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Barceló Pueblo Menorca |
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Punta Prima. 07713 (San Luis)
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www.barcelopueblomenorca.com |
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| The country of Spain is located in southwestern Europe. |
| Mainland Spain has a surface area of 493,486 square kilometers, while the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands cover 4,992 and 7,447 square kilometers, respectively. The Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla on the African continent account for an additional 32 square kilometers. |
| The World Tourism Organization rates Spain as the second most popular tourist destination worldwide, with 49.5 million visitors annually. | |
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| Menorca forms part of the Balearic Islands off the eastern coast of Spain together with Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera. It is the northern and easternmost of all the islands and is the second largest after Mallorca. |
| The north of the island has a sheer coastline of great rocky cliffs plunging into the sea, while the south has a gentler landscape, characterized by extensive pine woods that merge into fine white sandy beaches and coves of transparent waters. |
| In 1993 Menorca was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Its scenery and monuments and the preservation of local traditions were some of the aspects that contributed to this distinction. | |
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 Mahón. The capital of Menorca stands in the south west of the island and has a population of some 20,000 inhabitants. Its architecture, with a strong British influence, recalls the time when the island was an English crown colony. |
| Mahón Port. The largest natural port in Europe and a must on any itinerary. |
| Prehistoric remains. The prehistoric town of Trepulco, to the south of Mahón, has immense archaeological value, as do the prehistoric settlements of Torelló and Talatí de Dalt. |
| S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park. A stunning coastal lagoon covering a total of 70 hectares of open water at sea level. Over 7,000 birds from 150 different species make for superb bird-watching. The protected area includes the tiny island of Es Colom just 200 yards out to sea. |
| Ciutadella. The island's capital from the Muslim era until the 18th century has been declared a National Historical-Artistic Monument and is characterized by the beauty of its stately mansion/palaces and numerous buildings of medieval and Muslim origin. |
| Ciutadella Cathedral. Built in the 14th century over an ancient mosque, the Cathedral combines Gothic and Neoclassic styles. |
| Naveta des Tudons. A prehistoric tomb which is one of the most frequently visited funerary monuments on the islands. |
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| Shellfish is one of the main ingredients of Menorcan cuisine with the result that the most popular specialties on the island are "caldereta de langosta", a thick soup made from lobster, peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic and herb liquor, and "arroz con langosta" (lobster paella). |
| Grouper, scorpion fish, white bream and sea bream seem to develop an even deeper flavor in Menorcan waters which, combined with their freshness, makes them both simple and superlative at the same time. |
| Other very popular dishes are fish soup, stuffed squid, Menorcan-style partridge and roast lamb in the special style of Mahón. |
| We should not forget to mention "mahonesa" (mayonnaise) sauce, the perfect dressing for both fish and meat, Menorcan cheese with its very own Designation of Origin, and gin, a grape-based spirit which is highly regarded and very popular throughout the region. |
| Menorcan desserts and pastries show traces of Arabic influence with the use of honey and almonds in "cuscusó" and "menjar blanc", whilst a legacy of British domination are the "pastissets" (little cakes), "crespells" (shortbread) and "amargos" (almond cakes). |
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| The most traditional craft products on the island are "albarcas", typically Menorcan footwear, and leather goods in general, as well as earthenware ceramics and costume jewellery. |
| Business hours are 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. in the morning and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the afternoon. |
| Markets take place on one or more days of the week in both in the capital and the island villages, where the visitor can find a whole range of unusual objects in addition to traditional regional craft work. The most popular markets are those of Mahón and Ferreries (Tuesdays and Saturdays), Ciutadella (Fridays and Saturdays), Alaior (Mondays and Thursdays) and Sant Lluís and Es Castell (Mondays and Wednesdays). |
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| Local Time: UTC + 2 in Summer. UTC + 1 in Winter. |
| Official Currency: The currency used is the Euro |
| Official Language:Spanish and Catalan. |
| Population: Approximately 39 millions inhabitants in Spain. |
| Health Information: No vaccine or medical certificate is needed to travel to Spain. |
| Electricity: 220 V. Plugs are rounded and double-pronged. |
| Types of payment: Most shops accept cash and major international credit cards, such as VISA, MasterCard and American Express. |
| Banking hours: Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.. |
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