All About The Island of MenorcaWhere To Stay and What To See And Do
The island was first conquered by the Carthaginians in the third century BC and since then the Romans, Moors, Catalans and even the British have ruled Menorca and each civilisation has left its archaeological and cultural remains. The two main towns - Mahón and Ciutadella - are at opposite ends of the island and, depending on the whims of the occupiers, have both spent periods as Menorca's capital. Mahón - Maó in Catalan - is the current capital because of its fabulous port, which is the second deepest natural harbour in the world after Pearl Harbour. It's a beautifully sedate city with some lovely buildings that hark back particularly to the time of British occupation during the 18th century. There are some lovely British Empire buildings scattered around the town - the beautiful Golden Farm, for example - but it's the cultural curiosities that make me smile. The word for sauce in Spanish is salsa but in Menorcan it's greivi from the English gravy and the island must be the only place in Spain that prefers gin to wine. In fact, if you like a tipple you should really visit the Xoriguer Gin Distillery - an obvious legacy of the British. Mahón is also the place where mayonnaise - mahonesa in Spanish - was invented and the recipe was taken back to France by Richelieu during one of his altercations with the British navy. If anything, Ciutadella - the former capital - is even nicer. It too has a delightful deepwater port and its buildings are a curious mixture of well-conserved Catalan medieval and Italian Renaissance with a very Moorish feel. The Town Hall in the Plaza des Born is a former Arab Palace and the fine Cathedral was originally a Muslim mosque. Minorca is also home to the densest patrimony of prehistoric archaeological sites in the world - the Talatí de Dalt near Mahón and the Naveta des Tudons near Ciutadella are the most accessible but to really find out about Menorca's prehistory you should visit Es Mercadal and use it as a base to explore the centre of the island. The best way to do this is on foot, because Minorca is also perfect for walkers and nature lovers as 75% of its surface area is protected and the whole of Menorca has been designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and the European Union. And finally, if you love horses, Menorca is definitely the place for you. Everything on the island centres around horses and Menorca even has its own race of black horses.
In all the festivities horses and their riders are the centrepieces and a great way to see the island is by taking the Cami de Cavalls - a pathway
surrounding the island for horse riding, which has been used throughout history for defence of the coast by horse but now gives access to the island's most
out of the way beaches.
Where To Stay On MinorcaIf you're looking for somewhere to stay on Minorca, please use the Hotel Search at the top of the page to find rooms on The Balearic Islands.The engine searches the databases of hundreds of agencies and returns with a list of hotels at all prices and star ratings. Once you click through, you can make the booking directly with the company or hotel. If you'd prefer something a little cheaper or even further off the beaten track, Click Here For Hostels in Spain You get full choice of star ratings at a cheaper price if you book just before you leave, so please visit Late Rooms on Menorca for the best last minute deals. Furthermore, one of the best ways of getting about the island is by car, so Click Here for the Car Hire Search of Minorca Airport and the major towns.
New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
| 
