The Basílica de Son Peretó near Manacor dates back to the period between the 5th and the 7th century. It is an excavation site of an early paleochristian sanctuary from the time when Roman settlers in Mallorca were retreating due to problems at home, and Byzantines were coming to the Balearics. On this earliest christian site in Mallorca one can find tombs, baptismal basins (photo top), remains of a ceremonial chapel and of some living quarters. The site has been declared a Historicoarqueològic Monument; the excavations can be visited daily during daytime hours. Entrance is free.

Apart from two magnificent cross shaped basins that were probably used for baptism rituals, and some graves, not much can be seen on this important excavation site. For a display of various stupendous floor mosaics (photo bottom), a reproduction of an altar base, some tables and a small scale maquette of the cluster of buildings, one has to make one’s way to the Museu d’Història de Manacor where, again, admission is free. For an even better insight, a visit to the Museu Bíblic in Palma might be of the order. Admission is free there, too, but visits there will have to be prearranged.

As far as I can make out, Son Peretó offers the most significant remains from the post-Roman era and the pre-Moorish period in Mallorca. A visit there helps us put things into perspective.

The photo (top) was taken near Manacor, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 26th, 2009. The time was 13:53:45. The photo (bottom) was taken in Manacor, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 27th, 2009. The time was 17:51:10.