Talayotic Menorca returns this year to participate in the Tarraco Viva historical reenactment festival. The Menorcan delegation will present various
activities from May 23 to 25 in a unique setting to promote Menorca’s prehistoric World Heritage.
This participation is part of the ongoing efforts to promote Talayotic Menorca at the national level, as outlined in the Talayotic Menorca Communication Plan.
The 27th edition of Tarraco Viva will open on May 13 under the theme
"Plebs. Life and Culture of the People of Rome", and will conclude on May 25 with a program of over 350 events taking place throughout the city.
This year also marks the 15th anniversary of Tarraco's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tarraco Viva began as an activity supporting the candidacy and has since become a benchmark among historical reenactment festivals held in Spain.
Talayotic Menorca-related activities include:
Talayotic Menorca Stand at the “Rome in the Museums of the World” Fair
Museums, interpretation centers, archaeological parks, and history publishers participate in this fair. It is a space to learn about sites with Roman heritage, establish connections, plan cultural activities and trips, and exchange information on the work and realities of museums and institutions in the field of historical dissemination.
Opening hours:
May 23: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
May 24: 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
May 25: 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Historical Reenactment: Funditores Baleares – The Warriors of the Balearic Islands
The Romans were familiar with Menorca and Mallorca due to the exceptional slingers born on these islands, known for their remarkable skill in hurling stones. This reenactment, accompanied by commentary from archaeologist Borja Corral, will place the audience in the late Talayotic context. A Talayotic family and the slingers will demonstrate domestic and ritual practices from that time period. Organized by Amics del Museu de Menorca with the collaboration of Honderos de la Menor.
Schedule:
May 24: 12:00 PM (Catalan), 7:30 PM (Spanish)
May 25: 12:00 PM (Catalan)
Workshop: "The Balearic Sling – Learn to Make Your Own"
Led by Lluís Pons Livermore (Honderos de la Menor). The sling is one of the oldest tools in the world, with documented use across many regions. Talayotic people, who served as mercenaries in Carthaginian and Roman armies, used it as a dangerous weapon. In this workshop, one of the world’s top slingers will showcase various sling and projectile types, demonstrate how to braid a sling, and teach throwing techniques using tennis balls, following the Menorcan slinger tradition. Participants will take home their own handmade sling.
Schedule:
May 24: 10:30 AM (Spanish)
May 25: 10:30 AM (Catalan)
Menorcan Gastronomy: Cheese and Beer from the Talayotic Period to the Present
Cheese, beer, and wine are part of everyday life today, but this habit dates back to prehistoric times in Menorca. Was beer consumed during the late Talayotic period? Archaeological remains of Punic and Roman amphorae confirm at least occasional wine consumption.
This historical-gastronomic journey offers tastings of local Menorcan products, including Talaiòtica beer from the Grahame Pearce brewery (Sant Climent, Menorca)—a drink inspired by what Talayotic communities might have consumed—and Maó cheese. A true historical pairing. Led by archaeologist Borja Corral and brewmaster Roger Vila.
Schedule:
May 24: 5:00 PM (Catalan)
"Between the Sky and the Sea" – Daily Life of Talayotic Menorca’s Slingers
This activity is divided into two parts. First, the immersive audiovisual projection “Between the Sky and the Sea”will transport viewers into the Talayotic Menorca universe through animations, images, and visual effects. Following this, a live historical reenactment will recreate pre-Roman Menorca—homeland of the Balearic slingers during the final Talayotic period (550 BCE – 123 BCE)—offering insights into their daily life. Scenes will depict domestic activities like textile production, tool-making, food preparation, and sling crafting, as well as their architecture, beliefs, and social structure. A unique experience combining historical accuracy and visual storytelling. Led by archaeologist Borja Corral and audiovisual direction by the production company illuminaM.
Schedule:
May 25: 10:00 AM