Tourist information - Mahon
Mahon stretches along the shore of one of the best and also largest natural ports in the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of Minorca still preserves some churches, ancestral buildings and palaces, lining streets of deep Mediterranean flavour.
But Mahón is as well the silent witness to the presence of various diverse cultures that populated it throughout history. In the outskirts, archaeological sites like Trepucó can be visited; where among the best collections of prehistoric art at the island is preserved.
Another thing which makes the capital captivating is, moreover to the neighbouring coves, its location near the S’Albufera des Grau, I’lla d’en Colomi i el Cap de Favàritx Nature Reserve, one of the most significant ecosystems within the Balearic Islands.
Legend has it that Mahón was founded by Carthaginian general Magón, brother of Hannibal. However, one thing is certain: both the present site of the city and the rest of the island of Minorca have been settled, throughout history, for several different civilisations. There were human settlements in the Island dating back to 2000 BC, leaving an major archaeological patrimony, which are the Talaiots (tower-shaped megaliths), and also the Navetas (funeral constructions at the shape of an upside-down vessel). Under the Roman Empire, from 123 BC, the city became very major strategically, so that in 73-74 BC Emperor Vespasian declared the colony of Mago (present Mahón) a municipality. With the arrival of the Arabs, the city would become a remarkable Mediterranean commercial port, until the Christian king Alfonso III conquered the island in 1287. Centuries later, within the 1700s, the city would regain its lost splendour, becoming the administrative capital of the island during British rule.
Along the streets that make up the historic quarter of Mahón, a number of bourgeois houses can be observed, together with historic establishments, specially throughout the squares of Colón, Sant Francesc, Conquesta, along with Miranda.
One of them, the central Plaza de España, gathers essential monuments. The Gothic church of Santa María, for example, developed in the 13th century, along with remodelled in the 18th century. Around the exterior of the temple, the largest around the whole island, there is a slender bell tower; around the interior, we can admire a great nineteen-century organ, or perhaps enormous acoustic quality.
Next to the church is the City Hall, a building also called Sa Sala. The Renaissance façade is dominated by a great clock, brought by the first British governor, Richard Kane. Among the rooms in this building, the conference room stands out, which keeps a large number of portraits of famous city figures?
The church of Carmen, situated in the square by the same name, is another emblematic building in Mahón. This Neoclassic temple, erected around the 18th century, houses a wonderful Baroque cloister in its interior.
The city also has some great places where one can relax and take a pleasant walk. Carrer Nou, a pedestrian street, is marked by numerous selling local crafts. Further down, along the shore of the port, which stretches for more than five kilometres, we find ample restaurants, bars and also terraces. In the surrounding area of the port, we can visit the distilleries of Majorcan gin (a drink flavoured with juniper cones) that follow the traditional English method of production.
The church of Sant Francesc, old Franciscan convent of Jesús (17th along with 18th centuries), presently houses the Museo de Minorca. Through its different exhibition rooms, we can approach the history as well as customs of Minorcan people.
Of great importance to the cultural life of Mahón is the Ateneo Científico, Literario y Artístico (Scientific, Literary as well as Artistic Centre), which houses exciting collections of cartography, fossils, and ceramics.
In the southern part of the bay, visit the Army Museum, which occupies the old gunpowder store of the castle of San Felipe. The exhibition mainly focuses to the history of the fortresses of San Felipe and also La Mola.
In the outskirts of Mahón we find some of the most important prehistoric archaeological sites in the island. Some kilometres south of the capital we could visit Trepucó, a primitive village that preserves one of the best taulas (a "T" shaped megalith) in the Balearic Isles. Additional options include a trip to Torelló, where we could find the Paleochristian basilica of Es Fornàs de Torelló, or even to the settlement of Talatí de Dalt, having a taula and a few Talaiots.
The Minorcan coast features a number of significant tourist compounds. Within the coast of Sant Lluís, south of Mahón, we find Binibèquer Vell. Its construction follows the canons of traditional island architecture, and it has spectacular beaches like Binidalí y Binisafúa.
Going by the southern shoreline, we find seaside towns like En Porter Cove as well as Galdana Cove.
Inland, the town of Alaior is very much well worth a visit. In its historical quarter, the churches of Santa Eulàlia and also San Diego, both from the 17th century, are quite significant. But the town is as well well-known for its prehistoric monuments, such as megalithic tomb of Roques Llises, and also the Tower den Gaumes.
The eastern coast of Minorca holds the principal damp area at the island, where we find the Nature Reserves of S’Albufera des Grau, I’lla d’en Colomi,x and Cap de Favàritx. The park centre features a shallow lagoon, which is a perfect marine-bird observatory.
The unusual natural environment of Minorca, furthermore to its cultural life along with sustainable socio-economic development, allowed the 1993 declaration of the island as being a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The most internationally renowned sauce of all of Minorcan cuisine is, well, mayonnaise; made with egg, garlic and olive oil. Many of the most typical island dishes get their ingredients from the sea, such as the lobster casserole, along with the cuttlefish baked casserole. For dessert, have a scrumptious cheese with the label Designation of Origin - Mahón.
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