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Guide to Menorca (Minorca)

 

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A delightful island, among the Balearic group, ideal for its relaxing beach holidays along its rugged coastline, rocky coves and inlets. Small resorts have grown up around the beautiful bays and sandy beaches. Mahon is Minorca's capital and the location of the island's airport. It lies at the eastern end of the island. It boasts one of Europe's largest natural harbours. It has an attractive mixture of colonial and local architecture, built on a hill overlooking the port. There is a good selection of shops and bars in the town centre. The area around the harbour has a buzzing nightlife of restaurants and pavement cafes which give the harbour a special atmosphere. In the Placa de la Constitucio you must visit the Church of Santa Maria which houses an enormous organ with 3,006 pipes and four keyboards. Daily concerts are performed. Near the church is the Mercat Claustre del Carmen where you will find a market selling local cheeses, meat, fruit and vegetables. The former monastery houses the provincial museum. Gin is produced in Mahon and a visit to a distillery is a must.
Another main town on the island is Ciudadela which was the capital until 1722. Like Mahon it has much to offer in the form of wonderful buildings and streets. At its centre is Placa d'es Born with a huge memorial to those who died defending the island in 1558 against the Turks. The pink painted town hall which was once a fortress reflects the Arab architecture.
Fornells is an attractive fishing village on the north of the island at the mouth of a spectacular bay. It is ideal for windsurfing and water sports. 4km away is the exclusive resort of Playa de Fornells and close by is a superb beach by the name of Cala Tirant.

Cala Galdana is one of the most popular spots in Menorca, set in a horseshoe bay. Santo Tomas is a small resort with a long stretch of golden sands ideal for families and couples looking for quiet, quality accommodation.

Son Bou has one of the longest sandy beaches on the island, backing on to open countryside, which at present has not been spoilt by development. There are shops, bars, restaurants and a discotheque.

Binebeca and Binisafua on the southwest coast are Menorca's first holiday resorts, pretty, mainly residential areas of privately owned villas with numerous sandy bays to enjoy.

 
Minorca, for almost 100 years was under British rule. It was ceded to Spain in 1802. There is still a strong British influence on the island.

In general the nightlife on the island is pretty much low-key with few discos and clubs. Warm evenings are more often spent in the street cafes and bars. The local menu is predominantly seafood or cheese based especially in Fornells where lobster is of the highest quality. Mahon is where mayonnaise originated.

 
 
Minorca has the greatest concentration of discovered pre-historic and bronze-age settlements in the world and at only 30 miles by 12 miles it has been a favoured site for many nations including Romans, Arabs, Turks and Greeks. The Romans gave the island its present name which means 'little one' in contrast to Majorca which means 'large one'. The island is covered with evidence of settlements and the burial grounds dating from 1500BC are well worth a visit. There are about 45 burial grounds, some of which are accessible.

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