter storms.
Estimates suggest around thirty per cent of the site has been lost over the centuries, breaking away into the sea. A major storm in November 2001 alone damaged seven tombs.
Structures now at the edge once stood further inland. Their proximity to the sea reflects two and a half thousand years of erosion, explaining the effort needed to protect them.
The walk
Access is on foot only. From Can Picafort, follow the coast east for around two kilometres, a good half-hour walk. You can also approach from Son Serra de Marina. There’s no road to the site.
Entry is free, with access at any time, but there’s no shade, drinking water, toilet or guided tour.
When to come
Choose March or October, or January for clear air and a quiet coastal path. In September, the sea retains its summer warmth.
In high summer, neither the path nor the site offers shade, so come early or towards evening.
The contrast between these ancient graves and the hotel beach two kilometres away is striking.
From the country estate
Another starting point is Finca pública de Son Real, with parking and a museum about the estate’s earlier life. The signed route to the graves is about 2.6 kilometres each way. Allow enough time and bring water for the return walk, the visit and breaks.
Photographs
Necròpolis de Son Real in Mallorca
How much time do you have?
Things to do in Necròpolis de Son Real
Three hours
Walk along the coast from Can Picafort, explore the necropolis and return the same way, with swimming stops at coves en route.
Half a day
Continue to Son Serra de Marina for something to eat.
A full day
Combine it with s’Albufera or Santa Margalida.
On a rainy day
Not worthwhile. The site and approach are exposed.
Practical details
- Parking
- In Can Picafort or Son Serra de Marina, not at the site.
- Public transport
- To Can Picafort.
- Time to allow
- Half an hour at the site, or two hours including the return walk.
- Good to know
- Access is free and the site can be visited at any time. There’s no shade, drinking water or toilet, so bring what you need.
- Bus
- To Can Picafort, then continue on foot.
- Access
- Sandy coastal path, with uneven rock at the site. · Pushchairs: Not a practical choice. · Wheelchairs: Not suitable. · Dogs: Keep dogs on a lead.
- What you will not find
- Vehicle access to the site · Admission charge or guided tours · Shade or drinking water · Toilets
- Coordinates
- 39.7550,3.1822 Google Maps Apple Maps
Within reach
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Nearby
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Where to swim nearby
Beaches and swimming nearby
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Places to stay within reach
Explore from here
Your questions answered
Your questions about Necròpolis de Son Real
How old is the Son Real necropolis?
The graves date from the Talayotic period, roughly the seventh to fourth centuries BC. About 110 tombs occupy eight hundred square metres, containing the burials of around four hundred people.
How do you get there?
On foot only. From Can Picafort it’s about two kilometres east along the coast, a good half-hour walk. You can also approach from Son Serra de Marina. There’s no road to the site.
Is there an admission charge?
No. The site is open and accessible at any time, but has no shade, water, toilets or guided tours.
What makes the tombs unusual?
Their small round and square chambers echo the larger buildings of the Talayotic culture, using similar construction on a much smaller scale. That makes the site particularly informative about the people who built it.
Practical questions
When is the best time to visit Necròpolis de Son Real?
Recommended months: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December. Clear air and a quiet coastal path make for a lovely walk.
Is Necròpolis de Son Real worth visiting in July and August?
July: worth considering with some reservations. Usually lively. It can be very hot, with no shade on the coastal path or at the graves. Come in the morning if possible and bring water. August: worth considering with some reservations. Usually lively. It can be very hot, with no shade on the coastal path or at the graves. Come in the morning if possible and bring water.
How far is Necròpolis de Son Real from Palma airport?
About 52 km from Palma airport. Allow roughly 45 minutes by car. From Can Picafort, follow the coast east for around two kilometres, a good half-hour walk. You can also approach along the coast from Son Serra de Marina. There’s no vehicle access to the burial ground.
Do I need a hire car for Necròpolis de Son Real?
A car is useful To Can Picafort, then continue on foot.
Where can I park in Necròpolis de Son Real?
In Can Picafort or Son Serra de Marina, not at the site.
Can I visit Necròpolis de Son Real with a pushchair or wheelchair?
Sandy coastal path, with uneven rock at the site. Pushchairs: Not a practical choice. Wheelchairs: Not suitable.
Are dogs allowed at Necròpolis de Son Real?
Keep dogs on a lead.
Words and photographs: Friedhelm Fischer. Exploring Mallorca since 2013 — by bike, on foot and with a camera.