| There is no doubt felt by regular visitors that this | | | | UNESCO Biosphere programme nearly half of the |
| Island may be on a Balearic Island but that it is totally | | | | island began being protected from overdevelopment, |
| different from the rest of the group of Ibiza, | | | | by various measures according to the type of area ie |
| Formentera or Mallorca. | | | | farming, tourism, industry etc. This halted the process |
| I will not pass an opinion on Mallorca as I have never | | | | of mass tourism which had affected the major |
| visited that island but from holidays in Ibiza and | | | | centers. Even now Menorca has no resorts such as |
| Formentera I can vouch for the individuality of | | | | San Antoni and Ibiza Town and certainly nothing to |
| Menorca. | | | | rival Magaluf. |
| The population increases by a factor of two in high | | | | What does Menorca have in abundance, away from |
| season as the 90,000 locals are joined each week by | | | | its wealth of beaches. It has Archeology, showing |
| visitors, primarily from, the Spanish mainland, the UK, | | | | the presence of man 5,000 years ago, a muslim |
| Germany. | | | | fortress at Santa Agueda and the islands magnificent |
| Understandably the majority of tourists head for the | | | | Cathedral in Ciutadella. |
| beaches leaving the interior for the almost exclusive | | | | You can find History at every turn with Muslim Relics, |
| use of the local population. | | | | Roman Ruins at Sanisera and evidence of the islands |
| Historically the indigenous people shunned away from | | | | Pirate past such as at Cala Turqueta. |
| the coastlines not because of medieval tourists but | | | | The middle ages saw turmoil and confrontation |
| because of the dangers posed by the Pirates who | | | | throughout Europe and the island became a pawn in |
| controlled these areas. | | | | these events and came under the rule of the English, |
| Anyone who has visited Menorca would accept that | | | | the French and the Spanish in relative quick |
| the enchanting beaches and Coves of Menorca are | | | | succession. |
| the primary draw for holidaymakers. There are | | | | Despite the short period of occupational of these |
| literally 200 hundred beaches and coves of which the | | | | occupying powers have left their mark on Menorca's |
| vast majority can be relatively easily accessed by | | | | history and made it the unique island you see today. |
| land or sea it is easy to see why it is possible to find | | | | Remember Menorca is only 2 hours flying time from |
| yourself on a near deserted beach, even at the | | | | most of the UK making the airfare cheap and your |
| height of summer. | | | | carbon footprint smaller. Accommodation can be as |
| Menorca's relaxing and unspoilt countryside and virgin | | | | expensive or as economical as you wish, Menorca |
| beaches and coves is no accident. In 1993 Menorca | | | | even has two campsites. |
| became a Biosphere Reserve. As a result of the | | | | |