Discover Culture and History...
Minorcan Culture
With so many historical dominations porting colour, rhythm, taste and mystery to the island – it’s not surprising that today’s Menorca has such an interest and openness towards culture.
Minorcas artisan and gastronomic past is cherished by the islander’s and actively nurtured and practiced, yet the locals are also enlightened enough to absorb new cultures.
So allow us to highlight some of these traditional and modern day flavours which add to the island special ness:
Minorcan Gastronomy:
The key to enjoyment and pleasure; the islands diet is based around the healthy Mediterranean cookbook, but there are also the recipes that have passed down from generation to generation – foods reflecting times of hardship and foods when fishing was good – The natives also cherish their liquid gold, with drinks to kick start the day, quality wines to adorn the best tables and soft liquors to sooth the digestion.
Some of these recipes are today the international icons of the island, here are just some of them:
• La Caldereta de Langosta (Minorcan lobster stew), served in all the exquisite fish restaurants on the island, such as Es Cranc, Café Balear, Cap Roig, Jagaro and Trebol…. to name but a few.
• Oli aigu (poor mans soup) a tasty soup based on tomatoes, water and oil and served on a bed of dry finely cut toast.
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Minorcan Gin, introduced by the 18C British sailors – it is called “Xoriguer” and the actual distillery is located in the harbour of Maó. A straight shot serves well as a breakfast boost for the day, served with lemonade it’s the famous “fiesta” drink, and served with tonic and a dash of lime it makes an elegant pre-dinner sun downer. |
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• Minorcan land wines, “Vino de la tierra isla de Menorca”, an older tradition that has rekindled, with bodegas supporting some very palatable and quality wines for the table, including, white, rose and red. In respect to white wines, perhaps the best comes from the natural park lands of Es Grau. Although, San Luis, Alaior and Es Mercadal have their wine specialities too, that can be purchased.
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Menorca cheese (Queso de Menorca) – Its not surprising that with such a pastoral background that the islands dairy products offer some of the richest and tastiest flavours around. Do try the local cheese (bought is all shops and farm outlets). Our local town of Alaior is one of the main cheese production areas, with Coinga, Dalrit and Cardona factories. |
• Reflecting the farming background- try the local sausages “sobrasada”, “Carnixua” and meats – pork sausages, tripe, pies and black pudding.
• The Minorcan`s relish their pastries and sweets, so whilst having a coffee try a “pastiset” (shortbread) “carquinyols” (crunchy almond bites), “ensaimades” (Flat spiral shaped cakes with or without fillings) and then there’s the fresh cakes with cream and meringue!
Artisan ware in Menorca:
History has marked the islands artisan industry, producing practical pieces, adapted to make the Minorcan´s life easier, adapting to the terrain and the weather, such as shoes, furniture, wicker work seats and baskets and domestic pottery.
The islands authorities do encourage the continuation of traditional industries, and various shows are promoted during the year to educate the locals and visitors alike. The “Centre Artesanal de Menorca” located in the old military barracks of Es Mercadal, has a permanent exhibition open to the public and worth a visit.
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Minorcan sandals “avarques”: Durable and economic sandals with “car tyre” soles. The original sandal is a beige colour, although today’s market includes various models. The avarque is popular summer footwear for the locals and even the Spanish Royal family honour the island by wearing them. More importantly is that this island icon is triumphing in the European and Asian shoe fairs of today. |
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• Shoe production is of great importance on the island and very successful on the “catwalks” of Europe and Asia – Visit the internationally famous shoe factory of Jaime Mascaró in Ferreries, where Cinderella type limited editions are on display along side, sensual fashionable and classical shoes and leather ware. In Alaior you have the factory shop of “Pons Quintana” and in Ciutadella you have “Torres”.
• Pottery can be purchased in many workshops, such as the ceramic shop “Lora” in the harbour of Maó, and “Vico” in his country workshop in Trepuco, Es Castell.
• Jewellery, a specialist market located on the island – from costume fun wear to designer specials, “Santi Capo” is one of the finest designers in Maó. To enhance and reflect the calibre of jewellery design and manufacturers on the island, yearly International jewellery fair is held in the exhibition centre of Maó.
Art, music and folklore:
• Menorca Island is a haven for artists, over one hundred and twenty live here, artists from abroad or home grown. Regular exhibitions are held throughout the year in the islands Galleries, representing and selling the works of Marc Jesus, Zulema Bagur, Klaus Neztle and Lyndsey Mullen… amongst the many.
• Opera and theatre in Menorca is produced throughout the year in the beautifully reformed “Teatro Principal de Maó” (dated 1829). The island, in the spring of every year promotes the “week of opera” inviting renowned foreign singers to participate. Amongst Minorcas famous home grown tenors are Juan (Joan) Pons and Simon Orfila.
• Classical music in Menorca can be heard every day in the music school attached to the Cloisters of Carmen, with the twinning and twanging of future maestros. However, during the summer months professional concerts are promoted, including the summer music Festival (Festival de Música d’Estiu) in Ciutadella
(Claustre del Seminari) and the International Music Festival in the Cloisters of Saint Francisco (Claustre de Sant Francesc) in Maó.
