Menorca - Intro - Thomson Villas With Pools April 2012

TOP 3 ThInGS To See & Do MenorCA Lazy days on the beach and leisurely dinners by the waterfront � that's the order of the day on this slow-going Balearic isle. 1. Mahon In the 18th century, Menorca's capital was hot property with one of the worlds deepest natural harbours. no wonder nelson made it a base for the British fleet. Fast-forward to today, while yachts may have replaced galleons, the harbour is still the main draw. Around it, Georgian houses point to Mahon's stint under the Union Jack. 2. Ciudadela This city's stylish, dignified and has a dash of old-world glamour. Ses Voltes is one of the city's most popular spots. It's a cloister-like arcade packed with tapas bars and boutiques. Come sundown, the attention turns to the yacht-filled marina and its fresh fish restaurants. In the bigger hubs, like Cala'n Forcat, Cala'n Bosch and Son Bou, holidays are all about lazy days on the sand. And it's easy to see why � Menorca's beaches are really impressive. You've got everything from long golden sweeps and pine-backed bays, right through to off-thebeaten-track coves. Inland, it's a case of gently rolling countryside, walking trails and little villages where everything seems to stop come siesta time. And you can't go far without spotting a sign for one of the island's prehistoric relics. The deserted village of Torre d'en Gaumes, for example, dates back to 1400 BC. Then you've got Menorca's tale of two cities. Mahon and Ciudadela are collections of harbour-side wine bars, elegant eateries, and top-end boutiques. T wo words sum up Menorca better than any others � `calm' and `charming'. It plays things differently to its bigger Balearic sisters, Majorca and Ibiza. The island's got its fair share of tourist spots, but they tend to revolve around low-rise hotels, attractive marinas and cosy seafood restaurants. 3. Monte Toro If you brave the hairpin bends that zigzag up to Menorca's highest peak, you're in for a treat � and we don't just mean the views. Legend has it a bull�`el toro'�found a statue of the Virgin Mary here. A sculpture of Christ and a renaissance church marks the spot the bull supposedly made its discovery, together with a Franciscan convent. Villa only in Menorca per villa per week on code IhF excluding flights and car hire from � 658 149 Flights to Menorca FASTFACTS DeSTInATIon AIrporT ApproxIMATe FLIGhT TIMe KeY reSorTS return including taxes from � Mahon 2 hours 15 minutes from Gatwick Cala Galdana, Cala'n Bosch, punta prima, Santo Tomas, Son Bou Visit your travel shop | Call 0871 230 2555 | Click on thomson.co.uk 94 Menorca Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. The cost of calls was correct at the time of publication. See page 3.

Intro contd… Menorca