Located at the western end of Menorca, Ciutadella was the island’s capital until the 18th century. Yet its roots reach much further back, as evinced by the surrounding area’s abundance of prehistoric sites. The city, built atop a former Roman colony, served as the archipelago’s main administrative center through High Middle Ages, when power was transferred to Mahón. Ciutadella’s old quarter still evokes a medieval charm with its narrow cobblestone streets, neoclassical palaces and lively plazas like Plaça des Born, the main square, with its Gothic-style Town Hall. Other highlights include the 14th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria, noted for its marble altar and baroque chapel; and the Municipal Museum, housed in one of the 17th-century bastions of the original town walls. Saint Nicolau Castle, which guards the port entrance, features an exhibition about the UNESCO-designated Minorcan Biosphere Reserve.