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I
must stress that a holiday on Menorca can be
very quiet compared to most of Majorca or Ibiza, there are no large
resorts full of shops and late night bars. Don't come to Menorca
expecting resorts lined with bars and clubs, also don't come
expecting rowdy crowds and streets full of late night revellers.
Menorca is the perfect place for a relaxing peaceful family holiday.
This doesn't mean you have to go to bed at 21:00 bars do stay open
well into the night/morning. But come midnight all loud music [outdoor]
stops. So if you fancy an early night you can have one in peace. |
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Ciudadela, Menorca |
Why
Menorca / Minorca
The
island's resorts and beaches are ideal for anyone who enjoys water
sports, or even lounging around digging sand castles. Most but not
all are on the south coast. Sub aqua is available at quite a few
resorts as is tennis, horse riding, and many other sports. A 16 [soon
to be 18] hole golf course is situated on the north coast at Son
Parc.
A
trip to Menorca need not be just a sun sea
and sand holiday, although if that's what your after you've made a
good choice. Away from the beach there is plenty to see and explore,
like the water-front cave bars at Es Castell where you can relax and
enjoy a meal or a drink, or the harbor at Fornells where you can
sample locally caught fish and lobster.
The
capital Mao [Mahon], is a good day or evening out, The town is a
maze of narrow streets. The port is lined with bars and restaurants
to suit everyone's taste and pocket. The twice weekly market is not
to be missed.
Ciutadella
at the opposite end of the island offers a
contrast. It still retains much of the Moorish influence and has an
attractive port surrounded by narrow, arcaded streets. Both towns
have a good selection of shops, restaurants and cafes.
For
me Menorca has everything I need The friendliness of the people and
the reassurance that you're safe to walk out at any time of the day
or night, leave your towels on the beach while you swim. Warm
sunshine, Clear waters, Great beaches and plenty of them, Good food
in the largest choice of restaurants.
If
you venture outside the hotel grounds you'll find Menorca is not the
"We could be anywhere" holiday destination. Menorca abounds in
Culture, Palaces, churches, markets, music, art and history dating
back thousands of years. Along with the fact that although the
island is allowed to develop as a holiday destination, the Menorcans
keep tight control of it. I can relax and completely unwind for two
weeks in a quiet villa with my family around me, with a bar and
restaurant close by, a good sandy beach and the warm waters of the
Mediterranean
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Menorca, Balears islands,
Spain |
Places to see.
Cavalleria
To the west of Fornells is an area called Cavalleria the whole
area has been declared an area of special interest, not only
because of the outstanding countryside, but also because of the
number of archaeological remains that have been discovered here.
A roman city, English watchtower, Muslim mosque, huts, fishing
shelters and a limestone oven. This collection of archaeological
remains form what is now known as Menorca's first outdoor museum.
The ultimate aim is to protect and conserve the area for future
generations. The excavations are not finished yet and each year
from june to october you will find further attempts to discover
more of the ancient Roman city of "Sanisera". In the museum you
will find most of the more interesting archaeological finds.
Castell
de Santa Agueda Just a few
kilometers from Ferreries and just off the main Mahon -
Ciutadella road is Castell de Santa Agueda, it's well sign
posted now. This ruin of a once roman stronghold is perched on
top of the second highest point on Menorca.
Markets
at Mahon every Tuesday and saturday,
Ciutadella every Friday and Saturday, Es Castell every Monday
and Wednesday, Alaior Thursdays only, Ferreries Tuesdays and
Fridays. Most markets finnish around noon so get there early.
Horse
Riding
for the experienced or first timers of all ages can be found
amongst other places at Club Hipic Es Beoret S'Algar.
Equimar half way between Es Castell and Mahon on the turn
off to Trepuco. Piadero Binixica Just outside San Clement
on the way to Cala n Porter.
Horse
Shows - On the road to Galdana
there are two horse show centers with performances at 20:30 on
various days.
Mount
Toro - No holiday to Menorca is
complete without a trip up to the highest point on the island.
