Illa del Rei facts for kids
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 Illa del Rei
Location in Spain
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| Geography | |
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| Coordinates | 39°53′12″N 4°17′15″E / 39.88667°N 4.28750°E |
| Archipelago | Baleric Islands |
| Area | 0.0424 km2 (0.0164 sq mi) |
| Length | 0.289 km (0.1796 mi) |
| Width | 0.283 km (0.1758 mi) |
| Administration | |
Illa del Rei, which means King's Island in English, is a small island. It is located in the middle of the main channel that leads into Mahon. Mahon is a city on the northeastern side of Menorca in the Mediterranean Sea. People sometimes call it Hospital Island because of its past.
Contents
About Illa del Rei
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This island is shaped a bit like a pear. It is about 289 meters (948 feet) long and 283 meters (928 feet) wide. The total area is about 4.24 hectares (10.5 acres). The island is rocky and has steep sides. Its highest point is 14.5 meters (48 feet) above sea level. Today, no one lives on the island. It is mostly a place for tourists to visit. You can clearly see the old hospital building from the shore.
Island's History
How Illa del Rei Got Its Name
The island's name comes from an old story. King Alfonso III of Aragon is said to have landed here first. This happened during the Christian reconquest of Menorca in 1287. Before this, the island was called Illa dels Conills, meaning Rabbit Island. It was renamed Illa del Rei to honor the king.
Ancient Church Ruins
The island also holds the remains of a very old Christian church. This church, called a basilica, dates back to the 6th century. Its ruins were first found in 1888. A beautiful mosaic was discovered then. This mosaic looked similar to others found in North Africa.
More digging began in 1964. Workers uncovered the full shape of the basilica. They also found other buildings, possibly for monks. More mosaics were found too. These mosaics were moved to the Museum of Menorca. They are kept there to protect them and for people to see.
The Hospital on the Island
The British built the first hospital on the island in 1711. They controlled Menorca for most of the 18th century. The British called the island Bloody Island or Hospital Island because of this hospital.
The island continued to be used as a hospital for many years. It was also sometimes used to store coal and supplies for ships. Navies from Spain, France, Britain, Italy, and America used it. In 1964, a new hospital was built in Mahon. The island hospital was then closed. It was too hard to move patients to and from the island.
Protecting the Island's Heritage
In 1979, the hospital and other buildings were given special protection. They were declared a National Historic-Artistic and Archaeological Monument. This helps preserve them for the future.
In 1993, Illa del Rei became a biosphere reserve. This means it's a special place for nature. The island is the only home for a unique type of lizard. This lizard is called the Podarcis lilfordi balearica. It is a special kind of Lilford's wall lizard found only here.
Restoring the Island
In 2004, a group called the Fundación Hospital de la Isla del Rey was started. Their goal is to fix up and take care of the old hospital buildings. In 2011, they finished restoring the outside of the main building. This was 300 years after the hospital was first built.
The foundation continues to improve the buildings. They also help people visit the island. A famous art center, Hauser & Wirth, has also opened on part of the island. It has beautiful gardens designed by Piet Oudolf.
Gallery
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Hospital in 2008, in ruins
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Hospital in 2011, following restoration
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Ruins of the early Christian basilica
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Mahon from the air with the Illa del Rei in the middle, above the city center.
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The endemic subspecies of Liford's wall lizard on the island.
See also
In Spanish: Isla del Rey (Menorca) para niños
