Cruises from Mahon

The city of Mahon – most commonly known as Mao – is located on the island of Minorca in the Mediterranean. The city has been influenced by British colonial architecture, and many of the buildings are painted wine red with white windows and door frames. It makes an interesting site for first-time visitors. The city is bustling and enjoys the warm weather of the Mediterranean area.

Visitors to the island and the city of Mahon can stay at one of the many conveniently located resorts to be found towards the south and southeast tip of the island. Most of the resorts are by the beaches, which fill up rapidly during the warm summer months and at weekends. If you enjoy swimming in the sea, you will need to keep an eye on the flags on shore, which indicate whether or not the conditions are good for entering the water. There are plenty of shops around the resorts and they are all close to the many museums and other activities in the city.

Eating in Mahon is a popular activity and fish and seafood dishes are plentiful here. There are numerous restaurants on the port strip that are reasonably priced and many of the bars also serve meals with outdoor tables and a bustling nightlife. You can take in jazz, salsa, techno, and even disco at the many clubs that operate along the Moll de Ponent and Costa d’es General.

The Mahon fiestas have been going on since the 17th century and they celebrate the horse, the patron-saint of many fiestas in the villages and towns on the island. The annual September festival is always a wild time and is filled with interesting rules and regulations for participants. Both horses and their riders wear elaborate costumes and it is a great event to witness if you are in the city during the beginning of September.

The port holds the remains of the Castle of Saint Felip and the conserved fort of La Mola, both of which were used as military prisons during the Franco reign. The island of Llatzeret off the port was the site of a hospital for cholera sufferers and is a reminder of the dark times of the island. Rei Island has the remains of a Christian basilica that can be explored and the Golden Farm – a group of houses on the seacoast – are rumoured to have lodged Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton.

Since the island was once occupied by Romans, Moors, and Catalan, it is rich with archaeological relics. The Museu de Menorca on Placa des Monastir holds these relics. It also holds the remains of an extinct Menorcan goat, a popular exhibit with children!

Finally, the harbour and port of the city is the perfect place for boat trips that allow you to see the island from a different point of view. The guides know the area inside out and they will take you to the many small islets around Minorca. The catamarans used for the water trips are equipped with bars and toilet facilities, and there are 16 viewing holes in the lower decks to allow you to see the seabed below.