Things to See and Do in Menorca
1 ... SANT LLUISThis quaint little town, consisting of a square, a church and a few dozen whitewashed houses, was built by the French during the Seven Years War, as quarters for Breton sailors. The French coat of arms on the church facade stands as a reminder of those days.
A windmill, Moli de Dalt, at the town's entrance was built in 1762. Today, it is the only working windmill on the island and serves as the town's symbol. Next to it is a small museum with a collection of farm implements.
2 ... SANT FRANCESCLocated in Mahon, the Church of Sant Francesc with its light-coloured Baroque façade stands at the end of Carrer Isabel II. The church’s imposing interior has a vast, dark nave with a soaring Gothic altar at the end of it.
The church’s most outstanding feature is its octagonal chapel of the Immaculate Conception built in a fanciful Spanish Baroque style and decorated with stucco garlands of vine and roses. This is the most beautiful example of Baroque ornamentation in Menorca. Its creator is believed to be the famous painter, sculptor and architect, Francesco Herrara.
Adjoining the south side of Sant Francesc is the monumental structure of the monastery, with an arcaded courtyard. Currently it houses the Museu de Menorca - containing works of art and archaeological relics. Many of the exhibits date from prehistoric times, and there is an extensive selection from the Talayotic period, as well as Roman, Byzantine and Arabic artefacts.
3 ... GIN IN MENORCAOne legacy of the 100-year rule of Menorca by the British is the tradition of producing and drinking gin, which was a popular drink with the many British sailors stationed here. Unlike the rest of Spain, where wine is the most popular tipple, Menorcans have taken to gin in a big way. The production process can be seen in the 18th century Xoriguer distillery next to the landing stage in Mahon. The gin produced by the Xoriguer distillery is the most popular brand on the island and is sold in
anecas - ceramic bottles reminiscent of the clay jugs that were once used by British sailors.
Open daily except between 1-4pm, the distillery produces gin-based liqueurs in its old fashioned copper stills. Visitors are encouraged to taste and buy - try the gin-and-lemonade mix,
pomada, a Menorcan version of gin and tonic.
4 ... PLAZA D’ES BORNLocated in Ciutadella, this is a former Arab military drill ground and was rebuilt in a Neo-Renaissance style in the 19th century. It is considered to be one of Spain’s most beautiful squares. At its centre stands an obelisk marking
Any de la Desgracia - the “Year of Calamity”, when Turkish corsairs invaded Ciutadella. The square is lined with historic buildings, including the town hall, a former palace of the Moorish governor, as well as the 19th century Teatre Municpal d’es Born and 19th century palaces with Italian-style facades.
The most imposing of these is the early 19th century Palau de Torresaura, with its two wings, has a mighty portal with a coat of arms set into it, a magnificent inner courtyard. The adjacent Palau Salort, dating from the same period, is Ciutadella’s only aristocratic residence that is open to visitors. The opulent Hall of Mirrors and the majestic painted ceilings in the ballroom make this handsome house well worth visiting. The square is also worth seeking out for its restaurants and open-air cafes and bars.
5 ... COVA D’EN XOROIAccording to legend, this cave was once inhabited by a pirate named Xoroi, “the one-eared”. He stole from the farmers in the region, eventually abducting a farmer’s daughter and fathering 3 sons by her. His hiding place was discovered shortly afterwards, whereupon Xoroi jumped into the sea with his eldest son.
Located in Cala’n Porter and set into a steep cliff, it is 25m above the waterline. By day, you can explore the cave and sit in the terrace café to admire the scenery. At night, the cave becomes a disco and music thunders out until the early hours, accompanied by light shows.
6 ... COVA D’ES COLOMSLocated in Es Migjorn Gran you will find the hidden entrance to the Cova d’es Coloms, a cave known locally as “the cathedral”, and not without reason. Its dimensions are gigantic, although estimates of how big it actually is tend to vary wildly.
