Top Five Mahón

The top sights in Mahón (Maó), the capital of Menorca, are concentrated around its historic cliffside old town and its famous natural harbour.

1. The Harbour

Mahón has one of the deepest natural harbours in the world. Nowadays it is lined with vibrant boutiques, yachts, and restaurants but in past centuries it was coveted destination sought after and fought over by great powers seeking to control the western Mediterranean.

2. Isabel II Fortress (La Mola)

A massive 19th-century stone fortress sitting at the mouth of the harbor, offering expansive tunnels and 360-degree panoramic sea views. This is one of the largest fort complexes ever constructed .Many of its buildings are still in a ruinous state.

 

3. Old Town

Mahon’s old town and its narrow streets are deceptively large Georgian townhouses built during the 100 year occupation if Nenirda by the British who made Mahón its capital.

Mahon Fish Market (Mercat des Peix) is bustling 1920s structure that transforms at lunchtime into a lively gastronomic hub filled with local tapas, pinchos, and wine.

The Mercat des Claustre is a traditional market housed in a 1700s Carmelite cloister, perfect for buying Mahón cheese, wicker bags, and traditional sandals.

 

4. Museo de Menorca

Set in a beautiful Baroque Franciscan convent, this museum showcases the island’s deep history from prehistoric Talayotic cultures to modern times.

 

5. Pont de Sant Roc

The picturesque, stone-arch gateway that stands as the last remaining remnant of Mahón’s medieval city walls, built by Alfonso the 3rd after he ousted the North African Moors from the island in 1297.

 

Destination: Spanish Islands