Menorcans have a word for their lovely island - they call it the calma; the tranquil way of living that is one of its most pleasant attractions. The other side of this tranquility is the tramuntana, the wind that is a constant presence.
However, the wind has its compensations and brings with it an abundance of blue skies and sparkling fresh air to this tiny island. It is only 35 miles long, with over a hundred beaches, coves and bays dotting its rocky coastline.
Spain - Menorca - Naveta des Tudons
Most people come for the sun and the sea but this is also a place of ancient history. Hire a car and explore the countryside. Apart from the coastal resorts the landscape of Menorca is essentially rural and there are many fabulous things to discover amongst its rolling hills and small fields.
Make your first excursion to the Naveta des Tudons. The word naveta means a burial chamber, built in the shape of a huge upturned boat. There are many of these on the island but this is one of the most impressive. In the 1950’s, excavations revealed over a hundred skeletons, some still wearing bronze bracelets around their bony arms. There’s a very special atmosphere - not only here but at some of the other historic sites - especially if you get here early in the morning or early evening.
Menorca - Son Catler
If you can take in only so many ancient ruins, at least see Son Catler before calling it a day. This is the largest prehistoric site in Menorca. The best way to appreciate its size is to walk around it, outside the walls. Inside the walls there is little sense to be made of the piles of stones. All around is rural countryside, possibly not changed very much since pre-historic times and the stroll around the perimeter gave me some insight into the size of the settlement and how those early inhabitants protected themselves from unwanted visitors.
Menorca - Pre-Historic Caves Cala Morell
Menorca has hundreds of man-made pre-historic caves, often situated in some of the most beautiful parts of the island. They are much more sophisticated than you might have imagined. At Cala Morell the caves have central pillars supporting the roofs, with windows and doorways, chimneys and sleeping benches. These were their homes, as well as their burial chambers and have a really special atmosphere. Inside a cave, looking out of a“window” across the beach and to the sea beyond is like stepping back in time.
Menorca - Ciutadella
History has its attractions but present-day Menorca is pretty alluring too, especially the beautiful city of Ciutadella - the ancient capital and the artistic core of the island. It’s a great place for wandering. A maze of narrow streets fan out from the huge, honey-coloured Gothic cathedral, where we spent a happy half-hour listening to an organ concert.
Mao, the capital, bustles with energy. The old part of the city runs along the top of the cliffs which line one of the world’s great harbours and along the waterfront are dozens of restaurants and cafes.
Menorca - Cala del Pilar
To get away from it all, the beautiful north coast is the place to head for. There are many spots that are right off the tourist track, one of which is Cala del Pilar, a wild, beautiful place with a curving sandy beach. There’s parking where the tarmac road runs out and from there a thirty-minute walk through woods of oak and pine to some rocky dunes where you can scramble down to the beach. If you go to this lovely spot, remember to take a packed lunch - there’s nothing here but sand, sea and you. There are numerous places like this and you will no doubt find your own. Just head north.
Menorca - Best Time to Visit
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Menorca. The weather is warm enough for sun bathing but not so hot that sightseeing seems like too much trouble - as can be the case during July and August, In spring there is an abundance of wild flowers. They are everywhere, massed together in dozens of colours,
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