Minorca: Mahon & Ciudadela de Menorca Attractions
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Minorca is a relatively quiet holiday island, which in addition to good beaches and excellent facilities for water sports has much of historical and artistic interest to offer, including in particular its megalithic monuments - though some of these can be reached only on rough and unsignposted paths.
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Ciudadela de Menorca, Spain
Ciudadela (Minorcan Ciutadella), once capital of Minorca, is picturesquely situated above its fjord-like harbor inlet at the western tip of the island. In 1558 an army of 15,000 Turkish corsairs captured the town, destroyed it, slaughtered the inhabitants and carried off the survivors to Istanbul as slaves.
Plaza del Borne
The central feature of Ciudadela de Menorca is the Plaza del Borne, in which stands an obelisk commemorating the events of 1558. On the west side of the square is the Town Hall. From here there is a good view of the harbor inlet.
Palacio Salort
The east side of the Plaza del Borne is dominated by the Palacio Salort, a mansion in early Neoclassical style, with a richly furnished interior.
Cathedral
A short distance from the Plaza del Borne is the Plaza Pio XII, on the left of which stands the cathedral (1287- 1362), a hall church without transepts.
Capilla del Rosario
Just south of the cathedral, in Plazuela del Rosario, is the Capilla del Rosario, with a fine Plateresque facade.
Surroundings
Minorca - Naveta d'es Tudóns
6km/4mi east of Ciutadella, a little way south of C 721, is the Naveta d'es Tudóns, the best known and best preserved naveta on the island and the oldest man made structure in Spain (about 15th century B.C.). Built of massive cyclopean blocks, it stands in open country near the old Roman road, here clearly traceable. This was a place of burial; among those buried here were several clan chieftains.
Minorca - Cala Santa Galdana
From Ferrerías, 24km/15mi west of Mahón on C 721, a road leads south (7km/4.5mi) to the holiday resort of Santa Galdana, picturesquely situated in a bay enclosed by almost vertical rock walls, with a small stream running into it; good bathing.
Cova de S'Aygo, Ciudadela
Location: Province of Balearics; on Minorca, 4km/2.5mi south of Ciudadela at Cala Blanca. Features: Total length 215m/235yd; large lake of brackish water 80m/90yd long, in which the vividly colored stalactites and stalagmites are reflected.
