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Mahón, of 20.000 inhabitants, is the island's capital. It's architecture shows evident British influence , remain of a time when Menorca was part of the British Empire. Still you can see by the way the ruins of the old English Marine Hospital. When visiting Mahón you shouldn't miss the following places:
A minute of History:
Mao - as Mahon is known in Menorquin – has been Menorca’s capital since 1721, when the British officially acknowledged the attractions of its vast natural harbour which is 5km long, over 1km at its widest and up to 30m deep. In fact it was control of this unique anchorage that made it such a political ‘hot potato’ for the British, French and Spanish who fought over it for more than a century.
Where to go:
When planning your visit it’s worth thinking of Mahon as having two, distinct focal points – the town centre and its harbour.
In the centre there are few monuments as such, but plenty of historic buildings nevertheless. One of the oldest is the 16th century Arch de San Roque where you can see remains of the medieval walls that once surrounded the town. Other buildings of interest include the nearby Town Hall, built in 1631 and then restored, the Church of Santa Maria with its 3000 pipe organ and the Casa de Cultura library on Plaza de la Conquesta square. Always popular, the town’s twice weekly market now resides in a former convent that’s been recently restored and doubles as a venue for musical events throughout the year. More upscale shopping can be found in Mahon’s many boutiques. Shoes, jewellery, pearls and gin distilled locally are all good buys.
Gastronomy:
Menorcan specialities such as fideua (a paella-style dish based on noodles rather than rice) and pa’amb oli con jamon (garlic bread smothered with olive oil, tomatoes and cured ham) are just some of the delights on offer in Mahon’s many eateries that cater for every taste. Down at the port Roma’s is always a good choice for quality pizza, and very well priced. Pizza and pasta fiends might also like to make a bee-line for the buzzing Il Porto, a Spanish/Italian establishment where a permanent queue makes reservations essential.
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