As well as being the highest point it is also the spiritual
center with the sanctuary built in the late 16th century and
tended by a community of Franciscan nuns. Beside the Church at
the summit is a large statue of 'Jesus of the Sacred Heart'.
This is dedicated to The Menorcan's who died in the Moroccan war
of 1925. Also to be found are other monuments to Menorcan's who
emigrated to Florida and Algeria in the 19th century. The views
over almost all of the island are quite spectacular
Aqua
Park in Cala Forcat is
a water park. It's not very big and really wouldn't be of much
interest to the older child but it is perfect for 3-9 yr. olds.
There are a few short flumes, slides etc. but what it lacked in
excitement it made up for it in other ways. The park was
extremely clean, the restaurant was pretty good value ( great
pizzas ) and best of all it was very safe for the little ones (
enclosed, lifeguard etc. ) you paid one price which covered the
whole day - under 3's free - and this included a bouncy castle
play area. Throughout the day you could come and go as you
pleased -they just stamped your hand so you could get back in.
It opened at 10 am and shut around 6.
Aqua
Rock Cala Bosc water
park larger than Calan Forcat, open till around 6pm Half price
after 3pm. The park includes Four big slides, including the
Black hole and the Kamikaze.
One large pool with both walk-in and jump in areas.
One small pool with smaller slides for the young ones.
And a pool with a wave machine.
plus a Jacuzzi in the center
Life guards everywhere!
Cricket
it may come as a surprise to find cricket
as an activity in Spain but cricket was recorded in Menorca in
the year 1813 by the surgeon of H.M.S. Scipio, being patronised
by Admiral Lord St. Vincent, Commander in Chief of the British
Mediterranean fleet. The tradition is carried on by the M.C.C,
not the English version but the Menorca Cricket Club. The M.C.C.
have purchased and developed their own ground at Biniparrell San
Luis, where they can now enjoy the luxury of playing on grass.
Every one is welcome to ether watch or participate in the games. LITHICA
is a non-profit making cultural
association whose objectives are the restoration, rehabilitation
and transformation of the sandstone quarries as centers for
cultural activities and scenic attraction. At the Ciutadella
site there is a circuit taking about 40 minutes to complete that
lets you see how stone used to be quarried and is quarried now.
The deep modern parts of the quarries are amazing, totally awe-inspiring.
In situ are quarrying tools and there is also a maze for
children. The older parts of the quarry have been planted with
trees and are a sanctuary for native wildlife.
Mao [Mahon] &
Es Castell
Mao
[Mahon] has been the capital of Menorca, since the British
moved it from Ciutadella in 1721. The reason being the
harbour at 5 km long, over 1 km at its widest point and
15-30m deep it is one of the largest natural harbours in
the world. This coupled with Its location in the
Mediterranean, has made it a strategic stronghold for many
nations throughout history.
The
port itself is relaxing by day and buzzing by night. The
bars and restaurants along the portside come alive at
night it is easy to spend many hours down in the port,
watching the ships, admiring the view, enjoying the
hospitality of the restaurants, or just sat taking in the
atmosphere.
There
are many historical buildings, the oldest being the Arch
de San Roque the only remains of what was once the wall
that encircled the town, the old road to Alaior passed
through this gateway. Situated a little way down this road
is the Town Hall, a typically Menorcan building. built in
1631 and restored around the 1780's, it still has the
clock given to the Menorcan's by the English Governor,
Richard Kane. Inside there is a gallery featuring
paintings of famous Menorcan's.
Also
in this square is the Church of Santa Maria which was
rebuilt between 1748 and 1772 and is home to a great organ
with over 3000 pipes. Behind this is the Plaza de la
Conquesta, in the center a monument has been erected to
the memory of King Alfonso III who conquered Menorca from
the Moslems in 1287. Also of note in this square is the
Public Library housed in an 18th century mansion known as
the Casa de Cultura.
