Ciutadella was founded by the Carthaginians and was once Menorca’s capital – its centre of commerce and culture, and was known to the Moors as “Medina Minurqa.”
“The eternal capital behind the scenes. The quiet and beautiful Ciutadella. A place in which every stone, every street and every mooring in its port harbours a history of battles and conquests. Many people think that Mahón has always been the capital of Menorca, as it is nowadays. Its primacy, however, is relatively recent: for centuries, until the arrival of the British on the isle – early in 1700 – Ciutadella was the great nucleus from which the entirety of Menorca was governed. Relegated to a secondary place with the arrival of the English, the civitavella of Alphonse III lost its influence.”
Ciutadella gets its name from “citadel” or fortified city because that’s what it once was. It’s said that Ciutadella is a 16th century Spanish city frozen in time.
As the city expanded some of the old walls came down, but not all of them. The old and very pretty harbour is tucked under the walls of the old city and lined with boats, restaurants and bars. It’s where the boats leave for their round-the-island tours or nearby beaches.
The charming old town has arcades and courtyards with shops and cafes and a beautiful 14th century cathedral. The main town square, Plaça des Born, is the city’s beautiful centerpiece. It’s lined with elegant buildings including the city hall that was once a royal palace.
Ciutadella is a city to explore on foot, especially the historic quarter, where an obelisk dominates the main square.
The Palace of Salort, is also in this quarter, likewise the Palace of Vivó, one of the truly emblematic symbols of the city, with a Neoclassic red façade, ornamented with motives based on traditional Menorca imagery.
The cathedral is built on top of the High Mosque that existed under Arab rule. It is truly monumental, with one nave and six chapels.
If you’re a fan of seafood, traditional cuisine from Menorca, which largely based on seafood, is unlikely to disappoint.
Menorcan Gin is an industry that started when thousands of British sailors stationed on the island in the 18th and 19th centuries wanted the drink that was fashionable back home.
Xoriguer is the key ingredient in Menorca’s most popular cocktail drink, called “pomada.”An authentic pomada is made from Gin Xoriguer, lemonade and ice.
One day we walked along a road by the sea and were curious about the distinctive villas, some of which were early a 100 years old.
ensuitepilgrim's Blog 
Leave a comment