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Menorca
"Unspoilt, unhurried and about as friendly as they come, it's no wonder the mesmerising island of Menorca has won so many holiday hearts."
Thomson Destinations
reviews Video tour & customer on.co.uk thoms
Two words sum up Menorca better than any others calm and charming. This Spanish isle plays things differently to its bigger Balearic sisters, Majorca and Ibiza. It's less hip and it's less happening. But that's its appeal. The island's got its fair share of tourist spots but they're not big or brash. Instead, think low-rise resorts with cute marinas and seafood restaurants. Lanes with street markets and sleepy shops. And harbours bobbing with fishing boats. Of course, in the bigger resorts, like Cala'n Forcat and Son Bou, you'll find plenty in the way of nightlife but they're still pretty much focused on lazy days on the sands. And let's not forget Menorca's other big draws. Behind the beaches, the island's hills are sprinkled with dry-stone walls and walking trails. Inland there are tiny villages where everything seems to stop at siesta time. And dotted all over the island are prehistoric stone towers and temples that give Stonehenge a run for its masonry. Rounding things off you've got Mahon and Ciudadela, historical showstoppers the pair of them. If you needed proof the best things come in small packages, Menorca's quite simply it. Things to see and do Mahon From the capital's quayside, you can almost hear the creaking rigging of Nelson's ghost ship. You see, in the 18th century, Menorca's capital was hot property. As one of the deepest natural harbours in the world, all the superpowers of the day wanted in on Mahon - after all, finding somewhere to park up an 80-foot galleon is easier said than done. No wonder Admiral Nelson made it the base for the British fleet. For much of the 1700s, the city ping-ponged between British and French control. Fast forward to now and sleek white yachts have replaced the age-old ships but the harbour's still the main draw. And all around it, bow-windowed Georgian houses point to Mahon's stint under the Union Jack. Another top sight is Santa Maria church. A neo-classical masterpiece, this place doesn't do anything by halves the organ alone has over 3000 pipes. And don't miss the Place Esplanada, either. The largest square on the island, this former military parade ground is packed with cafés and restaurants spot on for people watching. Ciudadela The Audrey Hepburn of the Balearics, Ciudadela is stylish and dignified with a dash of old world glamour. Think pin-thin streets. Cobblestone squares. And stately mansions. Ciudadela may not be Menorca's capital anymore, but it's still got the looks. A vacuum-packed city, preserved like a snapshot in time, it's a joy to explore. Top billing goes to the main square, the Plaza d'Es Born. Behind its veil of palm trees lies a magnificent town hall. And just across the way you've got the Torre Saura palace. Follow the lane that runs alongside it and you'll come to the heart of the old town. Star attraction here is the Ses Voltes a cloister-like arcade packed with cubbyhole tapas bars and boutiques. Come sundown, make a beeline for the yacht-filled marina. Sweep down the Fred and Ginger-like steps to the quay where you can tuck into a slap-up fish supper. Monte Toro If you can brave the hairpins zig-zagging up Menorca's highest peak, you're in for a nice surprise. Legend has it a bull el toro' found a statue of the Virgin Mary here on the 300-metre high summit. There's a striking sculpture of Christ and a cute Renaissance church on the spot where the bull supposedly made its discovery, together with a Franciscan convent. Tiptoe inside the church to admire the statue of Mary, complete with a bull at her feet, then step outside to gawp at the stupendous views. Naveta des Tudons It may look like an upturned boat, but this is actually a millennia-old burial chamber. Built from limestone in the Bronze Age, it's the oldest roofed building in Spain. The dead were left to decompose on the upper storey before being buried under the ground floor. Over 100 skeletons were unearthed in the 1950s, some still wearing the bronze bracelets of their day. Suitably spooked? You will be, especially when you crawl inside the main, darkened chamber.
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Cap de Cavalleria
Punta Nati Cap de Bajoli
Cala Morell
Fornells
Cala'n Forcat
Cala'n Blanes
Santandria Sa Caleta Cala Blanca
Ciudadela
Ferreries Cala Galdana Playa de Son
Playa de Fornells Arenal d'en Castell Na Macaret
Es Mercadal
357 El Toro
Es Migjorn Alaior Torre Soli Nou Mahon Cala Llonga Son Bou Sant Climent Sant LluĂ s Es Castell Cala'n Porter Llucmacanes Es Canutells Cala Canutells Trebaluger Cala de Binidali Binisafau SĚAlgar Cala Alcaufar Binibeca
Punta Prima Isla del Aire
MENORCA
5 km
© TUI 2005
Cala'n Bosch
Cap d'Artrutx
Santo Tomas
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Menorca
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Sea
Beaches Start counting. Menorca's got over 100 beaches to choose from. In fact, it's got more beaches than Majorca and Ibiza combined. We're talking quiet bays of demerara sands. Sweeps of gold bustling with beach life and watersports. Solitary coves snuggled between cliffs. All lapped by seethrough waters. They're pretty much all familyfriendly, with feather-soft sands perfect for tiny feet and calm shallows made for little swimmers with L-plates. Most of the favourites are scooped into the island's south, east and west coasts. Take Son Bou for instance. The island's longest, it's a solid-gold slice of fun set on the island's southern shores. Then there's Cala Galdana and Cala'n Bosch - pretty coves specked with pedalos. Or how about Punta Prima? A ribbon of sand with rocks at one end, it's great for tan-toppers, snorkellers and windsurfers. And that's just for starters. All around Binibeca, S'Algar and Cala'n Blanes, you'll find coves perfect for catching the
rays and swimming until sundown. The north coast's got some winners as well. At Arenal D'en Castell, a horseshoe bay of pale sands awaits, while nearby Cala Tirant is a Mecca for windsurfers. And if you're looking for something a bit more secluded, get out the map and look a little harder. All around the rockier north and gentler southern coast, quiet bays and coves burrow into the coastline. Pin-drop quiet, they're perfect for hiding away for the day and drifting off.
Average daily maximum temperature
30
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London Menorca
°F
Apr 7 5 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Average daily hours of sunshine 9 10 12 10 7 6 7 6 6 5 Oct 5 3
°C
68
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