Tourist Guide

What to see

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 .

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
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.

Nightlife

Mahón, the capital, is probably the most lively place on the island. In the area called Anden Poniente, close to the port, you will find a concentration of bars and taverns.
The area Muelle de Levante offers many nice summer terraces, also you may eat very good "tapas" here.

Villacarlos
Villacarlos has nice summer terraces and restaurants as well, specially around Cala Fonts.

Alayor y Punta Prima
Alayor and Punta Prima, with fashionable discotheques, are the places for you if you want to dance.