With the arrival of the bubonic plague in Menorca, King Charles III ordered the construction of the Lazareto in 1793, designed as a sanitary complex for quarantining the sick. Previously, the British had built a similar facility on the island of Cuarentena. It began operations in 1817 and ceased functioning as a lazaretto at the end of the 19th century, later being reused for congresses and meetings.
Declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1993, the Lazareto is located in a privileged spot in the center of Mahón harbor, preserving its historical and architectural heritage.