The Consell de Mallorca will illuminate 96 towers, watchtowers, and talaiots this Saturday, January 25th during the ninth edition of the Lighting of Towers, Watchtowers, and Talaiots of the Mediterranean for human rights. This event, which has seen a 15% increase in participation compared to last year, will feature 96 towers, 12 more than the previous edition. The initiative aims to raise awareness about migration in the Mediterranean and highlight the historical and cultural value of these heritage elements.

The Consell de Mallorca Will Illuminate 96 Towers

A symbolic act for human rights

The initiative is supported by the Fons Mallorquí de Cooperació, the Balearic Society of Mathematics SBM-XEIX, and Amnesty International, which has drafted this year’s event manifesto. According to Maribel Arnau, the Island Director of Heritage, the lighting serves two main purposes:

  1. To raise awareness about the migration crisis in the Mediterranean, where many people lose their lives in search of a better future.
  2. To enhance the cultural and historical heritage of Mallorca, focusing on towers, watchtowers, and talaiots as symbols of past connections and defense.

Lighting schedule and activities

The lighting of the 96 heritage sites will take place at two times:

  • In the morning: At 1:00 PM.
  • In the evening: At 6:30 PM, when the manifesto will be read and all the towers will be simultaneously lit.

This action recreates the visual communication once used by watchtowers to warn of pirate attacks in past centuries, transforming them into symbolic beacons that guide the way to a safe harbor.

An action that transcends borders

Since its inception in 2016, the event has grown significantly, expanding to more locations and involving diverse communities. Alongside the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera), participating regions include Catalonia, Aragón, the Valencian Community, Andalusia, and countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

This is made possible through the collaboration of municipalities, civil associations, academic entities, and active citizen involvement.

The story behind why the Consell de Mallorca will illuminate 96 towers

The lighting of towers, watchtowers, and talaiots originated in Mallorca in 2016 as a project by a group of teachers from IES Marratxí who wanted to revive the visual connections between defense towers.

This event coincided with the fourth centenary of the death of Juan Bautista Binimelis, a Mallorcan mathematician who developed the visual signaling system (smoke and fire) used since the 17th century to warn of potential pirate attacks.

While it started as a historical reenactment, over time it evolved into a symbolic action for human rights, imagining the towers’ signals as lights guiding migrants to a safe harbor.

Join this initiative

The Consell de Mallorca will illuminate 96 towers to commemorate the history of these defensive structures and raise awareness about migration in the Mediterranean. This event is a unique opportunity to reflect, enjoy our heritage, and take part in a collective act with profound meaning.