NIGEL THOMPSON
Town Hall above the harbour at Ciutadella home to tiny cobbled streets, beautiful shops, great bars and restaurants, squares and a magnificent cathedral... you’ll want to meander for hours.
Head just outside the old town and you’ll find something remarkable, well for Time Team fans at least. Naveta d’Es Tudons is a huge stone megalithic chamber tomb, the biggest and most famous of many on the island, which dates from 1400BC. When it was excavated in 1959-60, more than 100 skeletons were found inside.
Close to the tomb is another historic site, the magnificent Lithica – a classic example of the old and the new and their relationship with one another. It’s an eye-boggling, near vertical former sandstone quarry which is now a huge tourist attraction thanks to its surrounding gardens of lemon trees, almond trees, myrtle, hawthorn, plus various marshland and riverside species. There’s also a wacky concrete maze at the bottom which, of course, I didn’t get lost in for 40 minutes at all.
Other prehistoric sites include the eerie Talati de Dalt settlement closer to Mahon with its strange rock monoliths. The village of Binibeca is another
Talati de Dalt’s prehistoric stones
Mediterranean Sea bizarre place, but worlds apart from the megalithic sites. In fact, while it looks very old, this purpose-built Menorcan-style village was erected in the 1970s to replicate a typical fishing village.
You would never guess it though. With its whitewashed walls and labyrinth of tiny streets, it is predominantly a tourist attraction and has become a fashionable hotspot for the wealthy with its upmarket restaurants, bars and cafes.
And, food fans, did you know, although it sounds very French,
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Binibeca easyJet flies to Menorca from Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Southend and Bristol starting at £42.98 return. easyjet.com ■ *Rooms at the Artiem Carlos III Hotel, Es Castell, Menorca, start at £73.40 a night B&B. artiemhotels.com.
■ Tourist info: menorca.es
Torralbenc Hotel mayonnaise originates from Menorca? The story goes “Mahonnaise” was liberated by the French and given a French-sounding name. So the Farmers & Co local agri-food cooperative gave me a lesson in its making.
Basic ingredients include egg yolks, the best olive oil you can find, salt, pepper and lemon. The lemon is added in order to turn the stuff white from its yellow state. Bet you didn’t know that.
So if you want a noisy kick in the Balearics for your hols, stick to Ibiza and Majorca. If you want a piece of quality relaxation, I’d choose Menorca every time.
There is such a thing as a free lunch – get a complimentary burger at Siam Park in Tenerife with AttractionTickets.com. Tickets to the award-winning water park cost from £32 adult/£22 child and come with a free burger at the beach club.
‘‘ Menorcan food is amazing with seafood cheeses and cured meats
Stars from TV talent shows in Britain and America will be taking to the stage at Butlin’s during 2020.
Winners of Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent, The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions will be performing live during selected school holiday breaks at the seaside resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.
The acts include dance aces Diversity and Twist and Pulse, ventriloquist Paul Zerdin and boy band Rak-Su. butlins.com