Excavations here have revealed numerous cult objects from pre-Christian times, when the ravines on the island were densely populated and the caves served as cult centres. Traces of camp fires and graffiti on the walls are a far more recent date, however. Young people like to have parties down here, brining generators for amplifiers, guitars and microphones, as well as brining and the necessary supplies of alcohol and food for barbecuing.
7 ... PLAZA DE S’ESPLANADALocated in Mahon, the large Plaza de s’Esplanada was formerly used by the British as a parade ground. Most of the important access streets end here, an underground car park swallows up visitors’ cars, and the bus terminal is just around the corner. The rectangular, palm-lined square is a good place to observe Menorcan life at any time of day. A market is held here on Tuesday and Saturday, drawing visitors in from the surrounding resorts.
Every day, from early morning, you can see elderly people sitting in cafes such as the Cafeteria Consey or on stone benches beside hibiscus bushes, flower beds - all shaded by pine trees, chatting together or reading the latest edition of the local newspaper. Children clamber up climbing frames, while soldiers guard the formerly British-owned barracks. An obelisk commemorates those who feel on the Nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War. If you are looking for information, go to the tourist office just off the eastern side of the square in Carrer Sa Rovalleda de Dalt.
The square is flanked on 3 sides by low buildings, many of them housing bars, cafes and restaurants.
8 ... NAVETA DES TUDONSConsidered to be the oldest intact building in Europe - some 3,500 years old. Situated in the middle of a field a few minutes’ walk from the Ciutadella-Mahon road. Several thousand years ago it was used as a tomb. Inside, the remains of around 1,000 people have been found. The most outstanding example with regards size and conservation of remains of the Talayotic culture, which covers the period from 1400 BV to the Roman era, is Son Catlar - a real town covering around 6 hectares with a 900 meter long wall.
Son Catlar was inhabited until the Middle Ages, although it is now yet another ruin in a territory which is full of archaeological remains.
In you get inside through the waist-high opening, you will see the two chambers above each other, separated by a ceiling made of stone slabs. A well-beaten path leads to a small rise - the best place for photographing this mysterious site, which looks quite magnificent in the early morning or evening light.
9 ... SANTUARIO DE TOROAbout 3km east of Es Mercadal is the convent of Santuario de Toro, built in 1670 on the steep hill of Monte Toro, which at 350m is the highest point in Menorca. Occupied by the nuns of a Franciscan order, it is regarded as the spiritual centre of Menorca and an ancient centre of pilgrimage.
Inside this 17th century church is a statue of the Black Madonna, set within the main altarpiece, which depicts the Virgin Mary in a golden crown, holding the infant Jesus in her arms.
According to local tradition, the statue of the Virgin Mary has been worshipped here since the 13th century. Today, pilgrims visit Monte Toro, particularly on the first Sunday in May, to participate in the Fiesta de la Virgin del Toro. Following mass in the church, the pilgrims then descend the stairs leading to Es Mercadal on their knees.
10 ... MAHON CHEESENot so much as something to see, or do … but something to buy. If the souvenir shop shad anything to do with it, every visitor to Menorca would take home at least one Queso de Mahon. Regardless of the aroma, no souvenir shop would be complete without a row of these colourfully packed cheeses.
Some of Menorca’s cheese is still made by small family businesses, but most is now produced on a large scale. Since 1985, it has all carried the official label Queso de Mahon, although Alaior is actually the centre of production. Despite mechanisation, the cheeses is still made in the traditional manner, except that cow’s milk rather than sheep’s milk is used. First the why is separated from the set milk using muslin. The cheese is then soaked for a day in salt water and left on a rack for a month, where it is turned. A mix of butter, olive oil and paprika is then applied to the surface and 2 months later the cheese is ready.
Queso de Mahon is best bought either straight from the farm or from a factory outlet in Alaior. You won’t get the colourful packaging but you may still get a glimpse of the cellars, and the price is lower than in souvenir shops.
