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This is a quiet and uniquely placed fishing village and is one of the most beautiful spots on the Menorca coastline. Its cluster of white houses, posing as if they were part of a massive canvas, forms part of the tradition of summer holidaymaking for the residents of Mahón. Es Grau is a corner full of life and protected from the storms by the Isla d’en Colom, which provides seafarers with one of the very best spots for anchoring in Menorca. In the summer season the village fills with visitors, but during the rest of the year, there is still a busy social life due to the presence of the residents all year round.
Mahon is the capital of Menorca, the main communication centre with its airport and port, considered the longest in the Mediterranean with a length of more than 7 kms. Home to the island’s government (Consell Insular de Menorca) and the majority of administrative offices, its old centre reflects the period of British domination which lasted for nearly a century, the style of which which influenced the architecture of the majority of its buildings. It is also a city of services which has the Mateu Orfila hospital as the main health centre of the whole island. The city also boasts sporting and cultural facilities such as the Teatro Principal of Mao, the oldest opera house in Spain. Some of its urbanisations and neighbouring areas live life at a slower pace, such as San Climent, LLumaçanes, Es Grau or Cala Llonga.
Those who visit Menorca have stated that it is one of the paradises of the western Mediterranean, an island that history has always been an object of desire because of its strategic position and which now has ended up becoming one of the most attractive tourist destinations. However, it is not only a dream spot for holidays, but also for living. Menorca allows you to experience for yourself the quality of life that you had always imagined, through the combination of small details that make up its landscape, people, tranquillity, light, traditions and fine food.
Geographically, Menorca is the easternmost and northernmost island of the Balearic Islands, declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1993 by UNESCO. It has a coastline of 701 km² and 216 kilometres of, along which are distributed more than 70 beaches. Blessed with a typically Mediterranean climate with annual average temperatures of 16.5 degrees, it currently has a population of 96,000, concentrated into eight districts: Maó (administrative capital of the island), Ciutadella (the old capital), Alaior, Ferreries, Es Mercadal, Es Castell, Sant Lluís and Es Migjorn Gran. There are three other towns, Sant Climent, Llucmaçanes and Fornells, the first two in the district of Maó and the other in Es Mercadal. Maó, located in the east, and Ciutadella, in the west, are the two most inhabited towns on the island.
Socio-economically, unlike the other islands of the Balearic archipelago, Menorca has, over time, had the good fortune to be able maintain a perfect balance between the traditional industries of footwear, costume jewellery and agriculture favouring the gentle development of the tourist sector and thus enabling the island to preserve its countryside and beaches. This environmental sensitivity still exists among all its inhabitants, guaranteeing a unique setting, perfect for family, sports and cultural tourism.