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 MENORCA
LOCATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS
Menorca is situated in the middle of the Western Mediterranean,
half way between the coast of southern France and Algeria in a north-south
direction and mid way between the Italian and Spanish mainland in an east-west
direction. Throughout the year there are several flights a day to Barcelona
and Palma de Mallorca, one daily flight to Madrid and five flights each week
to London. However
during the summer - April to October - these flights are increased and Menorca
is also directly connected with many airports in mainland Spain and the rest
of the European continent. Modern ferries operate throughout the year between
Menorca and Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona and Valencia in the Spanish mainland.
GEOGRAPHY
Menorca is rectangular in shape and approximately 50 kms in length in an east-west
direction and 25 kms in north-south direction. The total area is roughly 702
sq kms, with a coastline of 216 kms. Geologically, the island is divided into
two symmetrical, but very different, parts: the north with its jagged coastline,
scanty vegetation, many tiny islets and red sanded beaches; and the south formed
by karstic rock with its smooth cliff faces, water eroded valleys and white
sandy beaches flanked by pine woods. Menorca is quite flat with the highest
point of the island is Monte Toro, standing at only 357 m.
The climate is typically Mediterranean, with average temperatures of 24 C in
summertime and 11 C in wintertime. The prevailing north wind, known as “Tramuntana”,
can become especially strong during the winter due to the lack of mountains
and has sculptured the islands countryside.
POPULATION AND MAJOR CENTRES
Menorca has a population of just over 80.000 inhabitants;
most of them could be considered menorcans and are a mixture of all the cultures
that have been present on the island through the history. Some 10.000 are immigrants
from countries other than Spain with the majority - between 6.000 and 7.000
- being from Britain. These are mostly retired people who have
second homes on the island. In recent years, due to the important economic
growth with the following socio-economic prosperity, immigration from other
parts of the world but mainly northern Africa and South America, has become
a common phenomenon. There are two major cities on the island, Mahón
on the east coast with a population of approximately 27.000 and Ciutadella
on the west coast with about 25.000 inhabitants. The rest of the population
lives in the other six municipalities: Es Castell, Sant Lluis, Alaior, Es Mercadal,
Es Migjorn and Ferreries with populations ranging from 1.500 to 7.000.
HISTORY
During the centuries Menorca has, like many other Mediterranean
islands, been in contact with many cultures and seen many invasions. In ancient
times the island was conquered by Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs. In 1287
the island was conquered by Christians from Catalonia and those Arabs living
on the island were either converted to Catholicism or expelled. In 1492, as a result
of the marriage between Ferdinand of Aragonia-Catalonia and Isabella of Castille,
modern Spain, as it is known today, was created with Menorca being a part of
it. In the 18th and 19th centuries Menorca experienced three
British and one French occupations in-between periods of Spanish rule. This
was due mainly to the islands strategic position in the western Mediterranean
and the harbour at Mahón, which is considered to be one of the best
natural harbours in the world along with Pearl Harbour in Hawaii and Diego
Garcia in the Indian Ocean. In 1802 Menorca was definitively returned
by Britain to Spain. During the Spanish civil war in the 1930´s Menorca
was the only Balearic Island that remained loyal to the legal constitutional
Spanish Government, fighting against coup-maker and Dictator Franco during
the uprising.
GOVERNMENT
Menorca comprises eight municipalities and each of them
has a County Council which deals with local matters. The governing body of
the island as a whole is the Menorca Island Council which has a President,
currently a lady named Joana Barcelo, and 12 more counsellors. It is responsible
for all issues concerning the whole island. Menorca is one of the Balearic
Islands which constitutes one of the 17 so-called Autonomous Communities
of which Spain is nowadays administratively divided into. Therefore Menorca
is represented in the Balearic Parliament in Palma de Mallorca as well as
in the Spanish National Parliaments in Madrid, both in the Lower Chamber,
The Congress and in the Upper Chamber the Senate. All these institutions
are renewed every four years through democratic elections.
