Menorca Guide

One of the very beautiful but lesser known places on the earth is Menorca - a Spanish island. It is a part of the Balearic Islands which is an archipelago. The name of the island is pretty literal in meaning - it means small. The island close to it, which is bigger than Menorca, is called Majorca! With sparse population of just close to 90,000 people, Menorca is a very peaceful island. Of recent, it has developed as a tourist attraction, thanks to the huge tourist flow that Spain attracts.

El Toro, which is the highest point in the island at about 30 meters, is one of the major attractions in the archipelago. The view from the top is simply awesome and fantastic. An island in the Mediterranean Sea, it witnesses a typical Mediterranean type of climate with sporadic climatic shifts to a surprisingly dry weather especially during the winters.

History of Menorca

History has never been far from Spain and same is the case with Menorca. Actually it was the historians and archaeologists who can be credited with advertising the island as a paradise for archaeologists. Minoans are known to have first graced the island who were themselves from a region known as Crete in the ancient times. Mediterranean culture has always been an influence in the island, in fact the whole of the Balearic archipelago. Interestingly, Menorca thrived on the loot by the pirates who inhabited the island! Until the Punic wars, Piracy was unknown, but shortly after piracy was a 'principal activity. It 'been a formidable track once the trade almost complete and the entire island has become a haven for pirates!

The main population is concentrated in the largest city of Mahon and the most important tourism and travel services. To enter the island from abroad, and the need to have permission to request the necessary visa from Spain and then follow with the works of paper in Mahon. A policy of liberalizationregarding tourism and tourists has opened up the economy such that tourism has become a main source for income on the islands. Other occupations are fishing and growing fruits in the higher altitude areas. The island was inhabited by almost fully Jewish population.

The island was identified as a biosphere reserve in the early 1990s with UNESCO giving the island, this status in 1993. Quite understandably, the island being a biosphere reserve has one of the most diverse vegetations that is observed in ocean nations having a Mediterranean type of climate. Development has largely been limited to tourism; office and commercial infrastructure is banned on the island owing to the sanctions imposed on it due to it being a biosphere reserve!

Culture

Menorca has culture which derives inspiration from Spanish as well as colonial cultures (because the island was a British territory in the early years). The most well known fiestas (or festivals) of Menorca are the International Opera Week and International Organ Festival in summer months. Ciutadella is a well known music festival held in the island. If you're seeking a place to completely relax in the laps of nature and the best hospitality, Menorca is the place you should go to!