Despite its popularity as a holiday Mecca, the Balearic island
of Minorca remains one of the loveliest, most unspoilt islands in
the Mediterranean. The local population support the control of
resort development and the woodlands and fields of its hilly rural
interior remain largely untouched. This is the result of a thriving
local industry that is less dependent on tourism for its survival
than the other islands are.
Minorca is only nine miles (15km) wide and about 32 miles (52km)
long, and boasts stretches of varied beaches, from silver-sanded
gently curving bays to rocky inlets. Aside from beaches and resorts
the island also has plenty of interest for history buffs and
culture vultures, with several attractions to experience, including
a world famous pipe organ and several mysterious prehistoric
archaeological sites related to the second millennium BC Talayot
culture.
The more recent history of the island is a saga of British,
French and Spanish attempts at control and colonisation, each of
which have left their influence on the local culture and
architecture.
