CANYONS, CAVERNS AND CAVES Whoever wants something more than the normal coast of a mediterranean island has to get into the beautiful submarine menorcan world with its fantastic caves full of thousands of stalactites and stalagmites. The caves and caverns you can discover are unique and have a precious value for each diver.
GEOGRAPHY Menorca has 701 squarekilometers ground, approximately 1,5 times Ibiza and 1/5 of Mallorca. The length from La Mola to Cap de Bajolí is 47 kms and the width is from 10 to 19 kms. Coastline is 286 kms from where you can see more than 30 different little islands. For example: Illa des Bledes, Illa de'n Colom, Illa del Aire and Addaya islands. We are 75 km away from Mallorca (distance from Cap D'Artruxt in Menorca to Cap de Freu in Mallorca). Barcelona is 241 kms and Africa just 380 kms.
CLIMATE Menorca, the most eastern of the Balearic Islands, enjoys the gentle climate of the central Mediterranean. In winter the lowest temperatures are between 5ºC and 10ºC but very humid. Summer is drier and warmer, sometimes with temperatures that pass 33ºC and relative humidity of 68%.
PRESHISTORIC CULTURES Menorca is an island which has one of the richest archaelogical heritages in the Mediterranean. All our institutions are very aware of this when they use the phrase that it is like an open-air museum. You can find more than 1.000 megalithic monuments on the island. Prehistoric caves, navetas- prehistoric chamber tombs, taulas-the mysterious T-shaped stone structures, talayots dating from the Bronze and Iron Age and ancient settlements are the main features of this great panorama for any visitor.
MENORCA
VISITORS Thousands of people come to Menorca, specially in summer. 50% of them are British, 15% German and other 15% Spanish. We have nearly 200 hotels with 20.000 beds and about 95 complexes with more than 20.000 beds. Sometimes that is not enough as there are more than 65.000 menorcan inhabitants. This island is the crossroads and melting pot of cultures, history, elegance and hospitality, Menorca will captivate all those who take the time to learn its secrets.
MAHÓN, THE CAPITAL Mahón was built up in 1722 as Menorcas capital by the english goverment, it was set up by the cartager. Its architecture is fully influenced by the english. One of the most representative monuments San Roque bridge with its tower that is part of the city wall.
SOME PLACES OF INTEREST
ES MERCADAL Situated in the middle of the island, Mercadal is a cool white village with quiet narrow streets. It is considered an important place because of its famous mountain, Monte Toro. This is the highest point, (357 mts ) which seems to be not too high but is quite high enough to have a panoramic view of the whole island on a clear day. At the top of this montain there is also an Augustinian monastery built in 1595.
On the road from Alaior to Son Bou (km 2.5) you can find the second largest settlement in terms of area covered. Three talayots together with the sanctuary (the taula area) make up the public part of the settlement built prior to the 1400 B.C. You can also see resting walls, halls with columns backing into a circle. The purpose of these constructions is not very clear although some archaeologists have suggested that they are storehouses or even extensions of the dwellings.
If you follow the Torralba road towards the south you will come to the Calan en Porter road going in the direction of Sant Climent. Take the first turning on the right and you will reach Calas Coves where there are more than 150 caves. The oldest ones are from XI century B.C. and they were used as houses. From the IV century B.C. You can find larger ones also for burials and cremations rituals. In this place Roman rests have been found.
TRAVELLING BY SHIP
BY AIRPLANE Just in a couple of hours you can be in Menorca from main European airports. During the season there are more flights to get here directly. TRAVEL INFORMATION To come to Menorca you just need to bring your passport. BRITISH CONSUL OF MENORCA Hon. Vice Consul- Deborah Hellyer, Cami Biniatap 30, Horizonte Phone number: 971 36 33 73 Fax: 971 35 46 90 LANGUAGE Catalán with menorquin dialect and also Spanish. But most people can understand and speak at least a bit of English. THE CURRENCY From this year the only currency you can use is the Euro and all Travellers Cheques have to be in Euros if you want to use them here in Menorca as in the rest of Spain. THE POLICE There are three different kind: 1.Guardia Civil (with green uniform): they look after the traffic, customs and protect us from criminals on the whole of the island. 2. Policia Municipal (with blue and white uniform) for the traffic in town. 3. Policia Nacional (with dark blue uniform): they persecute punishable acts in town. TRAFFIC RULES Rules are more or less the same as in England but with a big difference: we drive on the right hand side. The maximun speed is usually marked by the traffic signs but there are common rules: 50 km/h is max. in towns and 90 km/h on all other roads. Children under 12 are not allowed in the front seats. There are frequence traffic controls. The level point for Alcohol driving is 0.8. ELECTRICITY In Menorca the rule is 220V although you can also find 125V in some very old houses. The plugs are different but you can find adaptors easily in electrical shops. TELEPHONE If you phone England, do not forget to dial 00 44 and then the number without the first "0". If you want to use the phone box we recommend you to buy magnetic cards. TIPS They normally are the 5-10% of the price you have paid. It is to thank for the service you have received. SHOPS Shops open at 9.00-9.30 till 13.30 and 17.00 to 20.30. Sundays are closed. But during the season some shops open till 22.00 or even longer. CERAMICS Menorca has a great variety of ceramics of different colours , sizes and styles. SWIMMING Most of the Menorcan beaches are quiet and you have to be especially careful if there are North winds. The North coast can be dangerous at that time.
|
