Cala Sant Esteve and Fort Marlborough

Cala Sant Esteve and Fort Marlborough

Follow the road to Es Castell and pass the roundabout as if you were to the chuch, but keep on walking on the same road. Ignore the modern villas and apartments developments you will find on the left. In a few minutes you might be by the cemetery with its yellow walls.

In this place is where the first town of Es Castell was built. But it was destroyed during one of the assaults to St. Phillipe Castle. At that time it was known as "Arraval d'es Castell", that is the reason of the name of the town today..

There is a road here that goes to Sant Lluis, but you have to ignore it and keep on walking in the same direction Before you arrive to the prohibited military area, on the right side there is a road that will bring you to Cala Sant Esteve (St. Stephen's Creek), a lovely little narrow harbour. Although there are some houses from menorcans here, note that there is not a restaurant or even a bar where you can have a drink, so if you think in stay there for a while as the area is really nice, you should take some drinks with you.

You can see, on the clifftop, at the far side of the "cala", the remains of a fortress built to provide crossfire with Fort St. Phillip. Built by the English, between 1710 and 1726, -The Marlborough Redoubt- In the final assalt in 1781, a captain and 50 men whitstood a French force of 700 men.

It is possible to visit the Fort Marlborough and the visit takes place in underground galleries, tunnels leading to mines and rooms excavated on the rock. In the past, one of this subterranean galleries was leading to the castle under the watersea.

There is a foothpath here that goes to one of the defence tower, called Stuart Tower or Torre den Penjat, but it takes another hour walking and it is closed and can not be visited. There is anyway an spectacular view of the harbour mouth.

Es Castell

Es Castell

The village of Es Castell was constructed during the second british domination. It is a nice town and there are some interesting things there.

You can go first to the church, walking along the road, and 200 yards after the roundabout. Easily you will find the church in a small square. It was built during the XVIII Cent. in a sort of local neo-classical style that you can find in other churches all along the island.

If you keep on walking through Carrer Victory, the street where the church is, soon you will be in an extensive square built by the british as part of the architectonical group of barracks, around. One of those english-style quarters is, today, the local military history museum. There is a magnificent collection of old cannons on show. There is also a room dedicated to the fortress of La Mola which well worth a visit as well.

If you are thinking on visiting this museum, check with Reception about opening hours.

Opposite to this place, in the same square there is a big red building. The Town Hall of Es Castell.

The Village of Es Castell  is constructed on the shores of the harbour of Mahón, in its South side and around two inlets Cala Corp and Calas Fons, both were in the past fishing harbors. May we suggest a drink in Calas Fons. There are plenty of differents restaurants and bars to rest and watch fishermen mending their nets or getting their boats ready.

What you can see accross the sea is The Lazareto. It was a sanity building which between 1817 and 1917, was used for all those people and goods that needed to be in quarantine. It is built on an island, so it became a sort of prison for those suspect to suffer infectious illness.

Menorca Musseum and surroundings of St. Francesc

Menorca Musseum and surroundings of St. Francesc

If you go to the shopping area in Mahón, -Calle Nueva, Arravaleta, Costa de sa Plaça-, The local musseum well worth a visit. It is an old converted Franciscan monks cloister on beautiful baroque lines. It illustrates the history of mankind through his furniture and possesions.

There are some rooms dedicated to prehistorical era, the roman age that includes a mosaic pavement removed from an ancient christian church of the roman empire excavated in the Isla del Rey -The island in the harbour just in front of the windows of the dinning room hotel-.

There is also a room dedicated to traditional menorcan artisan trades and a magbnificent collection of paintings and engravings from 18^th. and 19^th. Cent.

The Church beside is St. Francesc. The franciscans date from the 15^th. Cent. in Mahón. The actual church was built in the 18^th Cent. over a Gothic temple, with a unique nace, massive facade and baroque decorating inside.

From older times the franciscan monks depended on a large area of kitchen garden and terrasses which extended as far as the port. All these area is now being converted into an enjoyable park.

Dont leave this area without a visit to the Bridge of Sant Roc. Which is not a proper bridge but the only vestige of the middle aged city walls. From here began the  old road to Ciutadella. It is of typical medieval architecture and it still has its two towers with their battlements, connected by an outside path beneath which lies the great main door.

Historic Center of Mahón

Historic Centre of Mahón

Walking to town along the Camí des Castell all along this way, you will see the tower of the christian church of El Carmen. Once you arrive to the church you will see how massive the monument is. The Church itself and the cloister, baroque style, were started in 1726, by the carmelite order. Both, church and cloister (today converted in a indoor market), worth seing inside.

Now you can walk crossing the Plaza España, with an interesting building on the right side which is the fish market, and turn right upwards through Calle Portal de Mar until you reach Plaza Constitución. And here the building on the right is the the Church of Santa María, built in the 18^th. Cent. over the foundations of a gothic church of the 13^th. Cent. The interior is gothic style and boasts a magnificent organ, which can be heard in mini-concerts at 11 am in the summer season mornings. Lord Collingwood arranged the transportartion and protection of the organ during the napoleonic wars.

In the same square is located the Town Hall Building. Erected in 1619 and renovated in 1789 by Fernandez Angulo. Two notable features in the interior are the Noble Hall, and the Gallery of Illustrious Minorcans. The Clock at the top is English. A gift from the first british Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Richard Kane. In the entrance hall there are two inscripted stones. One of them, is the british coat-of-arms removed from Fort St. Philip when it was destroyed.

Just opposite, you will find a red painted building designated by the british to the Brigade of Guards, in the 18^th. Cent.

This area and the backwards Plaza Conquista is where the old fortified village was built in ancient times. Pont d'es Castell affords another fine view of the harbour.

Plaza Explanada, Gracia and La Concepción.

Plaza Explanada, Gracia and La Concepción.

Tuesdays and Saturdays are Market Days at Plaza Explanada. From early in the morning and until lunch time, open-air itinerant market visit Mahón, selling clothes, crafts, and some other things.

Plaza Explanada is easily accesible walking or by bus as the bus station is just in the corner. However, as it is not very far away you can walk an alternative way visiting on your way some of the monuments most undiscovered.

If you go to town through the new avenues after a while walking you will see the Cemetiry an the left side. The cemetity was built just beside the small church of Gracia. Where the image of the patroness of the city of Mahón is worshiped. Its gothic nave was constructed by at the end of XV Cent. and was renewed few years later in order to repair the damages caused by the men of Redbeard. Lots of exvotes silver objects have been donated by grateful people. The paintings of ships on the walls inside are donations from sailors to the Virgen de Gracia.

Now, go into the Town along Cos de Gracia. This street, and all the streets named "cos", were used in the past for horse racing. Still during the local festivals, -Festes de Gracia-, in September, there is a horse racing here. On the right side half way of the street, you will see a small chuch called "La Concepción". It was constructed at request of the numerous greek colonies during the british domination of the island in the middle of XVIII Cent. Most of them were rich traders and merchants very devoted to the orthodox cult.

At the end of Cos de Gracia if you turn right to Calle San Jorge you will see the facade of the Teatro Principal, built in 1829 by Giovanni Palagi, and recently refurbished. In its Opera Season, some of the world's greatest of figures of Bel Canto have been welcomed. The gigantic sculpture at the entrance has been made by well known artist Matias Quetclas.

The Explanada is just beside this area, if you dont want to walk anymore, a bus or a taxi will take you back to the Hotel.