18 October, 2010

A winter holiday in Menorca

Despite its modest size, Menorca is home to a host of unique and wonderful all-year round events. During the mid-winter the island celebrates its liberation from the Moors with a particularly colourful and vibrant fiesta, whilst in the height of the summer a “full moon party” is performed in the old sandstone quarry Ses Pedreres de S’Hostal in Ciudadella. During this time, the young musicians from the town of Ciudadella put on a “Summer Musical Festival”, where a string of classical music concerts are held in the Claustre del Seminari.

The old stone quarry Ses Pedreres de S’Hostal in Ciudadella

Determined not to be outrivaled, the young musicians of Mao hold an “International Music Festival” in Mao’s magnificent theatre known as Teatro principal de Mao. Jazz music has an all-pervading presence on the island and in devotion to its passion for jazz an “International Jazz Festival” is held on Menorca each year, with the most revered of jazz musicians arriving from each corner of the globe and siphoning out their melodies much to the delight of a rapturous audience.

Menorca’s love affair for music, fiestas and unique events is propelled deep into the hearts of the locals and the island’s fondness for festivities and merriment is present on a daily basis. And when you consider that Menorca, like the other Balearic islands have beautiful all-year round weather, with some six hours of sunshine and temperatures pumping out an average 18 degrees Celsius in the winter, it is not difficult to digest why the island of Menorca is a ‘hotspot’ for a winter vacation.

Whatever time of the year you decide to visit this magical and enlightening island, a visit to Monte Toro is obligatory. Standing majestically at 357 meters, Monte Toro is Menorca’s spiritual and geographical centre and given the fact that the Balearics boast 300 days of sunshine a year, experiencing Monte Toro’s spectacular views of almost the whole island on a clear day, is easily attainable.

The view from the top of Monte Toro is breathtaking

For further information on Menorca and its many attractions visit: http://www.menorca.world-guides.com.

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