Ciudadela Beach Resort Guide
Introduction
Although Mahón is the official capital of Menorca, Ciudadela is easily the most attractive and interesting town on the island. Its Old Town is a delightful compact warren of palaces and churches, little changed in 300 years. Many of its streets are pedestrianised and shops and bars shelter beneath vaults and Italianate archways. A wide set of steps leads to the long straggling port and waterfront, with its pleasure craft, restaurants and bars. Almost immediately west lie the twin man-made resorts of Cala en Blanes and Cala en Forcat, which have now effectively merged in a suburban sprawl to become the largest resort on the island, providing simple fun-in-the sun holidays.
Who goes there?
Ciudadela attracts day trippers from all over Menorca, though few visitors actually stay the night. British package holidaymakers with young families on cheap self-catering deals crowd the resorts of Cala en Blanes and Cala en Forcat. Cala en Blanes is the quieter of the two, with better quality accommodation.
Where in the world?
Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands, which bask in the Mediterranean off the east coast of Spain. Ciudadela is on the west coast of Menorca, 45km (28 miles) west of Mahón, the island's capital, and the airport. Cala en Blanes and Cala en Forcat are 3-5km (2-3 miles) west of Ciudadela.
When to go?
Between May and October the daily average temperatures never falls below 20ºC (68°F) and rises above 30ºC (86°F) in July-August. The ideal time to visit is May-June and September. October is pleasantly warm but also the wettest month, with 84mm of rain. The crowds are also less overbearing at this time of the year. There is very little rain and almost guaranteed sunshine year-round. The winters are mild and mostly dry.
Beach
The coastline west of Ciudadela is incised by deep rocky inlets. At the head of these inlets Cala en Blanes and Cala en Forcat each have their own tiny sandy beaches, though these are unable to accommodate even a fraction of the holidaying population. Most visitors opt for swimming pools, sunbathing by the water's edge and entering the sea by diving platforms. The nearest reasonably sized beaches are at the resort of Cala Blanca, 5km (3 miles) south of Ciudadela, and at neighbouring Cala Santandria though in high season these too are oversubscribed.
Beyond the beach
A trip into Ciudadela is the main distraction for resort holidaymakers. In terms of sightseeing there are two small museums, Museu Municipal (Placa de sa Font) and the Museu Diocesa (Calle Seminari), the Cathedral (Plaça sa Catedral), the Governor's Palace (Plaça d'es Born) and the Palau Salort (Calle Major d'es Born) to be visited. However none of these are essential and most people are more than content to spend a morning admiring the stately architecture of Plaça d'es Born, then losing themselves in the narrow streets of the Old Town, taking in some shopping, a cafe or two and lunch. Boat trips, calling at the beaches of the south, operate from the port.
Family fun
There is a small waterpark, Aqua Center Water Park (Urbanización Los Delfines) (
www.aquacenter-menorca.com) at Cala en Blanes and various small play areas for young children.
Retail therapy
Ciudadela offers the best shopping on the island. At the heart of the main shopping street is the much photographed Ses Voltes (The Arches), picturesque vaulted porticos with homes above and shops below selling local crafts and Spanish designer clothes. The daily market (Plaça Francesc Netto and Plaça Llibertat) selling fruit, veg, meat and fish, in a charming 19th-century building, is an attraction in its own right. Shopping in the resorts is mostly for daily provisions and beach items.
A night on the town
Cala en Blanes and Cala en Forcat feature late night bars with live music in the summer though nowhere that is a bona fide nightclub. The place to go for nocturnal activity in Ciudadela is Pla de Sant Joan where several bars and nightspots cluster. Another lively after-dark enclave is Portal del Mar, which includes
Sa Clau (
www.saclau.com), a small jazz bar set in a cave. Party people should head to
Pedro's restaurant/Discoteca Latina in Cala Santandria
(
www.discotecalatina.com).
Eating out
Cala en Blanes and Cala en Forcat serve up the usual Mediterranean package resort fare of various international imports and fast food outlets alongside a handful of Spanish and Menorcan restaurants. By contrast Ciudadela offers some of the best local food on the island in some of its most pleasant surroundings; from top-class fish and seafood restaurants by the harbour to trendy pavement cafes and small establishments tucked away in the narrow alleyways, serving up traditional Menorcan food.
Getting around
It is easy enough to get around the small resort centres on foot though accommodation may be set some way back. A mini land train runs around both resorts. The local bus service runs every 20 minutes in season to Ciudadela.
Exploring further afield
Menorca is a small island and with a car you can see it all in a few days. Like Ciudadela, Mahón is an historic harbour town with a good choice of shopping, restaurants, cafes and bars.
Any island tour should take in the highest point on the island of Monte Toro with its hilltop church. It may only be 350m (1,150ft) above sea level, but the views are excellent. Another must see is Binibeca Vell, a very photogenic, whitewashed ‘old' fishing village. In fact it's a fake modern re-creation, but no less pretty for that and a nice place for a coffee or a meal as long as you avoid the times when coach tours call here.
Menorca is also famous for its prehistoric standing stones, the best examples are to be found at Naveta d'es Tudons (5km/3 miles east of Ciudadela near the main road), Talatí de Dalt (Carretera Mahon-Ciudadela, 4km/2.5 miles) and Toralba d'en Salord (3km/2 miles south east of Alaior).
Splashing out
It's quite literally off the beaten path, along a dusty farm track, some 2km (1.3 miles) north of Ciudadela on the road to Cala Morell, but the reward for finding Es Loc de Sant Ignasi is the best gourmet Menorcan/Mediteranean food on this side of the island in a charming converted farm building.
Flying in
Mahon Menorca Airport (MAH)
