With a population of nearly 90,000,
it is a small and manageable place for visitors. It also has a wide variety of
scenery in spite of its small size, with mountains which reach up to 353 meters
above sea level at Monte Toro.
The island also has a highly
extensive history, mostly due to its location as a staging point for various
cultures from as far back as prehistoric times. As for architecture, Minorca,
like the rest of the Balearic islands,
comprises an interestingly diverse mix of colonial and local flavors.
With a very warm and sunny summer
climate, Minorca is well known for its summer activities including the
International Opera Week and Organ Festival in Mahon, both of which attract a great number
of visitors. In addition, there is the popular summer music festival called
Capella Davidca in Cuitadella.
Visitors to Minorca
can expect to be greeted by outstanding hospitality and courtesy not to mention
fine cuisine and wins. The cuisine is quite typical of Mediterranean diets
which are famous for being healthy as they are delicious.
The most significant towns of Minorca
are those of Cuitadella and Mao with the island being split into three
municipalities. Various places and attractions of note in Minorca include
Ciutadella which was once the capitol, Es Migjorn Gran, the hometown of Joan
Riudavets, Sant Lluís which was built by the French and Es Castell, originally Georgetown, which was
founded by the British.
Minorca, sharing the same name in Spanish and its
native Catalan, comes from the Latin Balearis Minor, meaning minor island.
Minorca is one of the four Balearic Islands, an archipelago in the
Mediterranean Sea and administratively a part of Spain. The other islands are
Majorca, Ibiza and the tiny Formenterra.
