Minorca

The island was conquered by Alfonso III of Aragon on January 17, 1287, Minorca's national day. It became for some 70 years a British dependency (and naval base) in the 18th century.

Spanish forces defeated British forces and captured the island on February 5, 1782.

Famous megalithic stone monuments: navetes and talaiots.

See also: sobrassada (typical sausage with paprika), gin (strong liquor, a vestige of the British period), Maó cheese (original cheese of the island).

The major towns are Ciutadella and Maó. The island is administratively divided into these municipalities:

• Alaior
• Es Castell (Spanish Villacarlos)
• Ciutadella (Spanish Ciudadela), previously the capital of Minorca
• Ferreries
• Maó, the capital of Minorca and the city from which mayonnaise gets its name (English Mahon, Spanish Mahón), became the capital because of its deep-water harbour
• Es Mercadal
• Es Migjorn Gran or Es Mitjorn Gran (Spanish Sant Cristóbal but now little used) hometown of Joan Riudavets
• Sant Lluís

External Links

• Island government of Minorca

Referenced By