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 Cala Turqueta, Minorca © Turespaña Minorca is only nine miles (15km) wide and about 32 miles (52km) long, and boasts stretches of varied beaches, from silver-sanded gently curving bays to rocky inlets. Aside from beaches and resorts the island also has plenty of interest for history buffs and culture vultures, with several attractions to experience, including a world famous pipe organ and several mysterious prehistoric archaeological sites related to the second millennium BC Talayot culture. The more recent history of the island is a saga of British, French and Spanish attempts at control and colonisation, each of which have left their influence on the local culture and architecture. Resorts See our separate guides to the following Minorca holiday resorts: Arenal d'en Castell Attractions  Aquarock © Aquarock Menorca Aquarock Water Park Featuring water slides, pools and even a go-karting track, a trip to Aquarock Water Park is a must for families travelling in Minorca with kids. The famous kamikaze slide is a must, little ones can splash in the pools and parents can simply relax in the Jacuzzi. There are also trampolines, mini golf and video games.Address: Cala en Bosc, Ciutadella; E-mail: info@menorcaaquarock.com; Website: www.aquarockmenorca.com; Telephone: 971 387 217; Opening time: Open 10.30am – 6pm; Admission: Water park: €17 (adults); €11 (children). Go-Karting: €15 each  Ciutadella © Prichardson Ciutadella de Menorca Minorca’s second town, the compact port of Ciutadella, is west of the capital and linked to it by the main island road. Ciutadella is very different in character to Mahon, sporting a distinct Moorish and Spanish influence in its Gothic and Baroque grand mansions and palaces. The town does not boast any specific sightseeing attractions but it does offer excellent restaurants, interesting shops and arcades as well as a relaxed ambience; perfect for wandering around. There are also some coves nearby inviting exploration. San Jaime slide © Yogi Club San Jaime Rated as one of the top kids attractions in Minorca, Club San Jaime, located in the beach resort of Son Bou, this water park and play area features slides, pools, waterchutes, and a restaurant. A great day out for the whole family, the children can enjoy splashing around or riding the slides while parents hang out at the restaurant.Address: Sant Jaume Mediterrani, Son Bou; Telephone: 971 372 787; Opening time: Open daily 10am - 7pm, May to October  Cova d'en Xoroi © eb0la Cova d’en Xoroi Visitors to Minorca cannot leave without making the short trip to the beautiful Cala n' Porter to enjoy the Cova d'en Xoroi (commonly referred to as 'The Caves'), a bar/restaurant perched on the side of a very steep cliff overlooking the sugary white beach and cove of Cala 'n Porter. Located inside a historic grotto, this spectacular location is a must for sundowners and a great place to get into the mood for a Minorcan night out and revellers can enjoy a disco in the famous caves every Friday and Saturday at 11pm.E-mail: cova@covadenxoroi.com; Website: www.covadenxoroi.com; Telephone: 971 377 236; Opening time: Open daily from 11.30am  Mahon © Claire Allison Mahón Minorca's capital town, Mahón, is an unavoidable port of call for visitors arriving on the island, and most head for the string of restaurants and cafes that line the harbour frontage. The town itself is sedate and conservative, featuring classic Georgian townhouses (bearing testimony to the British occupation of bygone days) and tall apartment blocks. The town does have some attractions for those interested in making more of their holiday than dashing off to the beach. The mansion house, Golden Farm, overlooks the harbour and was once occupied by Admiral Lord Nelson. Also on the sightseeing list is the Xoriguer Gin Distillery where famed Minorcan gin is produced in an age-old process, and the celebrated huge organ (with more than 3,000 pipes) in the church Esglesia de Santa Maria la Major. The Swiss-made organ was brought to Mahon during the Napoleonic wars and is used during an annual music festival in July and August. Binibequer Bay © Claire Allison Minorca Beaches Minorca has a variety of beaches and resorts. Fornells, an attractive fishing village on the north coast, is on a spectacular bay ideal for windsurfing and watersports. Close by is the beach Cala Tirant. Cala Galdana is one of the most popular beaches, set in a horseshoe bay, while Santo Tomas with its stretch of golden sand is a small resort favoured by families and honeymoon couples. Son Bou is one of the longest sandy beaches on the island, backing on to open countryside and unspoilt by development, although there are a few shops, bars, restaurants and a discotheque nearby. Binebeca and Binisafua on the southwest coast were Minorca’s first resort centres, now mainly residential areas filled with private villas fronting numerous sandy bays. Naveta dels Tudons © Zen Trowel Naveta des Tudons Regarded as the 'cathedral of prehistoric monuments' the Naveta des Tudons is the best-known sight on Minorca. One of numerous navetas on the island, it is situated just outside Ciutadella on the road from Mahon and stands two stories high, shaped like the upturned bow of a ship. It is accepted that navetas were funereal structures, but they remain surrounded by mystery and legends. Another important ancient sight is the Torre d'en Gaumes, the largest prehistoric village in the Balearic Islands, which is on the south side of Minorca between the village of Alaior and the Son Bou beach. The village features three talaiots (stone towers) surrounded by a defensive wall, pillared naves and a taula (a T-shaped stone temple structure). There is also a dolmenic burial chamber at the site. Yellow Catamaran © Yellow Catamarans Yellow Catamaran Glass-bottom boat Children will love taking a ride on a glass-bottom boat through Mahon's natural harbour, the largest of its kind in the Mediterranean, and out towards open waters where kids can go down below to look through the boat's glass bottom. The tour features a narration available in a variety of different languages and takes passengers through the harbour highlighting buildings and houses along the way. Passengers can move freely and adults can even make use of the bar. A fun excursion that the kids will love and a great way to see the city from a different angle, a tour on the Yellow Catamaran is a must.Address: Moll de Llevant, 12, Mahon; E-mail: yellowcatamarans@infotelecom.es; Website: www.yellowcatamarans.com; Telephone: 639 676 351; Opening time: Operates daily with departures every 30 – 60 minutes; Admission: €10 (adults); €5 (children) Excursions Cala ‘n Porter One of the largest coastal developments along the central south coast of Minorca, Cala 'n Porter's picturesque and breathtaking cove and beach keep tourists flocking here throughout the summer season. Famed for its Cova d'en Xoroi, Cala 'n Porter is located on the edge of beautiful sheer cliffs, creating perfect views over the Mediterranean and mind-blowing sunsets. By Minorcan standards, this resort is lively, but visitors should not expect to find pumping clubs and bars like on sibling Baleariac islands Mallorca or Ibiza.Ferreries Surrounded by rolling green hills, the 13th century town of Ferreries lies nestled in the centre of the Minorca next to the island's second highest mountain. With orange tiled roofs and pokey, narrow streets, this little town may not be an obvious attraction, but it's natural charm and location make it a great place to stop to see how real locals live.Fornells Located in the north, which is known for its unspoilt and very often, deserted beaches, Fornells is a sleepy resort and fishing town. Originally founded to serve the 16th century castle as a defence against the Barbary pirates, all that remains of the military is the watchtower perched upon a hill, which visitors can visit. Fornells' quaint waterfront area lined with shops and restaurants bustles during the summer months, but remains quiet the rest of the year. Travellers can enjoy water sports here, such as windsurfing and scuba divers can enjoy an excursion to the marine park off the north shores and marvel at the magnificent colours and marine life. |
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