Rafal is the name (Arab origin) that the Masías placed for
agricultural properties that were directly managed by their owners. The
house used to be called ´the hidden house´, as it was not possible to
appreciate it until you were very close to it. This house appears on
some of the oldest maps of Menorca.It was one of the great manor houses of the island of Menorca, next
to Ciudadela and the coast. From the large original estate, there is
63,850 m2 of land made up of the eleven fenced plots or ´tancas´, in
which there is a main building or ´casat´ and a series of auxiliary
buildings which were originally for agricultural use, that include a
bore hole with an endless supply of water, a traditional bread oven, a
large cistern, and two ´antique boyeras´s´ of 250m2 that could be done
up to make little cottages or storage space.The main house dates back to the XVIII century, the time that the
Mediterranean became free from the threat of pirates and when they built
the best buildings on the island. This is a 425 m2 building, or
explained better it is a series of buildings intercalated and added on
during its long history, which is a typical image of the area.The construction is based on tidal stone, that marine limestone that
is very characteristic of the Balearic Islands, and that in this case
was taken from an existing quarry in the same property. An artisan and
unequalled work performed by the stonemasons of the island.This house is a magnificent example of the most traditional tidal
architecture, where one can enjoy the large vault that covers the
"porxada" or access porch, one of the traditional elements of Balearic
architecture, as well as the arched vaults on the ceilings of all the
rooms on the ground floor, which were carefully recovered a few years
ago.On the facade part of the stone is on display, as well as gutters
formed by the tiles, widely used during this time to drive as much water
as possible to the cisterns.On the ground floor, the house has four large areas under the edge
vault, three of them make up the living room, reception room and dining
room, and the fourth is a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. In
addition, there is a trade/hobby in the old kitchen under vault of a
half-barrel, and a fantastic kitchen.The staircase that starts from the porxada itself leads to the first
floor in a covered gallery that gives access to an area with a large
living room, four bedrooms one of them with access to a terrace, and
three bathrooms.The house has all of the amenities, and is decorated with
extraordinary taste, using the traditional and natural materials, and
with furniture and elements acquired in the area, and that remain for
the most part in the house.