In the northern hillside of Mahon’s harbour in Menorca in the Balearic Islands of Spain stands the “Predio SANT ANTONI”(1), also known as THE GOLDEN FARM.

 

Its name is due to the landing at the hillside of the farmhouse of the troops of Alfonso III in January 17th, 1287, St Antonio’s day. It was the beginning of the conquest of Menorca Island, governed by the Arabs until that day.

 

Along the history, the GOLDEN FARM has been constantly linked to the main historic episodes in the island, and many important figures have been related to it.

 

In 1535 the parish priest of Mahon, Mossen Bartolome Mir, crossed the harbour swimming to ask the farmers of Sant Antoni for a horse and to look for help in the surrounding villages, because Mahon was being sacked by the fearful pirate Barbarroja.(2)

 

Lately all invasions suffered by the island have been in connection with this house, probably due to its strategic location and to its privileged view overlooking  the harbour of Mahon.

 

In 1781, French troops under the command of the Duke of Crillón, landed in the lands of the farm (the so-called Sa Mesquida beach), where they remained camped for quite a long time.

 

Something similar happened with the most known figure that has been in this singular house, Admiral Nelson. In the summer of 1800, he and his fleet took shelter in the harbour of Mahon. He used to go to Sant Antoni farm, live there and enjoy the view of its privileged location. According to the legend, he had a romantic tryst with Lady Hamilton there.

 

Other famous figures linked to the history of the house were, among others: Isabel de Wittelsbach, Empress of Austria and better known as Sissi; the last Queen of Italy: Marie-José of Belgium. The Prince of Wales, Eduardo VII, with his wife, the princess Alejandra, and his daughters Victoria and Maud, with her boyfriend, who later became Haakon VII of Norway. All of them were delighted with the famous lobster stew, cooked by the own farmers; or perhaps the Kaiser Willhem II of Germany, who left flowers at the grave of his friend Von Bunsen, buried in the English cemetery located in the farm. (3)

 

In 1900 part of the lands of the farm were given for the performance of  St George channel, because many soldiers had suffered shipwrecks in the military movements between Mola and Mahon.

 

The oldest part of the house seems to be of the thirteen century, according to the vaulted ceilings. Its famous façade, one of the symbols of Mahon’s harbour, is a classical example of the Neo-Paladino style, introduced in the island by the English in the eighteenth century.

 

Nowadays, the gardens of this beautiful mansion, owned by the same family for more than 400 years, have been remodelled and become more beautiful for a specific goal: to house several events like weddings, congresses, private meetings, etc…These activities take part outside the house, under the cover of the history of the place and of one of the most beautiful views of the island. Inside the house only previously arranged guided visits are accepted and it is only for private use.

 

(1) Predio: farm land in  Menorca.
(2) Book of D. Francisco Hernández Sanz: Geografía e Historia de la Isla de Menorca.
(3) Book of D. Ramón de Delas: Las historias de “The Golden Farm”.