The future Talayotic Menorca Interpretation Centre is featured in the international exhibition “Deep Surfaces: Architecture to Enhance the Visitor Experience at UNESCO Sites,” organised by UNESCO in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla. The exhibition is being held at Palazzo Zorzi in Venice, home to UNESCO’s Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe,
from May 10 to November 23 2025, with free public entry.
This exhibition highlights experiences and best practices from visitor centres located at UNESCO-designated sites worldwide, including World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, and Global Geoparks. Among over 50 selected projects, the Talayotic Menorca Centre stands out as an
innovative example of sustainable management and heritage interpretation, contributing to the preservation of the Talayotic legacy, raising public awareness, and promoting local development.
Adolfo Vilafranca, President of the Consell Insular de Menorca, stated: “Talayotic Menorca’s participation in this exhibition represents international recognition of the efforts made by institutions, organisations, and the people of Menorca in protecting and promoting their historical heritage. The Talayotic Menorca Agency will continue working to ensure that this heritage remains a source of knowledge, pride, and sustainable development for future generations.”
About the exhibition
“Deep Surfaces” explores how architecture can enhance the visitor experience at UNESCO World Heritage Sites, focusing on information and interpretation centres. Through a selection of projects from around the globe, the exhibition examines how these spaces connect narratives, people, and their environments, while contributing to the conservation of shared heritage.
The exhibition features informative panels with images and texts, complemented by a digital extension accessible via QR codes. Additionally, it includes the “Cloud” installation—a three-dimensional, modular structure offering an immersive experience. This installation employs a colour-coded system to guide visitors through four main thematic areas: heritage interpretation, site management, accessibility and sustainability, and engagement with local communities. Beyond visual and interactive content, the exhibition includes a Materials Library showcasing samples of materials used in the construction of the selected visitor centres, illustrating their diversity and adaptation to local contexts.
The future Talayotic Menorca centre
The Talayotic Menorca Interpretation Centre in Ciutadella is envisioned as a reference space for disseminating the heritage of Talayotic Menorca, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. With an innovative and sustainable approach, the centre will combine the latest heritage interpretation technologies with architecture that respects the environment, highlighting the relationship between Menorca’s prehistoric communities and their surrounding landscape.
Its inclusion in this international exhibition presents a unique opportunity to showcase Menorca as a model of best practices in heritage site management. Furthermore, the project reinforces the island’s commitment to sustainable development and responsible tourism.