Bocchoris

View to the north east across the tumbled and jumbled remains of Bocchoris.

Picture on iPhone SE.

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Alerted to the remains of a prehistoric city by detailed interpretive signs on a walk from Puerto Pollença to the beach at Boquer, I took a closer look on the ground and online for the practically lost city of Bocchoris, a little to the north west of the port. There isn't much for a once noted federated Roman city with earlier structures of one of oldest settlements on Mallorca.



Taking a walk north east along the promenade at Puerto Pollença, you'll come to a street called Avinguda de Bocchoris on the left; following this up a tree lined footpath, crossing over a roundabout and heading uphill, through a cast iron gate in front of a farmhouse as part of the footpath to the small beach of Boquer with spectacular views. Pay attention to the sign at the roundabout.



If you intend looking closer on the ground, work out your own route in advance and allow time to accommodate searching and possible weather conditions. The valley is a sun trap and wind-tunnel. Otherwise a good zoom, or even a drone camera would make for a way of engaging this site.



For condition I'm giving this 1.5 - for the discerning eye, there are still walls, a couple gate posts and structures. Much of it appears to be toppled down the hill upon the low side on which it is perched, though if you have looked at a few ancient settlements in various states of ruin, you will recognise structures. Very limited image search results on google show a navicular / naviform structure.



For access, it isn't hard to locate, but the actual access is probably the most demanding ancient site visit I've ever attempted on foot. A lot of scrambling on rocks, tall grass and shrubs, some of the rocks are almost razor sharp. Slip, trip, wrench and cut hazards abound. Depending on recent rainfall it may be hard to cross the stream / river-bed just to the south west of dry stone wall bisecting the valley. Every footstep is a thought out placement. There were no signs advising it was private land (usually a black triangle and white triangle forming a rectangle and text like "El Paso Prohibito").



Wikipedia entry here for Bocchoris.



The ambience alone makes this a worthwhile visit, typical of much of this north east corner of Mallorca.