Mahon Travel Guide

Since 1722, Mahón (known in the Minorcan language as Maó) has been the capital of Menorca. With gorgeous Georgian architecture, Mahón still shows traces of British occupation. It was built where an old castle on a cliff overlooked one of Europe’s finest natural harbors, some 5.5km (3 1/2 miles) long. The castle and the town wall erected to dissuade pirates are long gone, however, except for the archway of San Roque. In 1287 Alfonso III of Aragón established a base in the harbor, which became known as Isla del Rey (Island of the King).  There's also Golden Farm, the magnificent mansion north of the capital, overlooking Mahón harbor, where in October 1799 Admiral Lord Nelson enjoyed a brief rest and, according to local legend, hid out with his ladylove, Emma Hamilton. In truth, Nelson was here alone working on Sketches of My Life.

Mahón is not a beach town, but it has some hotels and is the shopping and nightlife center. The closest beaches for swimming are at Es Grau and Cala Mesquida.