Minorca Map |
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 Cala Turqueta, Minorca © Turespaña Despite its popularity as a holiday Mecca, the Balearic island
of Minorca remains one of the loveliest, most unspoilt islands in
the Mediterranean. The local population support the control of
resort development and the woodlands and fields of its hilly rural
interior remain largely untouched. This is the result of a thriving
local industry that is less dependent on tourism for its survival
than the other islands are.
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 © www.aquarockmenorca.com 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
 Binibequer Bay © Claire Allison Beaches around Minorca
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.
 Ciutadella © Prichardson Ciutadella
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 © Flickr; 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 Mahon
Minorca's capital town, Mahon, 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.
 Naveta dels Tudons © Zen Trowel Naveta dels Tudons
Regarded as the ‘cathedral of prehistoric monuments’
the Naveta dels 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 © www.yellowcatamarans.com 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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