MENORCAN GEOGRAPHY

Minorca has a land area of 702 square kilometres and a coastline of 216 kilometres. The maximum distance between two points is 47 kilometres, that is, between Ciutadella and Maó. The coast of Es Castell, at the eastern end of the island, is the first spot in Spain where the sun rises.

MAÓ 

Maó has been the administrative centre of Minorca since the British established it as such in the 18th century. As a matter of fact, evidence of the British presence can still be seen in the town, especially in some of the architectural features, such as: the “boinders” (bow windows) which can still be seen on buildings in some of the main streets of Maó. Also British in influence are the sash windows and some of the door locks.
The port of Maó, considered a genuine pearl of the Mediterranean due to its size and the safety of mooring it offers, reflects the life of this town. The great façade of cliffs supports the town as if to differentiate between the areas and their uses.
Maó should be visited in two sections: on one hand, the port and on the other, the town centre. It is worth leaving your car in order to stroll through the streets of the town. Maó does not contain many monuments, but it has preserved buildings from the various ages throughout its history. Thus, in the Plaza Bastió you can see the only remains that are left of the medieval wall which surrounded the town: the Gate of Sant Roc. The old road to Alaior passed through this gateway, which has been greatly restored following the sacking of Maó by Barbarossa the pirate in 1535. It consists of two towers which are connected by an exterior walkway over the gateway.
The Town Hall is another typically Spanish building. Inaugurated in 1613 and reformed in 1789, it still has a neoclassical facade featuring a clock which was contributed by the English Governor, Richard Kane. Inside there is a gallery featuring portraits of illustriours Menorcans. Opposite the Town Hall is the Principal de Guàrdia (main Guardhouse), a municipal building which retains the essence of British architecture in its red and white facade. This square also houses the Santa Maria church; a late Gothic place of worship which was rebuilt between 1748 and 1772. The church contains a large organ, which has four keyboards and 3120 pipes, 250 of which are woden. Behind this building is the Plaza Conquesta, in the centre of which is a monument erected in 1950 in memory of King Alfonso III who conquered Minorca form the Moslems in 1287. At the upper end of the square is the Public Library, also known as the Casa de Cultura, an 18th century mansion which was built on top of medieval ruins.
Other churches with interesting features are: Carme (a neoclassical building and one of the largest churches in the town) and Sant Francesc, dating from the 18th century, which is adjacent to the Museo de Menorca.
Next to the Church of Carme we find the cloisters, nowadays a recently renovated commercial centre offering all kinds of services as well as housing the vegetable and meat markets. Musical performances are often held in the interior of the cloisters; and its rooms house several municipal dependencies and the Music Conservatory. One of this building’s near neighbours, taking the Avenida de Ses Voltes, is the fish market which dates back to 1927 and can also be visited.
With regard to cultural buildings, the Teatro Princiapl should be mentioned. This theatre was built in 1829 by the architect, man of letters and singer, Giovanni Palagi, according to diagrams and décor of 18th century Italian theatres. A leading theatry for many years in the opera field, the theatre has welcomed in its opera seasons the greatest world figures. It was extensively renovated between 1997 and 2001. Since then, it has developed an intense and very varied programme.
The Esplanada, the first large public space of the city, it has changed appearance on numerous occasions. The barracks, built by the English in the 18th century, determined its use as a parade ground, a use it shared for a long time with a beautiful parade called Isabel II. Converted into a park and green space, it houses a weekly market and is decorated with sculptures by Timoner, Otero and Lucarini.
Worthy of mention is the Nicolau Rubio Park where a large part of the flora indigenous to Minorca can be seen.
Another pleasant spot is the park of Es Freginal, an urban garden. This was an old gully that was never built on because of the condition of the terrain, and it remained in the centre of the city like a big orchard. Owned by the council since the 1970s, it has become the most important open-air green space in the city.
The port of Maó: The port of Maó is a living element of the town, changing in character according the time of day or the season of the year.
Apart from housing nocturnal bars and restaurants with a marine ambience, the port of Maó has various uses: it is the maritime entrance to the town and also offers sheltered mooring to leisure boats or yachts and also to the few fishing boats which still work these waters.
There are several islets in the port, each with its own history. One is the Illa del Rei (the King’s Island), so-named because it was the place where King Alfonso III disembarked, where nowadays the ruins of the military hospital are preserved.
The islet of Lazareto, which is situated behind the Illa del Rei, also still has a hospital which may have been carrying infected people or merchandise and which were obliged to spend a period in quarantine.
Beyond the Lazareto on the horizon and raised over the great peninsula of La Mola, the fortress of Isabel II rises. Known populary as La Mola, it was built in the mid 19th century on the orders of Queen Isabel, with the aim of protecting the port of Maó that, since the destruction of the castle of San Felipe, had been defensceless against possible invasions.

