Menorca, Balearic Islands

 

Menorca is the second largest of the Balearic Islands and is smaller and quieter than its main neighbour Mallorca, but bigger than it?s other neighbour Ibiza. It is only 9 miles (15km) wide and 32 miles (52km) long and located just 34 km / 21 miles from Mallorca, the island has many family-friendly resorts and almost as many beaches as Mallorca and Ibiza combined. Peaceful holiday resorts line the south coast of the island and sleepy fishing villages are dotted along its rocky north shore.

Menorca has escaped much of the effect of package holidays and the island's small towns and villages offer a fairly quiet and relaxed holiday, even during the peak season, with many wonderful attractions. There are plenty of tourism and tourist information offices situated in the towns of Menorca and these provide up-to-date information about Menorca tourist attractions, museums, events, Menorca festivals, Menorca travel, Menorca sightseeing and general Menorca tourism and tourist information.

 

Information about vacation on Menorca:

Largely protected from development, Menorca is a real haven for nature-lovers. Menorca is a very green island, with pinewoods and many fields for the islands 25,000 grazing cattle. Cycling tracks meander vigorously across the meadows and scrublands, offering some spectacular views of the island and the seafront. The north coast of Menorca is rocky and rough, whilst in contrast; the south coast of Menorca is full of sandy coves, with fine, golden sand, sheltered by cliffs. Menorca is littered with prehistoric remains, giving much evidence of a bygone sophisticated culture. Little is known of those weather beaten stone monuments, but it is thought they are linked to those of Sardinia and date around the second millennium BC Talayotic period.

The oldest and largest towns in Menorca are Mahon on it’s eastern side, the walled capital of the island, which is at the end of an enormous natural harbour and Ciutadella, Menorca’s ancient and co (western) end of the island. Mahon is a particularly busy port and has many impressive acrchitectural features whilst Ciutadella is a more graceful town, full of winding streets and characteristic old buildings, reminiscent of the Moorish and Spanish influence, including several churches.

The town does not offer much in terms of sightseeing, but it has excellent eateries, shops and a very relaxed ambience for wandering around. Mahon itself is a sedate and conservative town, consisting of classical Georgian houses from its British past (Admiral Nelson once lived at the Golden Farm Mansion) For sightseeing, a trip to the famous Xoriguer Gin distillery is well worth a visit.

Menorca is the greenest and least developed of the Balearic Islands. It has a slightly gentler feel than neighbouring Mallorca and is the perfect holiday destination for couples and families: everything is easy, peaceful and close by. The best part of Menorca is its abundance of beautiful beaches – it has more beaches than the rest of the Balearics put together. The coastline ranges from pristine coves to long, sandy beaches separated by rocky headlands.

Inland, Menorca remains essentially rural with restful scenery of rolling fields and wooded ravines Fiercely protective of its natural beauty and fully aware of the potentially damaging consequences of selling out to mass tourism, Menorca has clearly demarcated most of its holiday areas.

For information on car hire or car rentals on Menorca visit Every Car Hire at Car Hire Menorca Spain.

picture source: J. Braun [wikimedia]

 

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