Menorca brief history

Menorca is just 35 miles long and miles wide with few mostly laid back beach resorts and around 120 beaches, coves, bays, and harbours around the rocky coastline. There are several excellent prehistoric sites and places of historic interest, including grand Menorcan country farmhouses.

Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton are reputed to have stayed in the town of Es Castell (formerly Villas Carlos) The town's history is strongly reflected in its layout and architecture with its typically British grand Georgian houses.

It was named Minorca by the Romans meaning the "Little One" compared to Majorca the "Large One." The first evidence of occupation on Menorca dates from around 2100 BC and the earliest structures are believed to be, the navetos, (looking like an upturned boat) and are approximately 3500 years old. Between 3000 & 3500 years ago fortified tower were built by bronze age people, and more than 200 of their strange towers stand to this day.

This time in history is known as the Talayotic period, great influence that shaped Menorca was brought by many civilizations including the Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks, Moors, Spanish, English and the French.

Cuidadella now the religious capital of Menorca, was originally the island's capital but the British occupation in the 18th century moved it to Mahon, which was named after General Magon (Hannibal's brother) a Carthaginian invader, and has one of the world's largest natural harbours.