The ancient coastal city of the island of Menorca - Ciudadela - once was a local capital and a major port center. Later, with the arrival of the British, the administrative center was moved to Mahon, but Ciudadela was still an unofficial capital. The century-old history of the town was accompanied by changes in power and culture, and therefore the architectural ensemble formed in it is so unusual and rich. And the natural beauty of Ciudadela hardly needs any characteristics, because the island itself is declared entirely by the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
Ciudadela is a relatively small town, the historical part of which can be walked on foot in a few hours. The city center is crowned with beautiful architectural masterpieces, which together constitute one of the most remarkable architectural ensembles of Spain and Europe. And the secret is that in the 17th century, after the devastating plague of the Turks, all civil and religious buildings were recreated in Italian style, thus acquiring a historical, artistic and aesthetic unity.
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How to get here
In all, the Balearic Islands have three international airports, one of which is in Menorca, 4, 5 km from Mahon. The most important directions of air communication are established with the cities of Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, El Prat and others. From Moscow, for example, it is convenient to fly through Barcelona - this is the fastest and cheapest route. The average time on the road is 6 hours and 30 minutes. The ticket price is about 11 000 RUB. Regular bus services run from Mahon to Ciudadela.
You can get to Ciudadela and by sea from Barcelona, Valencia or Palma. Several steamships are sent from the French side - from Marseilles and Ajaccio.
Search for airline tickets to Palma de Mallorca (the nearest airport to Ciudadela)
Climate
Weather conditions in Ciudadela are very good for rest .The average annual temperature in the city varies within the range of +16 .+18 ºC .The beach season here lasts from mid-May to mid-September .Usually during this period dry hot weather is kept up to +30 ºC .Rain in the summer falls very little, and if they fall out, then in the form of strong short-term showers .The main part of precipitation falls at autumn .In the winter it's cold in the city, but the frosts practically do not happen .Is that at night the indicators of thermometers can drop to the boundary values .And in the daytime it usually reigns around +13 ºC .
Book popular Ciudadela hotels at the best prices
| Hotel Can Faustino from 6 203 rubles Ciutadella San Rafael, 9 | ||
| Hotel Albranca from 3 446 rubles Ciutadella Marqués de Albranca, 27 | Hotel Tres Sants from 4 756 rubles Ciutadella Sant Cristòfol, 2 | Blanc Palace from 3 791 rubles Ciutadella Signe Aries, 2 |
| Hotel Alfons III from 2 068 rubles Ciutadella Cami de Maó 53 | Hostal Ciutadella from 1 999 rubles Ciutadella San Eloy, 10 |
Entertainment, sightseeing and sightseeing Ciudadela
Plaza de Bourne
The main beauties of Ciudadela are concentrated in the area of the central square Bourne. It is the most beautiful square in Spain, surrounded on all sides by magnificent medieval buildings. In the center of everything is an exquisite cathedral - the pride of Ciudadela, a highlight of Spanish architecture. Very well preserved interiors of the cathedral, in particular, the chapel of Angelus, decorated with exquisite carved columns. The cathedral is the only building of Ciudadela that has survived since the Turkish invasion.
Place Bourne is the most visited place in the city. Accordingly, at the peak of the season there is quite crowded, and the charm of pretty narrow streets is somewhat lost. But in the square there is a mass of cozy cafes and restaurants, so that the city vanity can be viewed with comfort from the table of one of them.
Along the perimeter the square is crowned with a number of amazing palaces of neoclassical and baroque styles. Unfortunately, only one of them is open - Salort Palace. This is an old aristocratic residence with expensive furniture and art objects. Of particular value are the frescoes decorating the ceiling of the main hall.
Port of Ciudadela
The local port is just that cornerstone in the history of Ciudadela, because of which it lost its capital status. The fact is that it is rather shallow and not designed for passage of large vessels. And if in the Middle Ages the port's capabilities corresponded to the size of marine vessels, then by the 18th century the situation had changed.
Meanwhile, ferries from Barcelona and other cities invariably enter the port of Ciudadela. By the way, from the sea to the port a beautiful view opens, especially at sunset, when the sun dives behind Castel de Saint-Nicolas, painting it in red.
Beaches of Ciudadela
The city coast is crowned by several dozen beaches. And if in the historical center of the eye pleasing works of art, then here completely reigns nature. And, probably, she tried hard to create such amazing places. Here you can find soft sandy (Cala Blanca, Cala en Turqueta, Caleta d'en Gorries), and stony (Ses Fontanelles), and rocky (Cala en Brut, Cales Morts) beaches. Basically the sea here is calm and quiet, and the waves rise only occasionally. In the city, there are absolutely wild, deserted beaches.
All prices are for June 2014