Delightful Towns of Menorca
June 30, 2012Menorca Island may be the second
largest island among the Balearic Islands but it has many interesting
and delightful towns that offer tourists a wonderful stay. Among its
largest and best towns are Mahón and Ciutadella which are full of
colorful traditions and diverse cultural heritage.
Mahón
This
capital of Menorca Island has over 20,000 inhabitants; it has
interesting British architecture in many of its buildings as evidence
of the past British influence. Today, there are the obvious ruins of
the British’s Marine Hospital. The town port is one of the world’s
best ports after Pearl Harbor. This is purportedly the place where
Admiral Nelson romanced Lady Hamilton in Finca de San Antonio.
Near
the port is the local aquarium which is open to the public every day;
it exhibits many species of flora and fauna from the Mediterranean
region.
Tourists can check out many places of interest that
are opened to the public; they include Ateneo Científico y
Literario, the Santa María Church with a Baroque organ, the San
Francisco Convent and church with a remarkable neo-romantic portal,
the San Felipe Military Museum and other pre-historical remains.
Ciutadella de Menorca
Ciutadella is the former capital
of Menorca with 15,000 inhabitants. Ciutadella de Menorca was
Menorca’s capital since the Moorish epoch up to the 18th century.
There are many aristocratic buildings and special palaces that
showcase its past glory. This town has been declared a National
Monument to preserve its rich heritage by the local
authorities.
There are numerous traditions and customs which
are popularly celebrated in this town. One of the best celebrated
festivals here with full customs is the San Juan Festival during el
Jaleo which refers to the traditional medieval equestrian performance
complete with colorful attire.
Ciutadella town has many narrow
but colorful lanes that is typical of any Mediterranean town in that
region. It has a local natural port that is quite picturesque and
impressive especially when one arrives in a boat. The town also
offers La Contramurada which is a boulevard with former town walls.
Plaza de Born is the heart of Ciutadella with a distinctive obelisk
in a park to remind the locals of the 1558 Turkish attack to the
town.
The National Museum is open to the public with an
impressive collection of archaeological findings from the medieval
times and Moorish era, Costa
Brava .
The town’s 14th century Cathedral was built over
the previous Moorish mosque with several modifications to showcase
the various distinctive Gothic and Neoclassic styles.
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Posted by Frederick Pollard. Posted In : Travel