Travel Places

Located near the larger Majorca, Menorca is the more subdued and elegant of these two Balearic Islands. Situated off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the island itself is Spanish but has cultural flair from all over the Mediterranean. This is evident in everything from the food and entertainment to the museums and history of the island.

One of the best ways to experience all that the island has to offer, is to stay in one of the Menorca villas that will lend your trip the relaxed feeling of holidaying at your own pace. While staying in a holiday villa is conducive to a lot of reading, snoozing in the sun and generally relaxing, the island also boasts several wonderful museums that are well worth a visit.

Museo de Menorca -Mahón. The Museo de Menorca is situated in the heart of the capital city of Maó, (Port Mahon) close to the main port – as well as just a short drive from many of the Menorca villas near the city centre. The museum itself is housed within the former cloister of a 15th century Franciscan convent, which was abandoned after 1835. It focuses on the history of the island, with artefacts and relics from prehistoric times, as well as collections from the Roman, Muslim, Byzantine, Arabic and Talayotic periods of the island’s history.

Municipal Museum of Ciutadella des Basticó de sa Font – Ciutadella. Ciutadella is on the western side of Menorca. Villas for holidaymakers here are a comfortable drive from the old city buildings, many of which were built in the 17th century. A short walk from the city centre takes you to the Municipal Museum, which is housed in a bastion originally built in 1677 to protect one of the entry gates into the city. Since 1995, these large limestone vaults have been used to showcase a permanent tour through the island’s history; even simple, everyday objects are on show to give you a feeling of what life was like on Menorca, up until 1287. Many of the objects are from recent excavations within the municipal district. There are many other constantly-changing temporary exhibitions that include themes on paleontology, archaeology, ethnography and general history.

Museo del Queso Hort de Sant Patrici (the Cheese Musuem of St. Patrick) – Ferreries. Wherever the Menorca villas you stay in are located, you will need transport to get to this small, specialist museum. It is located a kilometre out of the highest town on the island, Ferreries. The history of cheese making on the island dates back to the 5th century, and the family that runs this farm has renovated an old barn to create a museum that documents the history of the industry on the island. The museum offers artefacts, tools, and a chance to see how cheese is made, with a demonstration of the traditional processes. There are plenty of chances to taste-test the various cheeses with locally produced wine, or you can stock up and take a few samples back to your Menorca villas to enjoy for the remainder of your holiday.