Sant Climent. The small village of Sant Climent is located on the road leading from Maó to Cala’n Porter, after passing the turning to the airport. Various beaches in the municipal district of Maó are accessible from this point.

CIUTADELLA

A stroll through Ciutadella will reveal churches, mansions and impressive buildings.
Ciutadella was the capital of the island, before the British made Maó the administrative centre during their occupation, and to this day it retains a certain mediaeval air which becomes apparent during the enthusiastic celebration of the Sant Joan fiestas.
The Plaza des Born, the heart of the city, contains the Town Hall, an eclectic style building dating from the 19th century. In the centre of the square there is an obelik erected during the same century commemorating the Turkish disaster which occurred in 1558 (known as the “year of disgrace”), when the Turks sacked the city and looted the majority of its treasures. A craft market takes place twice a week in the square which is also the scene for the “caragol des Born”, an important part of the celebrations held during the fiestas of Sant Joan.
The main stately mansions of Ciutadella are to be found in the vicinity of this square, only some of which can be visited.
Easily accessible from Es Born is the Plaza de la Catedral, another building which is well worth seeing, both the exterior and interior. This square branches out into lanes and alleys which are so attractive and full of historical presence that they invite closer inspection. These accommodate a large commercial centre in which there is a wide variety of small and medium-sized businesses, bars and restaurants, the town’s market and a great many services which stretch as far as Sa Contramurada where the wall which formerly protected the town is to be found. Following Ses Voltes street, we come to the monument to the “Be” (the lamb), another allusion to the popular fiestas. These streets also contain the Diocesan Museum, the monastery of Santa Clara and the bastion of Sa Font, where the municipal museum is situated.
Ciutadella is also rich in archaeological sites, such as those which can be found at Cala Morell, Son Catlar, Torre Trencada, Torre Llafuda or the Naveta des Tudons, to name but a few of the talayotic and pretalayotic remains. The naveta des Tudons is the best preserved monument on the island and, in some ways, symbolizes prehistorical Minorca. The monument, which is to be found on the right of the main road from Ciutadella to Maó, was the first architectural work on Spanish soil to be preserved. The naveta is a funeral construction, with an elongated floor, which was developed in the final pretalayotic epoch. It has a concave facade and a horseshoe-shaped floor, with an apse at the rear. The naveta has generated various popular legends, mythical in character.
The port of Ciutadella. Like the central area of the town, the port of Ciutadella is also very attractive. The maximum width of this natural entrance is 500 metres at the mouth, narrowing considerable towards the other end.
One of the most pleasant walks is the approach to the tower of Sant Nicolau, which is a defence tower with an octagonal floor plan. It was constructed during the 17th century at the entrance to the port to keep a look-out for Turkish ships approaching the island.
If you prefer nocturnal entertainment, it is better to look to the other end of the port where you will find a number of discotheques, bars and restaurants.
The Cathedral. The Cathedral of Minorca was constructed by order of King Alfonso III of Aragon on a site previously occupied by an old mosque, the minaret of which was later altered to become the present-day bell tower. Construction started in approximately 1300 and finished in 1362. The church is a fine example of ogival art at its best and is notable for the breadth of the nave which is flanked by six chapels on either side.
The main door, called La Luz (the Light) still remains its mediaeval ornamentation and was restored between 1939 and 1941. Inside the Cathedral, the capilla de las Animas (Chapel of the Souls) is notable. Built during the baroque period at the beginning of the 17th, it has delicately chiseled columns.
Desecrated and sacked during the first days of the Civil War, the Cathedral was restored to its present form by Bishop Bartolomé Pascual. The main altar, a monolith of marble, is sheltered by a tester, 15 metres high. A the far end of the apse, under the image of the Virgin in the Mystery of the Presentation of Jesús in the Temple, can be found the Episcopal See, of Roman marble blessed by Pope Pius XII to signify the bonds of faith and devotion between this Church of Minorca and St. Peter’s Cathedral. Along the sides is the choir which had previously occupied the central part of the nave.

