Let us start our tour at the capital, Mahón.
The first station will be Villacarlos
, a charming village of 4.500 inhabitants. The architecture is
evidently of British influence. Here you find exceptional bays, as Cala
Llonga and Cala de Sant Esteve, and, at 8 kilometers, the natural
park Albufera des Grau with its lake. 150
different species of birds are registered here. Another sight is the small
island Es Colom, located at just 200 meters
from the beach.
In southern direction we arrive to Sant Lluis. This small village was founded by
French, who where then reigning over Menorca for a short period of time, during
18th century. Here you will find splendid beaches as well: Cala Alcaufar, with its high quality urbanisation,
Cala d'es Rafalet
, and Punta Prima, of fine white
sand.
Torret, with its simple white
houses, represents the typical architecture of this island. Close to San Clemente there is Calas
Covas with its original "hippies"-colony: people are living in caves,
transistor radios being their only contact with the rest of the
world.
Alaior is a small industrial
town with reputated shoe production. Its historical center with narrow lanes,
white-washed walls and manorial houses of 17th and 18th
century certainly is worth a visit. In the surroundings there are highly
interesting prehistorical remains: the taula and talayot of
Torralba, and the settlement of Torre d'en Gaumés. Of somewhat more
recent date is the Paleo-Christian Basilica de Son Bou
.
Mercadal, located at the
foot of the island's highest mountain, Monte Toro (357 m), from which you
may enjoy an exceptional panorama, has an interesting Ionic-Byzanthinian church
with wonderful wall-paintings. In its surroundings you may visit again some
prehistorical findings, and of course great beaches: Triant,
Pregonda, Son Saura, Na Macaret and Puerto de
Adaya.
At a few kilometers towards East there is the colorful and
lively village Ferreries.
Following the
road some 10 kilometers in northern direction, we arrive to the splendid beach
of Arenal d'en Castell, the romantic fishing
port Fornells, and the cave Cueva Na
Pulida with its stalagmites and stalagtites.
Of great touristical
interest is Santo Tomás, with paradisiac
beaches such as Santa Galdana.
Ciutadella
is located at the island's eastern extreme. Again, there are wonderful bays
around: Cala en Blanes, Cala en Forcat , Cala en Brut,
Cala Santandria and Cala Blanca
.