Menorca Bargain Holiday information, Menorca Bargains

Menorca

Menorca, sometimes pronounced Minorca, is one of the Balearic Islands belonging to Spain. This beautiful island is located in the Mediterranean Sea, next to it’s larger sister island Majorca. Bargain Menorca holidays and flights are freely available from most UK airports, including Manchester, Stanstead, Cardiff, Gatwick and Birmingham. Following a 2 ½ hour flight, visitors arrive at Menorca airport (MAH), which is situated approximately 4.5 kilometres to the south-west of the capital, Mahon. Move your watches on by one hour, as the official time zone is +1 GMT.

Menorca is split into eight municipals:

Ciutadella is situated on the western side of the island of Menorca, previously the capital of Menorca.

Ferreries runs from north to south in the mid west of the island, and has some ancient ruins. The Castle of Santa Agueda is situated on an elongated plateau, the third highest point on the island. Accessed by an ancient Roman road, the Castle of Santa Agueda is well worth a visit.

Es Mercadal, meaning ‘a place in which a market is established‘, is in the north of Menorca. James II of Majorca allowed the establishment of a market in Es Mercadal back in 1301.

Es Migjom Gran is a small municipality which lies below Es Mercadel, on the south-west coast, and was the hometown to Joan Riudavets, the oldest verified person in the history of Spain. Born on 15th December 1889, he lived to the ripe old age of 114, and died on March 5th, 2004.

Alaior is about 7 miles from the capital of Mao, and its principal activities include tourism, shoemaking and cheese making. Festivals dedicated to the Patron Saint Lawrence are celebrated on the weekend after August 10th. The principal tourist areas in Alaior are Son Bou, Minorca Sant Juame, Torre and Cales Coves.

Mao is the city from which Mayonnaise gets its name, is now the capital of Menorca, thanks to it’s strategically placed natural harbour.

Es Castell is a small municipality in eastern Menorca, originally founded by the British and was named Georgetown, in honour of king George III.

Sant Lluis is a beach town on the tip of south-east Menorca.

The main tourist area is along the south coast and includes the resorts of Santo Tomas, Son Bou, Cala en Porter, Binibeca, Punta Prima and S'Algar. Beach life in Minorca is glorious, as there is so much to do. There’s plenty of swimming and snorkelling, and of course, sunbathing. Menorca has many family friendly beaches, some of which may get a little crowded during the peak season, so if you wish for something a little quieter, take a walk along the coastline and discover hidden coves which are located off the beaten track.

But thankfully, there is more to Menorca than beaches, the island is packed with history, with many megalithic monuments still evident today. Mao is the capital of Menorca, and boasts the second largest natural deep water port in the world, the other being Pearl Harbour. The island is a European Biological Reserve and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, meaning that large hotel buildings have been kept to a minimum at most resorts, thus protecting the last turtles in the Mediterranean, birds and other native wildlife.

Places to visit on Menorca include:

Monte Toro is the highest point on the island, make sure to take your camera as fantastic panoramic views can be seen all over the island.

Formells is a small fishing village, situated on a large picturesque bay on the north coast, famous for it’s fish restaurants

Cales Fonts at Es Castell in eastern Menorca has an enchanting atmosphere, where inviting terraced bars and restaurants are nestled into excavated rocky caves. Enjoy the views of the mouth of Mahon harbour and the nearby Lazareto Island.

Fort Marlborough is an historical site, and is a good example of British Military influence on the island.

Cala Galdana, south of Ferreries, is known as the ‘Queen of the Calas(Coves)‘, and for good reason, it’s near horseshoe bay is surrounded by steep pine-clad cliffs. As this is a very dramatic and picturesque place, you must drive to the cliff tops, and admire the stunning views of the resort and sea below.

Menorca is a relatively quiet, family orientated island, having just a small selection of clubs, most resorts have little more than a few late bars, so if its disco’s and parties you are after, then Menorca is the wrong island to be on! Try Ibiza instead!. Eating out in Menorca is great, as there is lots of choice on the menu, Fresh fish and seafood are high on the agenda, where one can try Spiny Lobster, Red Mullet or Octopus, in fact, all types of fresh fish are freely available. Menorca is an ideal island for families with small children or those looking for a relatively quiet getaway. One can spend the day discovering the old villages, enjoying the nature in the forests, walking the coastline or the protected areas. With sandy beaches, rocky coves, pine tree settings and spectacular coastlines, Menorca is a beautiful island on which to spend your annual holiday. An abundance of Menorca Bargain holiday packages and Menorca Bargain flights can be found via the internet all year through, as many British citizens choose to pass the winter months relaxing on this beautiful tranquil island in the Mediterranean.