Minorca. My recommendations

We’re going to set down a few ideas and the corresponding addresses. These are really most suitable for the visitor who enjoys an outdoor, active kind of holiday because Minorca has most to offer him. The kind of thing you'll find
below will allow you to get to know the special character of Minorca as you enjoy yourself. You'll find Minorca is an island full of surprises and with a strong identity, not just a recently invented tourist destination stuck on a beach
next to the motorway.


Windsurf y Vela Ligera

Naturally, our first recommendation is that you learn windsurfing and sailing in Fornells. One of the best spots in the Med, but we'll not go into all that again, eh?


Diving

There are any number of coves for diving in Minorca, all with crystal clear water and many with exciting and beautiful sea beds, wrecks and caves. To learn, or to dive with experts on Minorca, try "Diving Fornells", in the Paseo Marítimo. We always send our clients there. They're very professional, very nice people and give you plenty of personal attention. I prefer this school to other larger and less personal ones.

Diving Fornells
Telephone Bookings 00.34.971376431 or 00.34.619414151, website www.divingfornells.com

Walking and Trekking

The Albufera de Es Grau. The Natural Park stretches to Favaritx where you can enjoy the view from that vantage point, the best on the East Coast.
You get a good view of the North Coast from the top Of Monte Toro and, nearer the sea, from Arenal d'en Castell, close to Fornells, just to the East of Son Saura.


Unspoilt beaches

Both on the North and South coasts are ideal destinations or lunch stops. In the North: Cavallería, Binimel.la, Pregonda and Cala Pilar. In the South, Binigaus, Escorxada, Trebaluger, Mitjana y Macarella. If I had to choose, it would be Cala Pilar in the North and Macarella in the South.


Cultural

Don't miss the prehistoric sites of talaiots, taules and navetas. They're all worth a visit, and all characteristic of Minorca. My favourites are: Torre d'en Gaumés, which has everything, taula, talaiot, naveta dwelling, pillared hall, water collection system, underground burial chamber. The village of Son Catlar, although I'm a little uneasy about the current "reconstruction". Sa Torreta de Tramontana, Cova dels Coloms and the Caves at Cala Morell.

Concerts

In July and August there are Baroque and Renaissance Music Concerts in the church at Fornells.


Fiestas

The most famous in Minorca are the Ciutadella fiestas of Sant Joan, 23rd and 24th of June. The horses bred in Minorca are the stars of the fiestas and the whole town erupts into a frenzy of colour and movement. If I had to explain this fiesta in detail, with its ceremonies and their meanings, I'd need a whole new Website.

So for the moment you'll have to make do with my recommendation and brief description. It’s sufficient to say that the rituals and ceremonies are enacted in the ancient streets of Ciutadella in the most striking and exciting manner. It is well worth witnessing these fiestas, if you can squeeze yourself into town, as, year after year, more people come to participate.

The role played by the local horses and horsemen is one of the unique elements of Minorca. The locally bred horses are made to dance to the airs of Minorcan "jota" tunes, the most famous being the "Sant Joan" jota. This takes place in the town square and the whole populace competes to dance under the very hooves of the prancing horses. I can promise you, there is nothing like the Fiestas de Sant Joan. The atmosphere is extraordinary. Of course, all the villages on Minorca enjoy similar fiestas of the dancing horses, and each one enjoys its fiestas in its own special way.

There are fiestas at Es Castell (27th July), at Mercadal (third Sunday of July) and Alaior (11th-12th of August) the spectacle is of a more noble nature with trials of skill organised for the riders (in addition to the dancing). The Fornells fiestas are held on the last Sunday in July and are very special as they take place at the water's edge. They are by no means marine fiestas but, after the heat and excitement of the horsemanship and dancing, a goodly proportion of the revellers end up in the harbour to cool off, especially the younger ones.

Everything is more or less close in Minorca so, even if you stay in Mahon or Ciutadella you're only 25 or 30 Km away. If you don't want to drive, even through the charming scenery Minorca offers, you might prefer to stay at one of the places closest to the School. Here are a few:

Rural Hotels in Minorca

· Alcaufar Vell is a country house enclosed within one of the most beautiful and tranquil nature parks in south-east Minorca. It has a leafy, wooded ravine, more than one kilometre of virgin coastline, almost 250 acres of land for walks, and is close to beaches with clear waters and fine sand.


Urban Hotels

Hostal Fornells
Tel. 971 37 66 76, Fax 971 37 66 88
At the harbour side, with swimming pool, one specially for children and a large terrace. All rooms have air conditioning, full bathroom, telephone, television, safe and views of the sea.

Hostal Restaurante S'Algaret
Tel. 971 37 66 66
In the town square, facing the harbour. Simple with several sitting rooms, all rooms with full bathrooms and terrace.

Hostal Residencia La Palma
Tel 971 37 64 87, Fax 971 37 66 34: In the same square, facing the harbour. 23 rooms with full bathrooms and terrace. Bar Cafetería service, currency exchange and car rental.

Apartamentos Can Digus.
Tel./Fax. 971 37 65 12
Small group of apartments with swimming pool.

Hostal Residencia Jeni, Mercadal
Tel 971 37 50 59 Fax. 971 37 51 24
Small hotel in Es Mercadal, 15 minutes from Fornells. Completely renovated. 36 rooms with bathroom and television. Satellite TV. Swimming pool, garage for bicycles.