Page 107 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

MENORC A  105

at Carrer de Lepanto 30,
a restaurant that is very
popular with the locals.
Environs
Some 3 km (2 miles) east, the
convent of Monte Toro was
built in 1670 on top of Monte
Toro, which at 350 m (1,148 ft)
is the highest point in Menorca.
Occupied by the nuns of a
Franciscan Order, it is regarded
as the spiritual centre of
Menorca and an ancient
centre of pilgrimage.
Restaurant set in an old windmill in Es Mercadal Inside this 17th-century
church is a statue of the Black
Menorcan cheeses. This is the 9 Es Mercadal Madonna – Verge del Toro –
dairy capital of Menorca (the @ ( Sun. _ Sant Martí (3rd set within the main altarpiece,
island is also famous for its ice Sun in Jul). which depicts the Virgin Mary
cream), with the biggest in a golden crown, holding
factories producing the famous Es Mercadal lies at the very the infant Jesus in her arms.
queso Mahón, a white, half-fat heart of Menorca, along the According to local tradition,
cheese made of pasteurized Maó–Ciutadella road. Founded the statue of the Virgin Mary
cow’s milk with added sheep’s in the 14th century, the town has been worshipped here
milk that gives it its has been largely since the 13th century. These
distinctive flavour. overlooked by days, pilgrims visit Monte Toro,
Besides buying tourism and earns particularly on the first Sunday
cheese, you could its keep through in May, to participate in the
also visit the fortified farming and a Festa de la Verge del Toro.
Baroque parish number of local Following mass in the church,
church of Santa industries. The the pilgrims then descend the
Eulàlia (1674–90). town itself is stairs leading to Es Mercadal
The Munt de l’Angel charming, with on their knees.
watchtower stands trailing bougain- The old fortress, whose
on a hill behind the villea and the battered stonework is attached
church and provides pretty 18th- to the convent, has a military
a beautiful view of Detail from the façade of century parish surveillance station. Nearby
the area. The huge Santa Eulàlia church of Sant stands a huge stone statue
fiesta celebrated on the Martí. Es Mercadal of Christ, commemorating
day of St Lawrence includes riding is known for its excellent the Spaniards killed during the
shows, parades and horse races Menorcan cuisine and you colonial war in Morocco.
through the streets of the town. may like to stop for a snack Some 6 km (4 miles) north-
or meal in one of its pleasant east is Son Parc – the only
Environs small cafés or in Ca n’Aguedet, golf course on the island.
Torralba d’en Salord, one of
Mallorca’s biggest Talayotic Caldereta de Llagosta
settlements, is situated along
the road to Cala en Porter, about This delicious lobster stew is
3 km (2 miles) from Alaior. The the speciality of the northern
local taula is one of the best- regions on Menorca. Fresh
preserved and the tallest on lobsters are brought in
the island. The rectangular tem- every morning by local
ple has also survived in good fishermen. The best stews
are served in Fornells (see
condition. A bronze statuette of p108), which is famous
a bull discovered on this site can for its seafood. The dish is
now be seen in the Museu de extremely expensive but
Menorca, in Maó (see p100). absolutely delicious. One
Some 5 km (3 miles) to the popular way to enjoy it is
south is Torre d’en Galmés, to eat the gravy with bread,
another settlement dating treating it as a soup, and have
from the Talayotic period, the lobster with mayonnaise
which has a range of buildings as a main course. Tempting lobster stew
including three talayots.

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