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Mahón
«Mahón tiene uno de los puertos naturales más grandes.»Mahón has one of the largest natural harbours.
Maó is the capital of Menorca and is located at the eastern end of the island, at the end of a five-kilometre-long natural harbour. It was a British capital for almost a century, between 1713 and 1802, and from that period it retains sash windows, gin, and various words.
Did you know
Mayonnaise takes its name from here.
The famous mayonnaise sauce takes its name from this very city, where it was invented in the 18th century.
How they talk in Mahón
The Menorcan Catalan dialect uses the articles «es» and «sa» in traditional speech. «Maó» is the Catalan name of the city and «formatge» means cheese.
idò
Then; so; well. Conjunction and discourse marker very common in Balearic Catalan, used to connect or introduce a response.
Everyday life in Mahón
The «gin» with lemon
In Minorca, gin has been distilled since the 18th century, when the island was British, and it is drunk mixed with lemonade: it is called pomada and during festivals it is served in large plastic cups.
«Una pomada, per favor.» — A pomada, please.
The «cavallers» in the middle of the crowd
During Minorcan festivals, black horses rear up on their hind legs in the middle of the crowded people, and passing under them brings good luck. This is done in every town on the island, each on its own day.
«Pasar por debajo del caballo da suerte.» — Passing under the horse brings good luck.
The 5-kilometre-long «port»
The natural harbour of Mahón is one of the longest in the world, and the city overlooks it: you go down to water level using ramps and staircases, and climb back up to go home.
«El puerto es larguísimo.» — The harbour is very long.
What to eat in Mahón
Caldereta de langosta
Lobster cooked in its own juices with onion, tomato and bread: the most expensive dish on the island.
Queso Mahón
Cow's milk cheese in the shape of a brick, with an orange rind: from mild to very mature.
Pomada
Minorcan gin diluted with lemonade, served with ice: it is drunk during patron saint festivals.
Festivals in Mahón
Festes de Gràcia
from 7 to 9 September
Black horses rear up on their legs in the middle of the crowd, and passing under them brings good luck.
What to see in Mahón
Puerto de Mahón
Five kilometres of natural harbour: ships enter for a long time before finding the city.
Fortaleza de la Mola
The 19th-century fortress at the mouth of the harbour, so large that you get around it by shuttle.
Iglesia de Santa María
The 1810 organ, with three thousand two hundred pipes, which arrived by sea in the middle of the Napoleonic Wars.
Destil·leria Xoriguer
Minorcan gin, left by the British, still distilled in copper stills over a wood fire.
Where Mahón comes from
A century of British rule
Carthaginian era
The harbour
The longest natural harbour in the Mediterranean: five kilometres of enclosed water.
1287
The conquest
Alfonso III took Minorca for the Crown of Aragon.
1713–1802
The British
The island was British for almost a century: Mahón became the capital, and the sash windows and gin remain.
20th century → today
Maó
Cheese, the harbour and tourism support the economy.
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