Menorca is the 2nd largest of the Balearic Islands and the most easterly part of Spain. It is approximately 52 km at its longest point and 23 km at its widest point. With a population of 66,000, Menorca covers an area of 702 square kms, which is just one fifth of the size of its nearest neighbour Mallorca. Menorca has been inhabited for over 3,000 years and has many unique prehistoric settlements.

Farming was the main industry but whilst clearing the land for their crops farmers have made over 15,000 km of drystone walls. These walls also serve to protect the land from the many winds that are particularly strong in the winter. Many towns and holiday complexes are named after the winds such as Mestral, Llebeig, Migjorn, Xaloc and Tramontana.

The climate is truly Mediterranean, having an average of 315 days of sunshine a year and a temperature variance of only 25 degrees. The highest temperature ever recorded is 42 degrees. This gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the 200 km of coastline with well over 100 beaches ? more than all the other Balearic islands put together.

The tranquil charm and peaceful way of life appeals to everyone who seeks a carefree and relaxing holiday in the sun

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MENORCA

Menorca is the most easterly of the Balearic Islands and lies some 224kms (140 miles) south?east of Barcelona. Its very position in the Mediterranean has influenced its history since ancient times. For centuries it was a fortress island, a haven for mariners in stormy weather and always a stopping point for traders.

Menorca has been inhabited for almost 5000 years, with the first troglodyte settlers living in the caves. Although the exact dates and numbers of inhabitants are unknown, their cultures are thought to be Celtic and Iberian. Examples of these caves are at Cales Coves on the south east coast, where there are more than one hundred.

The first real culture to develop was 'Talayotic' around 2000 BC. From this period can be found a number of colossal megaliths, Taulas, Talayots and Navetas which are sited mainly in the southern part of the island. The only other island where remains of this sort can be found is Sardinia. Following, the Talayots came the Phonecians and the Greeks who simply used Menorca as a staging post in their journeys across the Mediterranean.

The first race to occupy Menorca militarily was the Carthaginians in about the third century BC, and it was they who founded the ports of Mahón and Ciutadella. In the year 123 BC the island was conquered again, this time by the Romans who incorporated the Balearics into their empire. This was the beginning of a slow uninterrupted period of Romanisation, which paved the way for the Christianisation of Menorca.

With the fall of the Roman Empire around 457 AD, the island suffered sporadic invasions by the Vandals and Byzantines throughout the fifth and sixth centuries. Thereafter Byzantium was incorporated into the Mohammedan empire and the Arabs slowly settled, converting the island to the Islamic religion.

In 1230 the Moorish chief of Menorca became a Tributary of King Jaime I, who the previous year had re?conquered Mallorca. In 1287 King Alfonso III of Aragon and Catalonia, in order to punish the treachery of the Moors, took possession of the island and repopulated it with what he called 'good Catalan people'. Thus the island became Spanish during this rather disturbed period.

Menorca was continually attacked by pirates. The bloodiest of these attacks took place in 1558 during the reign of Felipe I. This attack was lead by the two most famous corsairs, Barbarroja and Mustafa Piali and was made on the old capital of Ciutadella.

In 1535 the infamous Turkish pirate, Barbarossa attacked Mahón and more than half the population were killed or enslaved. However, the bloodiest attack took place in 1558 during the reign of Felipe I, when, Barbarossa raided Ciutadella and destroyed most of the city.

Throughout the 18th century Menorca was fiercely fought over by the European powers. In 1708 during the 'War of the Spanish Success', the English occupation took place. A few years later a secret agreement was made between the Spanish Monarch and Queen Ann of England making the Duke of Argyll the first British governor of Menorca.

It was during this, the first English occupation, that the Capital was changed from Ciutadella to Mahón. In 1756 the battle of Menorca ended in French victory, but their reign was short lived. In 1763 the island was again under English rule, and Georgetown (Es Castell) was built, A Scottish doctor profiting from the poverty which many Menorcans then suffered, recruited numerous families to colonise a part of Florida. It was during this period that an English Admiral, Sir Peter Denis, laid the foundation stone of the military hospital on the Illa del Rei, which was nicknamed 'Bloody Island'.

Menorca was returned to the Spanish Crown in 1782, where it remained until 1798, when, British troops took possession for the third time. This time without loss of life. The island was finally returned to Spanish sovereignty under the Treaty of Amiens, when the British gave up possession in return for Gibraltar.

Throughout the Spanish civil war of 1936?9, Menorca remained staunchly Republican and was the last part of Spain to surrender to General Franco. As a result, during Franco's rule 1939?75, financial help was limited and development of the tourist industry slowed down.

In 1983 the Balearic Islands became an autonomous region with Catalan (forbidden under Francos rule) as an official language.

In 1993 Menorca was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in order to protect its natural environment and history whilst supporting traditional industries and tourism.