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We took a glass-bottom boat harbor cruise under a gorgeous May sky with picturesque surroundings and a very relaxing enjoyable atmosphere. I love this small island Menorca outside the main season very much.
The port of Maó is a natural outcrop in the easternmost part of Menorca. Historically, the harbor was the key to the island's dominion. For this reason, the harbor is full of historic buildings that make it a landmark to visit.
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| Cales Fonts |
The port has a length of more than 5 kilometers, and extends from the easternmost tip of the island like a tongue to the gates of the city of Maó. The existence of the harbor has already documented since the 3rd century BC, C. documented; He offered the sailors an incomparable refuge.
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| Defense Tower |
In Maó the Phoenicians, Greeks, Rhodians, Phocaeans and Carthaginians have left their mark. He's one of the longest natural harbors in the world.
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| Defense Towers |
In Menorca at the end of the 18th century, some coastal defense towers were built, by Spain first, and by Great Britain shortly thereafter. The towers of Spain were two, and eleven were built by Great Britain, during their respective dominations of Menorca.
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| Clot de la Mola |
Leaving the mouth of the harbor the tour stopped and we enjoyed the fish view through the glass bottom of our boat.
Okay, no fish but a gorgeous and very clear sea water.
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| Remains of St. Philips Castle |
At the South side of the Mahon harbor´s entrance, halfway the XVI Century the Castle was built following the plans of the Italian engineer Juan Bautista Calvi. It was built to oppose the occasional attacks of the Turkish fleet in the Western Mediterranean sea, that attacked Menorca twice in a period of just over 20 years.
The position of the Castle helped the Spanish communications with Italy during the XVI and XVII Centuries, and later on, during the British rule of Menorca served as a naval arsenal to support the other British Colony in Spanish territory, Gibraltar.
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| Defense Tower |
The construction of the two Spanish towers was carried out quickly to defend the coast of the island against the threat of an attack by the Regency of Algiers, in 1787. The fortress of San Felipe at the entrance to the port of Mahón had been demolished in 1782, as King Carlos III considered that the fortress was not necessary for the defense of Menorca, because the proximity of our coasts ensured the immediate presence of a strong Spanish garrison, in the face of the threat of an enemy with bases far from the island.
The largest of these islands is Lazareto Island. It is so called because it housed a hospital between the beginning of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Now, two hours of guided tours are held during the summer months. In the port we can also find the Illa de la Quarentena, or Illa del Rei, in honor of King Alfonso III.
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| Skyline of Mahon - Maó |
Thanks to its excellent state of preservation, Fort Malborough is the best example of the fortresses that the British built in Minorca throughout the 18th century. Nowadays it is an interpretation centre of military history in the port of Mahon and provides an insight into everyday life in the area.
I hope you enjoy the boat trip with me and my camera as much as I've done while creating this post. Now I know it really time to return to this lovely island soon.
