Page 117 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

CIUT ADELLA  115

R La Ermita de Sant Joan Festa de Sant Joan
de Missa
Carrer de Comte Cifuentes. This midsummer festival
The chapel, 8 km (5 miles) (23–24 June) has provided
southeast of the town centre, the citizens of Ciutadella
is an important venue for the with an opportunity to go
Festa Sant Joan celebrations. wild since the 14th century.
Vespers are sung here on the St John’s Day begins with
Mass in the cathedral, but
evening of 23 June. The nearby fireworks, jousting and the
road, which leads to Macarella, carrying of a live sheep
Macarelleta and Cala en Turqueta through the streets are also
beaches, is transformed into a part of the fun. For most,
racecourse during the two days the highlight of the day is
of celebrations. the caixers (horsemen).
Representing the medieval
social classes, they ride Prancing horse in the streets
among the noisy crowds. of Ciutadella

structure, built of stone blocks, stone watchtower. Along the
is 7 m (23 ft) high and 14 m (46 road leading to Son Saura is
ft) long and was used as a burial Son Catlar, Menorca’s biggest
chamber. When it was excavated, prehistoric settlement. Its wall
in the 1950s, more than 50 is several metres high and built
bodies were discovered. In Torre of enormous stone blocks.
Llafuda, about 3 km (2 miles) Inside, amid the sea of ruins
away, amid the shade of olive you can distinguish one taula
groves, stands one cracked taula and five talayots.
and a well-preserved talayot. A short way to the north of
Fishermen in the harbour preparing The pleasant setting and the Ciutadella are two large resorts –
their nets surrounding fertile farmland Cala en Blanes and Los Delfines
make this a good place to stop (which has a small aqua center).
and relax. Travel southeast of Eight kilometres (5 miles)
+ Castell de Sant Nicolau Ciutadella and you find a number northeast is the tourist village
Plaça Almirall Farragut. of beautiful beaches hidden in of Cala Morell. The man-made
The 17th-century Castell de small coves. These include Cala prehistoric caves are dug into
Sant Nicolau was built as a des Talaier, dominated by a rocks and were used for burials
watchtower to protect the in the late Bronze and Iron Ages.
harbour. You can still enter They are now open to the public.
the stronghold via a draw-
bridge and in the evening S Aqua Center
the castle remains open to Urb los Delfines. Tel 971 388 705.
provide a vantage point for the Open mid May–Sep: 10:30am–
spectacular sunsets over the har- 6:30pm daily. & ∑ aquacenter-
bour. It also serves as a venue menorca.com
for temporary exhibitions.
Standing near the castle is
the statue of a four-star admiral
of the United States Navy, David
Farragut, hero of the American
Civil War and son of an immigrant
from Menorca. The admiral is
depicted in his uniform with
epaulettes, holding a telescope.
When he returned to Menorca
in 1867, he was awarded hon-
orary citizenship and a huge
crowd turned out to greet him.
Environs
Naveta d’es Tudons, 5 km
(3 miles) east of town, is
Menorca’s best-preserved
prehistoric ruin. The Bronze Age Castell de Sant Nicolau guarding the entrance to the harbour

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