Menorca
The Windy Island
Legend tells that the winds of Menorca modify the personality of people. Maybe that is the reason why those who came here once as tourists mostly return … Menorca certainly has a very strong personality, and a very different one to the rest of the islands. Menorca, the “minor” island, as it was called by Romans, has an almost virginal interior (compared for instance to the “major” island, Mallorca) and shows interesting remains of its old history. On the other hand, there are beaches and lonely bays around it at a length of 216 kilometers. An ideal resort for all those who are looking for true relaxation.
Menorca History
Menorca is a splendid open-air museum, rich in diverse prehistoric monuments. Recent discoveries in sa Cova des Càrritx and sa Cova des Mussol have allowed the presence of humans to be dated back to about 2000 B.C., or 4,000 years ago, with the era of greatest population during the Bronze and Iron Ages. The monuments scattered over the island, including a very special type, confirm this: the taula (table), gigantic T’s, which still arouse impassioned debate over their meaning. The megalithic tombs, the long caves, and the naviform dwellings are from the pretalayotic era, while the taules, settlement walls, and necropolises with caves dug into the rocks were created in the talayotic. The final part of this stage shows significant influence from Punic culture.
In 123 B.C. the Roman consul Quintus Caecilius Metellus landed on Menorca, taking the precaution of cladding his ships in leather armour to avoid damage by stones shot by the island’s slingers. Menorca became known as Balearis Minor or Minorica, while Maghen (Maó), turned into Mago, or Municipium Flavianum Magontanum in full. The small town of Sanisera (Sanitja), mentioned by Pliny, in the northern part of the island, and Jamma (Ciutadella) were also Roman settlements. The mark left by the Romans may be seen in the pavements, mosaics, inscriptions, figurines, coins, and open-air burial niches cut out of the rock. The Christianisation of the island produced an exceptional document: the letter of Bishop Severian, written in February 417, found by Cardinal Baronius in the Vatican Library and included in the Annali Ecclesiastici as an “outstanding monument of Christian antiquity.” The splendour of early Christianity in Menorca shines in the Palaeochristian basilicas of Son Bou, Fornàs de Torelló, Port de Fornells, and Illa del Rei (Maó)
In 902, along with the rest of the archipelago, Menorca was peacefully incorporated into the Caliphate of Cordoba, under the name Menurka, and what is now Ciutadella, where the almojarife or governor resided, became Medina Menurka. From the 350 years of Moorish presence, Menorca preserves the remains of the cliff top castle of Santa Agueda and numerous place-names (those beginning with Bini – and Al -), as well as the bell tower of Ciutadella cathedral, formerly the minaret of the mosque. In 1232 the almojarife became a tributary of Jaume I the Conqueror, who had subjugated Mallorca in 1229.
Fifty years later the new almojarife betrayed Pedro III of Aragon, when he called at the port of Maó with a fleet of 120 ships headed for northern Africa. Alfonso III, firstborn son of Pedro III, vowed to avenge this treachery, and organized an expedition to conquer Menorca and annex it to the kingdom of Aragon. In January 1287, the Christian troops entered Medina Menurka, and so Menorca celebrates the Day of the Menorquin People every January 17th.
Menorca’s strategic location in the western Mediterranean and excellent shelter afforded by the harbour of Maó caught the eye of the great European powers. Starting in 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession, the island changed hands several times with the disembarkation of British and Dutch troops under the pretext of holding Menorca for the Pretender to the Spanish throne, archduke Carlos of Austria. The occupation was ratified in 1713 by the Treaty of Utrecht and the first British domination of Menorca began. There were three stages of British rule: 1708-1756, 1763-1781, and 1798-1802, interrupted by the French (1756-1763) and the Spanish (1782-1798).
In 1802 Menorca finally returned to Spain by the Treaty of Amiens and its history joined that of the mother country. The policy of the Republican and Conservatives parties alternately holding power began in 1874. Unlike Mallorca, Menorca stayed Republican during the Civil War (1936-1939). In 1979 the Consell Insular de Menorca was constituted, bringing about the recovery of the island’s former institutions, integrated in the Comunitat Autònoma de les Illes Balears.
Getting about
Menorca’s network of roads is well structured and constitutes a good way of discovering the towns on the island, either using the regular bus service or a car.
These main roads and other secondary roads are also popular among cyclists, for whom the tranquillity and climate of the island make it an ideal location for the sport.
Menorca is also perfect for trekkers. Its hilly landscape, without any large mountains, offers many easy routes.
Mahón the capital
Mahón, of 20.000 inhabitants, is the island’s capital. It’s architecture shows evident British influence , remain of a time when Menorca was part of the British Empire. Still you can see by the way the ruins of the old English Marine Hospital. When visiting Mahón you shouldn’t miss the following places:
The Port
It is said to be the best port in the world, behind Pearl Harbour … close to here, in Finca de San Antonio, Admiral Nelson and Lady Hamilton lived their famous romance.
Aquarium
( at the port, open Mon-Fri 9.30 – 13.00 and 16.00 – 19.00, Sat 9.00 – 14.00, Sun 11.00 – 13.00) An interesting exposition of fauna and flora of the Mediterranean area.