ALAIOR

Alaior is the third largest district in Minorca in respect of the number of inhabitants.
Alaior apart from being an notable tourist area (the beaches of Son Bou and Cala’n Porter) it also possesses numerous factories producing cheese and shoes. It is also an important centre for milk production. The popular brand of ice creams known as “La Menorquina” started life here.
The town was founded by the Aragon Crown. In fact, it was Jaume II who renamed this location, which up until then had been called Ihalor by the Moslems. The community started as a socially-structured group which grew up around the Church, following the typically mediaeval style of town planning, with winding streets spreading out from a religious building.
There are various noteworthy architectural elements in the town centre, one being the church and cloisters of San Diego (from the 18th century), the latter known as “Pati de Sa Lluna”.
The mansion of Can Salort is another building which can be visited. This stately home, also from the 18th century, nowadays houses an extension of the Balearic Islands University.
Some of the best-preserved archaeological remains, which are characteristic of the talayotic age, can be found in the area of Alaior. One such case is the Torre d’en Gaumes, which has been classified as “a group of monuments exceptional in the prehistory of the Balearics”.
The village of Torralba d’en Salort is a large archaeological site which was inhabited from prehistory to the Middle Ages.
Another jewel from the past is the Christian basilica at Son Bou. The site dates from the 5th century, a time when there were close links between Menorca and North Africa. The building which contains the small church is rectangular in shape and orientated from east to west. An interesting feature is the font, constructed in the form of a monolithic cylinder, which is unusual in Minorca’s basilicas. Outside there is a burial area and other constructions believed to be of a monastic nature.

ES MERCADAL

Es Mercadal is the central point of the island and is situated in a small valley in the shadow of Monte Toro which, at 357 metres, is the highest peak on Minorca.
During the repopulation of the island by the Catalans in the 14th century, the town was created as an intermediary settlement. Its houses, the majority of which are while, are overshadowed by the church of Sant Martí which was erected a century after the beginning of the town’s foundation. Another point of interest is the water cistern cistern which Governor Kane ordened to be built in the 18th century.
One of the traditional trades practiced in Es Mercadal is confectionery; and the town is renowned for the “carquinyols”, “amargos” and “torró cremate”, which are made here in a semitraditional way. Some of the restaurants in the town are renowned for the typically Minorcan dishes which they offer.
On the left hand side of the road from Maó, before reaching Es Mercadal, there is a curious phenomenon which has been sculped by nature, a rock known as “Sa Penya de s’Indio” (Indian Rock). The silhouette of the rock resembles the head of an Apache, complete with feather headdress. There is a small picnic area opposite which provides a good viewing point.
Leaving the town centre and heading north we find some beaches which are easily accessible and offer various amenities, such as Arenal d’es Castell, Macaret or Son Parc, and also some areas of great beauty such as the long, narrow, natural port of Addaia, also on the north coast.
Cavalleria merits a chapter of its own with its totally unusual countryside which resembles a deserted lunar landscape. The only building is Cavalleria is a large lighthouse atop some steep cliffs. Before reaching the lighthouse you can visit the Cap de Cavalleria Ecomuseum which is on the Santa Teresa estate.
History has also left its mark in this area, as the old anchorage of Sanitja, attributed to the Romans, can be found here, forming a part of the Ecomuseum. In myths which have endured mention is made of a city in this area which is to be found submerged beneath the waters.

Monte Toro
A part of being the rooftop of the island, El Toro is the spiritual centre.
The Mother of God of El Toro is the patron saint of Minorca.
Religious worship started in Monte Toro with the restoration of the Catholic religion following Alfons III’s reconquest of the island which was then incorporated into the Crown of Aragon in 1287. A few years later the chapel dedicated to the Virgin was built, a work of the Order of Mercy. On various occasions the precinct has suffered various calimities and misfortunes, but the Virgin’s statue has always been saved.
Without a doubt, El Toro is a reference point for believers who see religion expressed in its pure state here. An example of this was the raising of a statue dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1949, the pedestral of which is a monument dedicated to the Minorcans who died during the Morocan War in 1925.
There are also other statues in memory of those Minorcans who had to emigrate to Algeria and Florida in the 19th century.
The Sanctuary offers the possibility to being used as a shelter with bunks for groups of youngsters and also has a “House of Spirituality” for spiritual formation. There are also commercial establishments in the complex, such as the restaurant.

FORNELLS

Fornells is an old fishing village and fishing continues to this days.
The inhabitants of Fornells live in a beautiful part of the island, on the shores of a splendid natural bay which measures some four kilometers in length and up to two kilometers at its widest section, and which, on some occasions, has been classified as are situated on this stretch of the coast.
The relationship between Fornells and the sea is such that a marine procession takes place in July in honour of the Virgen del Carmen. The religious commemoration consists of numerous small boats departing from the port of Fornells and sailing to the month of the bay.
The town of Fornells grew up around the castle of Sant Antoni, which was constructed during the 17th century and later extended by the British and the Spanish.
It was also the British who built the defence tower which is to be found on Sa Punta which houses a small museum.
The gastronomy here is based on fish and shellfish.

