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.