Ateneo Científico y Literario
(Conde de Cienfuentes, 25. Open 9.00 – 14.00 and 15.00 – 22.00) An important collection of fossiles, historical maps and ceramic articles.
Church of Santa María
(Plaza de España), with a monumental Baroque organ.
Church and Convent of San Francisco
Specially remarkable is the neo-romantical portal.
Military Museum
(San Felipe) Most interesting is the room dedicated to Charles III.
Prehistorical Remains
In Trepucó, in the South of Mahón, in Torelló and Talatí de Dalt there highly interesting and quite well conserved rests of prehistorical cultures.
Ciudadela the former capital
The 15.000 inhabitants of Ciutadella de Menorca are proud that their town was the island’s capital from the Moorish epoch until 18th century. Aristocratical constructions as well as several palaces make evident its glorious past. The entire town was declared National Monument by the Spanish state.
Popular customs are highly interesting as well. Best known is the festival of San Juan, when el Jaleo takes place: a medieval equestrian performance with colorful old dresses.
Unlike Mahón Ciudadela is a typical Mediterranean town with colorful narrow lanes. Among the major attractions are:
The Port
This picturesque natural port is specially impressing arriving to it by boat.
La Contramurada
A wide boulevard, located where formerly the town-walls were.
Plaza de Born
The heart of town. An obelisk in the nearby park reminds of the Turkish attack in 1558.
National Museum
(Plaza de Born. Open 11.30 – 13.30. Sundays closed.). With an interesting collection of archaeological findings as well as objects of medieval and Moorish epochs.
Cathedral
Built in 14th century over a Moorish Mezquita. Lateron it was modified several times, in particular during 19th century. Most evident today are Gothic and Neoclassic styles.
Seis Voltes
Beautiful alleys with arcades and white-washed walls.
Casas Palacio
Several beautiful small palaces, among them Casa Saura, Palacio del Barón de Lluriach and Palacio Martorell, all of 17th and 18th century.
Churches
Most remarkable are Iglesia del Roser, of 18th century, and Iglesia de San Francisco, constructed from 16th to 19th century.
Naveta des Tudoms
This prehistorical tomb is one of the island’s most important monuments.
Menorca tourism and travel information
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Getting here
The most common way of getting to Menorca is by air, arriving at the airport, which is very close to Maó. Cars can be rented at the airport, or if you want to use public transport, you can take a taxi or the bus to Maó. Once in Maó, there are plenty of connections with other buses which cover different routes on the island. There are many airlines offering frequent regular flights from a number of points, such as airports on the other Illes Balears, mainland Spain and Europe.
Menorca has sea connections with Valencia and Barcelona, by means of boat and fast ferry. You can also get to the island by sea from the other Illes Balears.
The beaches in the South of Menorca, migjorn, of white sand, are mostly surrounded by pine woods with rich vegetation. The northern coast, la tramuntana, is steeper, with rocks, of great beauty.
Let us start our tour at the capital, Mahón. The first station will be Villacarlos , a charming village of 4.500 inhabitants. The architecture is evidently of British influence. Here you find exceptional bays, as Cala Llonga and Cala de Sant Esteve, and, at 8 kilometers, the natural park Albufera des Grau with its lake. 150 different species of birds are registered here. Another sight is the small island Es Colom, located at just 200 meters from the beach.
In southern direction we arrive to Sant Lluis. This small village was founded by French, who where then reigning over Menorca for a short period of time, during 18th century. Here you will find splendid beaches as well: Cala Alcaufar, with its high quality urbanisation, Cala d’es Rafalet , and Punta Prima, of fine white sand.
Torret, with its simple white houses, represents the typical architecture of this island. Close to San Clemente there is Calas Covas with its original “hippies”-colony: people are living in caves, transistor radios being their only contact with the rest of the world.
Alaior is a small industrial town with reputated shoe production. Its historical center with narrow lanes, white-washed walls and manorial houses of 17th and 18th century certainly is worth a visit. In the surroundings there are highly interesting prehistorical remains: the taula and talayot of Torralba, and the settlement of Torre d’en Gaumés. Of somewhat more recent date is the Paleo-Christian Basilica de Son Bou .
Mercadal, located at the foot of the island’s highest mountain, Monte Toro (357 m), from which you may enjoy an exceptional panorama, has an interesting Ionic-Byzanthinian church with wonderful wall-paintings. In its surroundings you may visit again some prehistorical findings, and of course great beaches: Triant, Pregonda, Son Saura, Na Macaret and Puerto de Adaya.
At a few kilometers towards East there is the colorful and lively village Ferreries.
Following the road some 10 kilometers in northern direction, we arrive to the splendid beach of Arenal d’en Castell, the romantic fishing port Fornells, and the cave Cueva Na Pulida with its stalagmites and stalagtites.
Of great touristical interest is Santo Tomás, with paradisiac beaches such as Santa Galdana.
Ciutadella is located at the island’s eastern extreme. Again, there are wonderful bays around: Cala en Blanes, Cala en Forcat , Cala en Brut, Cala Santandria and Cala Blanca.