Torre Vella - Fontenille Menorca

Fontenille Menorca was born in 2019 when owners Frédéric Biousse and Guillaume Foucher of Les Domaines de Fontenille restored two typical Menorcan farmhouses that were doomed to disappear. Torre Vella is a 14th-century estate listed as an exceptional cultural asset. Santa Ponsa is an 18th-century palace whose terraced gardens are watered by a gravity-fed irrigation system unique in the Balearics. Both estates opened in 2019 and are part of Relais & Châteaux. The two properties, each with a different style, lie a few kilometers apart in the municipality of Alaior, forming a 300-hectare sanctuary that embodies Balearic authenticity.

Torre Vella, located at the bottom of a valley, was designed as a simple, bohemian refuge. Its 17 rooms and suites are spread across the main house, a former barn and the old sheepfolds, decorated with white sheer curtains, driftwood, local stone and natural fabrics. Some suites are troglodyte, carved into the rock with private pools. Santa Ponsa blends Islamic-inspired architecture with landscaped gardens. The spa, at Santa Ponsa, makes use of 18th-century cisterns. Waxed concrete, wood, whitewashed walls and wild nature all contribute to total immersion in the spirit of the island.

The estates are in Alaior, in the heart of Menorca. The unspoiled coves of the island's south coast are within reach. Mahón, the capital with its natural harbor, is nearby. The Camí de Cavalls, the ancient coastal path that circles the island, runs through the area. Menorca's prehistoric talayots, candidates for World Heritage status, dot the landscape. The Menorca Biosphere Reserve protects the entire island.