Menorca, Spain
Menorca, the second largest island of the Balearic archipelago, is an island of contrasts. On the east end is the bustling commercial port of Mahon (Maó) with its Georgian buildings with dark “carriage” green shutters, naval facilities and military forts, remnants of the close to 100 years of British occupation in the 18th century. On the other end of the island stands the proud city of Cuitadella, the original Catalan capital with its narrow streets lined with shuttered Baroque palaces of the nobility and Catholic Church. Ancient Neolithic stone monuments stand next to 21st century wind turbines and whitewashed farmhouses with curvy olive-wood gates dominate the central part of the island while chic condos ring the small coves and beaches along the coast.
We had the whole day to explore this tranquil, lush green island with its rolling hills covered with groves of Mediterranean pine and wild olives that alternated with undulating fields of wheat, red poppies, and purple thistles. With 59% of its landmass undeveloped, Menorca has a decidedly rural character and has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1993.
After a short, guided-walk through Mahon after breakfast, most guests spent the rest of the morning exploring the market, cafes, and shops of the island capital. After lunch most opted for an island tour, while some went off for a hike through one of the nature reserves. First up on the island tour was Torralba d’en Salort, the remains of a pre-historic village of the Talayotic culture. Far from being a primitive people, 3,000 years ago this culture raised livestock, built elaborate corbelled watchtowers and positioned their monuments around carefully observed astral events. We learned that archaeologists have variously interpreted Menorca’s ‘T-shaped” taula temples as temples of a forgotten Iberian religion, sacrificial altars, symbols of an idealized ‘bull-god’ or objects used by early man in their worship of the sun. Next, we wound our way up to the top of Monte Toro that stands 358 meters above the valley floor before heading west to Cuitadella. Seemingly deserted during the traditional siesta, we had the town to ourselves at a time when the cathedral, town hall and palaces were bathed by soft sunlight of the late afternoon. Just as the shopkeepers opened their doors and the townspeople re-emerged from their homes we boarded our coaches for our trip back across the island Mahon to the National Geographic Explorer.
Menorca, the second largest island of the Balearic archipelago, is an island of contrasts. On the east end is the bustling commercial port of Mahon (Maó) with its Georgian buildings with dark “carriage” green shutters, naval facilities and military forts, remnants of the close to 100 years of British occupation in the 18th century. On the other end of the island stands the proud city of Cuitadella, the original Catalan capital with its narrow streets lined with shuttered Baroque palaces of the nobility and Catholic Church. Ancient Neolithic stone monuments stand next to 21st century wind turbines and whitewashed farmhouses with curvy olive-wood gates dominate the central part of the island while chic condos ring the small coves and beaches along the coast.
We had the whole day to explore this tranquil, lush green island with its rolling hills covered with groves of Mediterranean pine and wild olives that alternated with undulating fields of wheat, red poppies, and purple thistles. With 59% of its landmass undeveloped, Menorca has a decidedly rural character and has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1993.
After a short, guided-walk through Mahon after breakfast, most guests spent the rest of the morning exploring the market, cafes, and shops of the island capital. After lunch most opted for an island tour, while some went off for a hike through one of the nature reserves. First up on the island tour was Torralba d’en Salort, the remains of a pre-historic village of the Talayotic culture. Far from being a primitive people, 3,000 years ago this culture raised livestock, built elaborate corbelled watchtowers and positioned their monuments around carefully observed astral events. We learned that archaeologists have variously interpreted Menorca’s ‘T-shaped” taula temples as temples of a forgotten Iberian religion, sacrificial altars, symbols of an idealized ‘bull-god’ or objects used by early man in their worship of the sun. Next, we wound our way up to the top of Monte Toro that stands 358 meters above the valley floor before heading west to Cuitadella. Seemingly deserted during the traditional siesta, we had the town to ourselves at a time when the cathedral, town hall and palaces were bathed by soft sunlight of the late afternoon. Just as the shopkeepers opened their doors and the townspeople re-emerged from their homes we boarded our coaches for our trip back across the island Mahon to the National Geographic Explorer.