• Minorca Jazz, held throughout the year with jam sessions for local and visiting musicians, the Casino in the hamlet of San Clemente offers a regular programme. The “Akelarre” bar in the port of Maó and “Jazzbah” in the port of Ciutadella are also avid promoters of music, pioneering in their quest for musicians of calibre to play on the island.
A light resume of Menorca’s past
Menorca, boasts a colourful and violent history, punctuated with pillage, rape and repeated invasions. Conquerors that optimized on her attractive and strategically located port of Maó and lands, yet, it is these past foes that have gorged the character and personality of the island and her islanders as she is viewed today – let us highlight some of her history and curiosities:
Prehistoric:
Human settlement in Menorca can be studied as far back as to the Bronze Age, and incredibly the fingerprints of this period are still very prominent on the islands landscape, fortunately these Talayot settlements have resisted destruction and vandalism. These settlements are everywhere and especially in the south – south east corner of the island. You can be expected to view fine examples of megalithic burial chambers and collective tombs called Navetas, Taulas (which are two slabs of rock, with another placed on top of them in a T shape, much like the structures at Stonehenge) and Talayot circular or square buildings. Nobody knows for sure their original use, but various ideas are on the table such as their function as tombs, guard-houses, meeting places or perhaps living quarters. The island council have just recently started to clean, maintain and promote the islands major archaeological sights, and therefore an admission is paid.
Phoenicians, Greeks and Cartagens, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Islamic, Christians, Spanish, French, British, Americans:
All have trod on Minorcan soils, abused her, loved her and lived on her for short or long periods of time- dominations provoked due to the islands maritime position and port.
- Menorca Curiosity: The administrative capital of the island was baptised “Magon” named in honour of Hannibal’s brother- it later was changed to what we know now as Mahon (Maó).
- Menorca Curiosity: The Romans (123BC) named the island “Minorica” reflecting its smaller size, in contrast to its larger sister, the island of “Majorica” (Mallorca).
- Menorca Curiosity: Son Bou´s basilica was raised in the Byzantine period, and is the best example of its type on the island.
- Menorca Curiosity: During the Islamic domination 903 AC of Spain under the regime of Califato de Cordoba, Menorca was again attacked, little can be seen about this period except the names of various villages and farmhouses for example Binibeca, Binisaida, Binixica, etc. “Bini” means “son of “ in Islamic and these names derive from this epoch.
- Menorca Curiosity: The Island celebrates “Menorca day” every year on the 17th January, the day when the island was liberated from Islamic rule.
- Menorca Curiosity: during the Dark ages (XV-XVII) with the Ottoman Empire and the famous pirate “red beard” on the roam, the majority of the coastal watch towers were built (Fornells, Sant Esteve, etc.).
- Menorca Curiosity: 1756 during the French domination, the Duke of Richelieu, the nephew of Cardinal Richelieu, landed in Menorca with 20000 French troops to oust the British. Rumour says he took a keen interest in a local sauce whipped up from eggs and olive oil, as a result he exported it back to France, where it was subsequently produced and marketed as Mayonnaise “mahon sauce”. The French dominators were also responsible for developing the village of “Sant Lluis” and were also recognised for their dandy uniforms and perfumed manners, a way of style that amused the locals after their somewhat dower and regimented British predecessors.
- Menorca Curiosity: From the 1740´s Minorca blossomed to her commercial best under the British denominations, (the British ruled on the island for over 100 years, but in three different periods) One enterprising Governor, the fiery Irishman Richard Kane, was particularly devoted to instigating improvements on the island, touching agriculture, administration and socio-cultural areas, for e.g. Dry stone walls, Frisian cattle, improved roads (Cami den Kane), setting solid guidelines for local government and administration, including laws, taxes and education. After Kane’s period other Governors pioneered improvements, such as authorizing the British Engineers to design and build military and residential constructions, the largest being the construction of the barracks town of “George town”, today referred to as Es Castell.
Modern day Menorca:
In 1802, the British returned the island to Spanish rule as stipulated under the terms of the Treaty of Amiens. Britain kept Gibraltar amidst its new possessions.
This historical moment could have changed, if the command from London had reached the then British Governor of the Island in time - instructing him not to hand over the island. (The naval messenger boat could not enter the harbour due to bad weather).
- La Mola built between 1848 y 1875, this spectacular fortress at the mouth of Maó harbour was constructed under Spanish rule. (Isabel II of Spain).
- 1906 “The famine” sent islanders searching for new lives in South America, to Cuba, Cordoba (Argentina) and Montevideo (Uruguay). Menorca today has a keen interest in her ex migrants and their families.
- Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)– the island suffered, that is until the 1960´s when the new Government and liberal policies shed hope and light over the island – The other Balearic Islands entered the “tourist and construction boom” but Menorca was left behind – which with hindsight worked to the islands advantage, because in 1993, the UN declares Menorca a “Biosphere Reserve”.
- Menorca Curiosity: In the “tourist boom” The two tower hotels on the Son Bou beach were to be ten – “Clarksons” were the promoters – but fortunately the plans fell through as the promoter met with financial problems and public disgust.