The
town itself has plenty to offer the visitor. Most of the
shopping is along pedestrian streets with wonderful cake
shops, swish boutiques, leather, pottery and fresh fish
and food in the markets.
The
town's market now resides in a building which was
originally a convent, built In 1751 which has been
beautifully restored lately and is the venue for musical
events throughout the year. Built underground beneath the
market building is a large Spar supermarket which is well
stocked and is very competitive price wise so if your in
the town it's worth calling in and stocking up.
With
narrow streets to explore, pleasant shady squares with
welcoming pavement cafes and shopping that ranges from the
twice weekly market to the expensive designer boutiques.
Mao is a must on every visit to Menorca.
Es
Castell
Situated
a short distance from Mao with its two inlets, Cala
Fonts and Cala Corb, is the town of Es Castell, the most
easterly town in Spain and first to get the morning sun!
The town is steeped in military history, which can still
be seen today in its architecture. The most obvious is
the central square, which was the main parade ground.
Now it’s a park for children and has in the centre a
very friendly bar where I like to sit sipping one of the
local specialities watching my granddaughter at play
with the other children.
It
was originally named Georgetown by the English who built
it, and later renamed Real Villa de San Carlos (Villacarlos)
when the island was under Spanish rule. It is now known
as Es Castell The Castle, because of its proximity to
the Fort of San Felip. Es Castell has at the end of July
its own "Fiesta de San jaume" a must if you're lucky
enough to be here when it's on.
Es
Castell has plenty to offer its visitors, with shopping,
restaurants and nightlife. There are market days twice a
week, and the Fiesta de San Juame at the end of July.
Most of the bars and restaurants are situated around the
two coves, Calas Fons and Calas Corb. It is said that
Cala Corb is so named because the bodies of the escapees
from the quarantine island in the harbour were sometimes
washed up here. Calas Fons is the main place to head for,
it has something to suit all pockets and tastes. Many of
the shops and restaurants are built into caves in the
walls around the harbour, with a wide range of items
from ceramics to the handmade Menorquin sandals on sale,
all in a relaxing setting. At night the harbour comes to
life and is a good place to go for an evening meal and
drink.
Just off the roundabout
outside Es Castell is the prehistoric village of Trepuco
here can be found a large taylot. The village has been
excavated and can be seen in the next field to the west,
part of it dates back to the first or second millennium
BC, it is well worth a visit.
Menorca the Guide to
Ciutadella
Ciutadella,
an historic town that has held up well to the pressure
of tourism in the twentieth century. It was originally
named by the Carthagians, who called it Jamma, and was
the original capital of Menorca until the British came
along and moved it to Mahon in the eighteenth
century. But Ciutadella still remains the religious
capital of Menorca.
Most
people will enter Ciutadella for the first time by road,
driving past the new statue, on the roundabout on the
new city bypass. It is a magnificent statue of a rearing
stallion and symbolises the famous Ciutadella fiesta
"Fiesta de San Juan". Usually celebrated at the end of
June, not to be missed if you're lucky enough to be here
when it is on.
The
harbour, a narrow inlet, is one of the smallest ports in
the Mediterranean. Here, sitting in good company at one
of the harbourside cafés, you can experience, to me,
what Menorca is all about. Relaxed and bathed in
sunshine, watching the boats bob up and down and the
people
strolling by - the worries of the world vanish.
One
of the best places to view the harbour is from the main
square, Plaza de's Born. The centre of the square is
dominated by an obelisk which commemorates the defence
of the city in 1558 when it was attacked by the Moors.
On
one side of the square is the Town hall across from this
is Palace Torre Saura. Open to the public and to the
side of this is an alley, which leads up into the old
city.
Most
of the streets are narrow and typically Mediterranean.
The arches of Ses Voltes provide welcome shade from the
sun while shopping along the main street.
The
Cathedral in the Plaza de Pio XII, completed in 1362,
took over 50 years to build. Without doubt, the best way
to see Ciutadella is by foot. Forget the time and your
map and just wander through narrow streets soaking up
the atmosphere
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