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Two official languages coexist in Menorca, Castillian
Spanish and Catalan. When it comes to foreign languages people over 50 learned
French as their first foreign language, whilst people under 50 studied English.
Communication through English is commonplace both in the tourist industry
and in the private sector. The Menorcan culture could best be described as
Mediterranean. The island has been in contact with many cultures and religions
from many origins throughout history. It has seen many invasions and is today undoubtedly part of
modern Spain, but Menorca will always remain Mediterranean. Examples
of this are the traditions, the music as well as the kitchen. In the field
of traditions, the best known outside the island, is the islands “fiestas”.
Every village holds its own fiesta every summer, in which the thoroughbred
black stallions are the centrepiece. The most famous of the fiestas are the
ones of Ciutadella, that take place annually on the 24th of June. In these,
medieval games of Venetian origin also plays a central role. When it comes
to food the tradition is based on what today is known worldwide as the “Mediterranean
diet”. The best example of its benefits, which no scientist
doubts, was a man named Joan Riudavets who died in 2003, in the Menorcan municipality
of Es Migjorn, at the age of 114, being the oldest person in the world at his
death. Two of his brothers are still alive at 101 and 106.
ECONOMY
Despite that in Menorca it is less developed than in
the rest of the Balearic Islands, tourism is Menorca’s main economic activity and source of income.
The island has about 100.000 tourist beds, and visitors value the peace and
quiet of the beaches and coves, the good weather and the islands culture. The
majority of the islands’ visitors are British. In 1992 Menorca
was awarded the distinction of ”Biosphere Reserve” by the UNESCO,
in recognition of the islands sustained economic growth, encompassed within
its “territorial plan”, avoiding tourism of masses and enforced
by a strict environmental protection policy. The islands agriculture is very
important to its beauty, the milk production is considerable and the local
cheese is highly acclaimed for its quality and flavour. The manufacturing industry
is also of importance, costume jewellery and footwear producers are represented
at international trade fairs. In the service sector the two giant Spanish banks
BBVA and BSCH are represented on the island. BSCH is the major shareholder
in the Royal Bank of Scotland, owner of the NatWest Bank, and has recently
bought up the Abbey National Bank. At local level, a bank called “Sa
Nostra” is also of a major importance. Both Menorca’s economic
growth and GNP per capita is well above the average for both Spain and the
European Union, inflation is under control and the island boasts an almost
unknown unemployment figure. Menorca, as well as Spain as a whole, fully
complies with its commitments to the economic criteria established by the European
Monetary Union for being part of the so called Eurozone.
SPORT AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES
Sport in Menorca is divided into two sections, federated
sport and popular sport for everyone. The federated sports depend on the
Balearic and the Spanish Federation that is part of an international Federation.
Under 16 year old sport is termed School Age Sport. For younger children,
as well as competitive sport, there is an educational, ethic and social slant,
and these sporting programmes are designed by the different federation delegates
together with the Island Council. Popular sport for everyone encompasses youngsters to veterans
and also includes handicapped sportspeople, these activities are organised
by the sport clubs, County Councils and the Island Council. A commission of
technicians and sports managers is formed by representatives from each County
Council and from the Island Council, and their task is to coordinate all the
programmes, needs etc. Each County Council has their own sporting facilities:
sport centres, football pitches, tennis courts and some have a swimming pool
(indoor and outdoor), athletic grounds etc. In many cases in the neighbourhood
of a school so that the facilities can be used by the children in the morning
and by the rest of the population during the rest of the day. Financing sport
is the partially responsibility of the Island Council through the official
budget along with funds from private sponsors, membership fees and from the
Balearic and Spanish federations and Governments. In Menorca 54
sports are played including almost all of the 18 official sports of the International
Island Games Association. Football, basketball, tennis, sailing and swimming
are the most popular ones.
Dr. Antonio OLIVES, Island Secretary, Menorca
Island Games Association
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