Cavalry Corporal

Cape Cavalleria, a land marked by the onslaught of wind and waves; a lighthouse, the oldest in Menorca, 15 meters high and situated 94 meters above sea level. And here, in this imposing landscape, is the Cape Cavalleria Interpretation Center, with an exhibition that opens the doors to the island's unique character, its natural, geological, and historical richness, and provides the keys to understanding why we are located within a biosphere reserve. "Cape Cavalleria, the north of the north" is an interpretation center promoted by the Es Mercadal Town Council with the support of Ports de Baleares, the Menorca Island Council, and funding from the European Commission's Leader project.

The opening of this center involved the restoration of the interior of the Cavalleria lighthouse for public visits, with a project by the architect Jesús Cardona. The center's objective is to make the basic aspects that define Cavalleria, this unique space, accessible to the citizens of Menorca and visitors alike; from the perspectives of geology, biodiversity, and history. A brief but insightful tour of one of Menorca's most emblematic landscapes and an explanation of how the island's oldest lighthouse works.

The Cavalleria lighthouse was inaugurated on March 1, 1857, and is the oldest in Menorca. It was the first built on the north coast and led to a considerable decrease in shipwrecks. Like all lighthouses, it has a unique physical appearance and light signal that allow it to be identified by any mariner both day and night.

Lighthouse lighting has undergone significant technological evolution. The fuels used have been olive oil, mineral oil, petroleum, acetylene gas, and finally, more modern systems such as electricity and solar power. At the beginning of the 19th century, the range of lighthouses increased considerably thanks to the optical system invented by Fresnel, consisting of a set of glass prisms that amplify the light and allow it to be directed towards a specific point.