When visiting the Menorca coastal resort of Cala Blanca, you will no doubt be looking for the main attraction of the resort, which is of course, the beach. The white sandy beach which in fact gives Cala Blanca its name, is surrounded by modest cliffs, which are peppered with luxury detached villas, some private, some available for rent. Beside pretty pine wood lie the residential areas of the resort and also what there is of a commercial centre, Menorca being very quiet in this respect, but a few shops and bars to provide visitors with the essentials. You will probably spend most of your time in Cala Blanca on the beach, enjoying the sunny weather and relaxing beside the clear, blue, Mediterranean waters. You could also head along to neighbouring Cala Santandria, where an equally pleasant beach is available or for change pop along to the city of Ciutadella, where you can visit the pretty harbour and see some historic buildings, as this was once the capital of Menorca (Minorca).
March 24, 2011
December 7, 2009
Megalithic Structures of Menorca
Menorca is beyond a shadow of a doubt the most abundant in megalithic sites of all the Spanish Balearics, having many hundreds of stone structures dating from the Talaiotic period (2000BC – 1000BC) many of these ancient sites are still in a good state of repair and well worth the effort needed to see them. The majority of the finest megalithic sites are situated in the south of the island below the route of the ME-1, Mahon to Ciutadella carraigeway, many are decently signposted, others are much trickier to find and require some exploration and a good map, if you are doing the full tour you will need a decent guide book and a detailed road map of the island. Some of the finest and best known sites on Menorca include Torralba d’en Salort, for a great example of a taula (“T” shaped stone structure), Naveta d’es Tudons for a superb example of a naveta (upturned boat type stone structure) and Son Mercer de Baix for the most ancient settlement on Menorca. To have the required freedom to tour these and many other sites you would be best advised to rent a car hire vehicle for at least a couple of days of your stay, this will give you the opportunity to tour the island without any constraints. While touring the historic sites you can also pop in and see a few of the more “out of the way” coves and beaches, or perhaps take a morning for a game of golf at Son Parc in the north and then visit Monte Toro (Bull mountain), Menorca highest peak.
September 11, 2009
Menorca History
Just 25 miles to the north-east of Mallorca, lies the second largest of the Balearic Islands – Menorca (often called Minorca in the UK). Smaller and quieter than its better known neighbour, Menorca has a resident population of just 88,000 and mostly attracts visitors looking for peace and relaxation. Noted for its rugged coastline, Menorca has over 120 beaches, almost as many as Mallorca and Ibiza combined, many are located in secluded coves, well away from the popular resorts, the other big attraction of course is the climate, with the weather being pleasant all year round, with warm dry summers and mild winters.
The main towns of Menorca are the capital Mahon (Mao) and the former capital Ciutadella, Mahon is an attractive town with one of the best natural harbours in the Mediterranean, Ciutadella also has a busy harbour and is very picturesque, with its narrow, winding streets and grand palaces.
Menorca is particularly rich in megalithic structures, which provide evidence of the earliest inhabitants of the Balearic Islands. Possibly settled as early as 4000 BC, a civilisation known as the Talayotic flourished between 2000 and 1000 BC. The Talayots built many stone structures throughout the island, in the form of three main types – Taulas, consisting of 2 stones making a ‘T’ shape, possibly used as altars, Talayots, square or circular rock buildings which could have been dwellings or tombs, and Navetas, in the shape of upturned boats, again possibly used as dwellings.
Menorca and the Balearic Islands were later to become part of the Carthaginian trading empire, recruiting many of the islands famous ‘stone slingers’ into their armies as war approached with Rome. The islanders skill with sling and stone was legendary and it is likely that the name of the island group is derived from the Greek ballein “to throw”.
After the defeat of the Carthaginians by the Romans in the Punic Wars, the islands became an outpost for the Roman Empire, Menorca was renamed Balearis Minor, but seems to have held little importance for the Empire, which had more interest in the mainland. The Romans were replaced by the Goths, who were in turn replaced by the Vandals and the Visigoths, and there was little stability for the island until the arrival of the Moors in the 9th century. Arab rule continued until the 13th century, when Menorca finally came back under Christian control. Menorca and the other Balearic Islands suffered constant attacks by pirates over the following centuries, the fine harbour of Mahon being one of the main targets, in fact this was one of the priorities of the British when they took Menorca in 1708, during the War of Spanish Succession, in the process obtaining the superb harbour for the continued use of the British Royal Navy. Menorca was finally handed back to Spain in 1802 under the Treaty of Amiens. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), Menorca remained Republican while its neighbour Mallorca was held by the Nationalists under General Franco.
Menorca today is a popular holiday destination, which has mostly escaped the ravages of mass tourism, its peaceful family resorts and friendly population clinging to their ancient traditions and customs. Lingering British influence from their time there can be seen in the islanders preference for gin as opposed to wine which is normally favoured by the Spanish. The airport is located to the south of the capital Mahon (Mao) and is within easy driving distance of all of the main resorts and tourist centres, it is certainly worth hiring a car, so that you can locate some of the more out of the way beaches and also take a look at some of the best historical sites. Menorca Map.
September 2, 2009
Ciutadella Menorca
An attractive town with a picturesque port and a charming old quarter, Ciutadella was the former capital of Menorca until the British arrived in 1708. originally founded by the Carthaginians, Ciutadella later became an important trading centre for the Moors until they were ousted by the Christians in the late 13th century. Sacked by the Turks in 1558, all its citizens were sold into slavery in Constantinople. Largely rebuilt during the 17th and 18th centuries, Ciutadella is a typically Spanish town with some beautiful squares and some fine architecture, its 13th century cathedral was all that remained from the Turkish invasion, was built on the former site of an Arab mosque. Ciutadella was replaced as capital by Mahon, as its deepwater harbour was considered superior by the British, it did however remain as the religious capital of the island. Ciutadella Map.
August 31, 2009
Los Delfines Cala n Blanes and Cala n Forcat
Situated to the north-east of the town of Ciutadella in northern Menorca, a large built for tourism development, takes in 3 or 4 separate resorts which have become popular since their growth from the 1980’s onwards. Known by most as Los Delfines, this complex also includes the resorts of Cala n Blanes and Cala n Forcat, plus the area known as Torre del Ram. Situated in an area of rocky coastline, these resorts are not well known for their beaches, and for beach lovers would not be ideal, although there is a decent (though often crowded) beach at Cala n Blanes. There are a couple of hotels here, but most of the accommodation is self-catering, and there are a good range of amenities between the various resorts and some reasonable nightlife and entertainment to enjoy. The area provides a good base for touring the north of Menorca and for visiting historic Ciutadella. Cala n Blanes Map.