Can Blai Roman Castle (Can Pins)
The castellum of Can Blai is an archaeological site located in the parish of Sant Ferran, although it is geographically very close to Es Caló. It is located almost in the center of the island, at the highest point of the isthmus that joins the Mola with the rest of Formentera -about 10 m above sea level-, from which you can control the sea both to the north and south.
It is accessed from the road leading to La Mola, at km 10 (before reaching Es Caló). If you head towards La Mola you must take a detour to the right, the site is about 200 meters from the road.
History and characteristics of the Castellum de Can Blai
Can Blai was discovered in 1979 and excavated between 1979 and 1980. In its bibliography it is also mentioned as Can Pins because, in addition to part of Can Blai, it occupies land belonging to the Can Pins estates. It is a fortification from the Roman period with a quadrangular floor plan measuring 40 x 40 meters on each side, with five towers measuring approximately 4×5 meters in plan.
Four of these towers are on the four corners, plus a fifth tower located only 5 meters from the one on the NE left side to protect the only small door identified, only 1’20 m wide, located on the northwest wall.
All the towers have a small access door that communicates with the castellum enclosure, with no construction inside.
Theories about what type of building was Can Blai
The studies and excavations carried out at Can Blai do not make it clear what the building was used for (or if it was ever used at all). There are several theories about the uses of this building. Some of these possible uses are:
- Fortification for defensive tasks
- Building for the protection of surrounding neighbors
- Unfinished building (since no remains have been found to suggest that the construction was completed).
- Private home of a lieutenant or wealthy man
The most accepted theory, given the general state of the construction (which currently only reaches a height of 1 m in some sections of the northwest side), suggests an unfinished work erected with the intention of protecting the villas located nearby, a kind of fortress designed for defensive tasks of the island.
The scarce ceramic material provided by the excavations allows us to chronologically place the site in an advanced moment of the Low Imperial Roman period (years 284 to 476 AD).
In 1994 the monument was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest as an archaeological zone.
More information about Can Blai
If you want more information about Can Blai, here you have the latest news about the most recent excavations at the site and a short Youtube documentary:
Short documentary about Can Blai:
Near Can Blai you find…
Near the archaeological excavation of Can Blai you find:
Other archaeological sites in Formentera
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