A Walk through Mahon and Tasty Tapas
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Port
Mahon, Menorca, Spain
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$90
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Today, you’ll take a scenic walk from the ship into Mahón – the pretty town that is the capital of Menorca.
When you reach the town center, you will wander through some tiny, narrow streets. Your guide will point out the “boinders” – this Anglicism refers to the enclosed balconies that are somewhat unique to Mahón. Notice the architecture, which reveals the strong imprint of a hundred years of British domination. Next, you will visit the Cloister del Carmen, built adjacent to the Carmen Church. Disentailed in 1835, it then housed a prison, the courts of justice and a market. Today, the market still occupies the ground floor and various cultural institutions are found upstairs.
Your promenade continues, and you will see the Teatro Principal of Mahón from the outside. This is the oldest opera theatre in all of Spain. It was built in 1829 by Italian architect Giovanni Palagi, right over the remains of the wall that once surrounded the city. Then step inside the Church of Santa María, built in the 18th century on the site of a 13th-century Gothic church. The interior is inspired by neo-Gothic style and has a monumental organ of great musical and artistic quality (50 feet tall and 30 feet wide). Dating back to 1810, the organ boasts four keyboards and no less than 3,006 organ-pipes, of which 197 are wooden and the rest metal. It is a truly phenomenal instrument.
Next, follow the street up to the Arch of San Roque -- once the main walled entrance of Mahón. From here, you'll take in the view of the San Roque bridge and the port below. The bridge is the only remnant of the medieval city walls. Continue down the Isabel II Street to see Mahón's greatest concentration of stately townhouses, all built in the 18th century.
Returning to the port area, you will walk to a tapas restaurant to enjoy a taste of typical Menorcan fare, which draws heavily from fresh local ingredients to inspire a palate-pleasing synthesis of simple flavors.
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. You will encounter cobblestones and uneven surfaces. Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience.