Among Menorca tiny villages
Menorca's villages appear between hills as low, homogeneous expanses of almost exclusively whitewashed houses with sand- or terracotta-coloured roofs, with an ivory stone cathedral rising above the buildings. At other times, they are sparse holiday cottages, also whitewashed, their shingles covered with iridescent bougainvillaea and tucked between lush gardens.
If you want to visit some authentic places, just stop by on your way back from the beach to wander through the narrow streets of the island's sleepy villages. You won't need more than half an hour for most of them, and you'll have plenty of time to sit at the small table of a cerveceria or café to observe the slow pace of the island.
CIUTADELLA
Ciutadella is the island's most picturesque and vital center. Staying in the historic center will allow you to enjoy its cobblestone streets reserved for pedestrians, the squares that suddenly open up before you with a disproportionate sand-colored Catalan Gothic-style cathedral, and the arcaded streets filled with craft and clothing stores to explore.
Orbiting between the two beautiful squares, Placa d'Alfons III and Placa des Born, you wander back and forth between the pulled-up alleys and delightful boutiques.
Don't forget a few hidden corners, such as the cloister of Ca'l Bisbe, a small oasis of peace hidden behind the Catedral de Santa Maria de Menorca. A walk to the port, along Carrer Marina, perhaps at sunset, will give you a taste of the quiet but vivid evening life of the island.
Extra Tip: In Ciutadella, you can enjoy a great dinner at one of the many gourmet restaurants. A couple of solutions more suitable for a dinner with children, without sacrificing the quality of the food are: the Moli des Comte, an Asador that in addition to good meat dishes also offers excellent seafood alternatives, in a really cozy location; the Restaurant Aquarium Port Ciutadella, a seafood restaurant where you can enjoy a memorable paella. For a quick tapas lunch instead, Ulisses Vinateria is a great place next to the Municipal Market, a picturesque location in the old town.
ES MIGJORN GRAN
Tiny, tiny village in the center of the island. Besides the main pedestrian street that reaches a small square with a church, there are a few neat little streets with white and coloured facades that alternate in surreal silence.
ES MERCADAL
Larger center, also with little more than a couple of streets with white curtain wall buildings and a square with a church.
What's nice about it is that in the summer, every Thursday there is a summer market, with stalls of very good-tasting handicrafts, and many producers of cured meats, cheeses, farm produce, and baked goods who enliven the village streets. There is a cheerful and festive atmosphere, with music and pleasant hubbub everywhere.
Extra Tip: Cas Sucrer bakery churns out the best Ensaimadas we have tasted, the famous typical Balearic dessert; the best are with apple and with custard filling.
FORNELLS
Delightful little port to visit at sunset, as the white lime facades and water at the pier reflect the colours of the blushing sky. Quiet and peaceful, with neat streets that are far too big for the small town. You will find small restaurants and a pleasant summer atmosphere.
(Beware that the port of Fornells does not correspond to the residential center Platges de Fornells, a tourist-oriented village with buildings exclusively for vacationers).
BINIBECA VELL
There is nothing old about it, this small town built in 1964 as a vacation colony for rich Menorcan families, but everything points to a tangle of fishermen's houses that has seen more than a century of history. The white houses are stacked on top of each other, with barely the space of a small pedestrian street between, with stairs, ascents and descents alternating between the little houses and the central church. The whole results in a fairy-tale village overlooking a pier, inspiring tranquility.
The little village is not accessible before 10 a.m., so as not to disturb the residents. If you are with kids, we recommend leaving your stroller in the car, as you won’t go far up and down the narrow stairs.
While reaching the "old" part, enjoy the rest of the village, made up mostly of cottages with swimming pools, somewhat exclusive, but which with their typical architecture, low roofs and manicured gardens create an informal and pleasant atmosphere.
Extra Tip: If you want to take advantage of lunch in Binibeca, opt for Cerveceria El Patio, which is a bit hidden and hard to find, but serves excellent tapas of land and sea.