FERRERIES

Situated between the hills of s’Enclusa and Son Telm, the valley which forms the locality of Ferreries exudes charm, partly through its architecture, which is very characteristic of Minorca, and partly through its people. It is the most “mountainous” municipal district of the island, containing various gorges, such as Algendar and Trebalúger, and the hill of Santa Agueda, at 264 metres, is the second highest peak, after Monte Toro.
The origin of the name Ferreries is not totally clear. According to some, the place derives its name from the fact that there was a monastery of Mercedarian monks in the neighbourhood, whilst another theory is that it originates form a blacksmith having established himself there for the first time. Whichever the case, the town was first populated in the 14th century, under the reign of James II, as were Alaior and Es Mercadal.
It is worth spending some time walking through the back streets of this town (especially in the old central part). These streets are generally narrow and create an overall effect that is mysterious and very beautiful.
Another place of interest in Ferreries is the Minorcan Nature Museum, which shows the environment of the island and its natural, cultural and traditional assets. The museum houses temporary exhibitions and, sometimes, conferences and film shows.
Similary, another point of interest is the archaeological site of Son Mercer de Baix, which is to be found on a side road off to the right of the stretch of the main road between Ferreries and Es Migjorn. Son Mercer has been classed as a site with some inhabitable columned navetas, of which the most wellknown is Sa Cova des Moro.

ES MIGJORN GRAN

Es Migjorn Gran is the most recently created municipal district of the island, as it only acquired the status of a municipality in 1989, after segregation from Es Mercadal on which it had previously been dependent.
It is perhaps one of the most peaceful places on the island.
Es Migjorn contains some gorges and a hilly area. The most impressive natural phenomenon is the Cova des Coloms.
The cave is fairly large, having a maximum height of 24 metres, and being 11 metres long and 15 wide. Remains have been found inside the cave, which presuppose the presence of man in the talayotic ages.
The beaches of Sant Adeodat, Sant Tomàs and Binigaus are also to be found at the end of the road in this municipal district.


ES CASTELL

Es Castell has played an important role in the history of Minorca as, because of its location - it is the most easterly village on the island and, therefore, in Spain – it is a highly important strategic military point. In fact, the town was born and developed in the shadow of the Castle of Sant Felip which was constructed by the British in the 18th century and to which it owes its name. One of the most attractive areas, with its typically Mediterranean ambience, is the port of Cales Fonts where numerous “llaüts” (Minorcan fishing boats) are moored.
Initially composed from two outlying areas, Es Castell was expanded during the British occupation and to this day retains a remarkably structured layout, reminiscent of its military connections. Among the outstanding buildings in the town are the church El Roser, completed at the end of the 18th century, and the Town Hall of this municipal district, which is situated in the Plaza Esplanada and has a red colonial facade. Until recently, the latter building was totally surrounded by buildings of a military character. Today, there is still the Military Museum of Minorca, which occupies the old barracks of Cala Corb (1771) and which houses an extensive permanent exhibition of the island’s military history.
Situated in the mouth of the port of Maó, in the cove of Sant Esteve, is Fort Marlborough which was constructed by the British between 1710 and 1726.
Almost camouflaged against the surrounding countryside, a large part of this fortification is built into the rock. The entrance gallery, the battlements which are surrounded by the moat and the buttresses which project in a radial shape were built with the aim of protecting the central area and the four guns of the artillery battery which are sited on semi-circular platforms.
The fort was the object of heavy sieges, such as the French in 1756, commanded by the Duke of Richelieu, or that of the Duke of Crillón in 1781.

SANT LLUÍS

In the history of Minorca various cultures and nationalities have followed one another. In the 18th century, apart from the British and Spanish dominations, there was a period, form 1756 to 1763, when the island was French. Proof of this can be seen in town of Sant Lluís which was founded by the French in this period, thereby distinguishing it from other towns on the island.
Construction of the town began the Governor, the Count of Lannion, with the objective of grouping together the rural population which was dispersed among the area’s farmsteads and hamlets. As in other localities, the town grew up around its church which is dedicated to Sant Lluís and on which dedicated to Sant Lluís and on which construction started in 1761. In 1904, under Spanish rule, Sant Lluís constructed its Town Hall and the municipal district finally received its independence from Maó,, after three unsuccessful attempts.
One of the windmills constructed in this area can be seen at the entrance to Sant Lluís, coming from Maó. Nowadays this building houses a Folklore Museum which can be visited. The church and the windmill are the most characteristic features of this town.
In the outskirts, numerous hamlets can be seen in a rural countryside made more interesting by the endless “pared seca” (dry stone walls), so characteristic of the lanes and farmsteads of Minorca. Some of the hamlets found in the outskirts of Sant Lluís are: Pou Nou, Torret, Binifadet and s’Ullastrar.
On the right hand side of the road from Maó to Sant Lluís are the hippodrome of Maó and the Aeroclub, with a gokarting track.
The coastal zone of Sant Lluís includes some well-equipped beaches, such as s’Algar, Cala Alcalfar or Punta Prima which was one of the first tourist resorts on the island. Also on the coast is the urbanization of Binibèquer which was built in 1968.