Thirty-three miles wide by 11 miles long makes up one of the most valued and beautiful islands in the world. The Island of Menorca is formed by multiple layers of green, coves with beaches, and unique traditional seafront festivals. It is a classic beauty that claims its own native breed of black and slender horses.
Determined to keep their island home from suffering the same fate as many of Spain’s coastal resorts, Menorcans fought hard to protect their lands from overdevelopment. In 1993, the island was awarded UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, protecting over 40% of the island from further development.
Today there is a vast range of stunning virgin or undeveloped beaches and coves scattered throughout the island, which in my opinion, are the best in the Mediterranean.
The southwest portion of Menorca is where you will find the most popular beaches. Powdery white sand, turquoise water, towering cliffs, and dense pine trees will make you feel as if you are somewhere slightly more exotic, like New Caledonia or the Caribbean. In the north, the rugged, raw, and sometimes red beaches are no less beautiful, but their location, slightly off the beaten track, means fewer tourists, allowing proper towel space.
An excellent way to discover Menorca is to tour its seven lighthouses which have been extremely important in preserving boats by preventing shipwrecks.
1.- Favàritx Lighthouse
It is the most famous lighthouse in Menorca. Its construction started in 1917 but did not finish until 1922 due to some financial difficulties. Sitting atop black slate rocks, it has a black spiral strip wrapping its 28-meter-tall tower.
The road leading to Cape Favàritx also allows you to discover the ‘Cos des Síndic’, a reservoir of water of great ecological importance which is supplied by rainfall and the storms that reach there. It is one of the favorite places for Menorcans and tourists to see beautiful sunsets. Be careful, because it is also one of the points where the Tramuntana wind blows with more force.
2.- Mahón Lighthouse – Sant Carles
Built in 1852, the lighthouse sat on top of the remains of the Castle of San Felipe. Today, its access is restricted as it turned into a military facility. It arose from decades of conflict between the lighthouse keepers, who were afraid of the projectiles from the barrack’s target practice entering their homes, and the military high command.
The old lighthouse was replaced by a portable lantern attached to a davit that was folded up during practice. In 1961, the current 10 meter-high tower with black and white bands was built. Despite the many changes that this lighthouse has undergone, the Sant Carles Lighthouse is considered the oldest of Menorca. You cannot miss visiting Fort Marlborough or the Fortress of Elizabeth II.
3.- Isla del Aire Lighthouse
The Aire lighthouse is the second tallest in the Balearic Islands, after the Moscater lighthouse in Ibiza. It has a 165-step spiral staircase, and its imposing figure stands on a small uninhabited islet southeast of Menorca. The location is home to rich biodiversity, especially in the field of ornithology, and is the natural habitat of the black lizard. This reptile has become one of the banner creatures of the island.
The lighthouse can be seen from nearby Punta Prima beach and can be accessed by boat-taxi service. The surrounding seabeds are also of great interest.
4.- Cavalleria Lighthouse
It is the northernmost of Menorca’s lighthouses. It was built in 1857 to reduce the more than 700 shipwrecks on its coast since the 14th century. Its white tower is located more than 90 meters above sea level, so the lighthouse is surrounded by spectacular cliffs and is an excellent point to enjoy the best views of the entire north coast.
Recently, it is exceptionally fashionable for its incredible sunsets, so the crowds that flock there (especially in the summer months) can take from the magic of the place.
5.-Sa Farola Lighthouse.
Also known as the Ciutadella Lighthouse, it takes a pleasant 30-minute walk through pine trees to reach its base from the city’s port. Its light will welcome you if you arrive by sea in Menorca. If you spend a day in Ciutadella, the Sa Farola Lighthouse is worth a visit.
It was built in 1863 and so close to the port, that the onslaught of the sea flooded the facilities and it was necessary to build a retaining wall a decade later. The lighthouse sits on a small rock from where you will get incredible views of the Castle of Sant Nicolau and the neighboring island of Mallorca.
6.- Artrutx Lighthouse
It is in the western part of Menorca and 4.3 miles from Ciutadella. As you arrive, a lantern with the oldest of optics welcomes you. Eight years after its construction in 1859, four buttresses were added to its characteristic tower with black and white stripes, being the only one in all the Balearic Islands with this special appearance.
Along with Capdepera, in Mallorca, this lighthouse marks the ends of the strait that separates the two islands. It is an idyllic place not only to enjoy wonderful sunsets, but also to spend special moments in its restaurant.
7.- Punta Natí Lighthouse
A century after its construction on the north coast, the Punta Natí Lighthouse continues to have the same luminous appearance as in its origins back in 1913, showing 3 + 1 white flashes every 20 seconds. It was built due to pressure from the French government to avoid shipwrecks and accidents.
The terrain that surrounds the lighthouse is cinematic and is full of dangerous cliffs, with the presence of Mallorca on the horizon along with spectacular sunsets. The road to the cape runs through an arid and rugged landscape (typical of this area of the island known as ‘Dry Menorca’), where you can see some strange but curious buildings dating back several centuries that shelter livestock in winter.
