Original subtitles

(dramatic orchestral musidc)

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] Our aerial journey across the picturesque

Balearic Islands of Menorca begins in the northwest

of the island at Ciutadella before heading for the coast

and flying past cliffs, beaches,

small resorts, and clear blue seas.

At the main airport,

we encounter a group of military helicopters coming

in to refuel.

And close by is one of the many pre-history sites which

cover the island.

More modern defenses on the small island of La Mola, once

protected the capital Mahon and it's harbor.

Flying north up the east coast, are a number of old tower

castles and villages turned into resorts.

And we end our journey in the northeast corner

of the island at the lighthouse on the end

of Cap de Cavalleria.

(gentle music)

Menorca is the most eastern island in the Balearic group.

And it's also very different in its landscape

from Ibiza and Majorca.

The island has no high mountains,

and in fact the highest point is just over 1,000 feet.

However, the coastline is one of the most unspoilt

in the whole of Spain.

Menorca is the second largest

of the Balearic Islands at around 270 square miles.

The permanent population is about 95,000

and this dramatically increases during the summer months,

with the thousands of holidaymakers who come and stay

in the many resorts around the coast.

For those people interested in history,

then the island has much to offer.

The story of Menorca is one of invasion,

and Great Britain gained and lost the island several

times during the 18th century.

They wanted it for the strategic importance of its

harbor, a place they could base

their Mediterranean Fleet in.

The Romans understood this naval importance as well,

because their ships were constantly attacked by pirates

based on the island.

So, in 121 BC, they invaded and made it part

of the Roman Empire.

They named the island Menorca, meaning Little one,

as opposed to Majorca, meaning large one.

However, the island's story,

stretches back much further than the Romans, as even

earlier settlers back in the Bronze Age, understood

the islands important position for trade

across the Mediterranean.

And as a result,

the whole island is covered with prehistory monuments.

These ancient people,

from what is known as the Talaiotic Culture,

built stone structures,

temples, and elaborate burial chambers.

There are roughly 2,000 of them spread across the island,

and in the north they can be seen close together.

These ancient sites

make Menorca one of the largest open air museums

in the world with the highest concentration of megalithic

monuments in the Mediterranean.

On the northwest corner of the island is

Ciutadella, Menorca's second city, and once its capital.

The city was originally founded by the Carthaginians way

back in around 200 BC.

But by the fourth century had become Christian and had

its own Bishop.

In the 10th century the city, as well as the island, came

under the control of the Moors who occupied

much of Spain.

(birds chirping) By the 12th century,

it was back in the hands of the Spanish.

This pattern of invasion and new rulers was set to continue.

On the 9th of July 1558, a Turkish invasion force

under the command of the infamous

Barbarossa Pasha attacked the city and slaughtered most

of the inhabitants.

Those left alive were taken back

to Turkey and sold as slaves.

The city was destroyed,

and the only building left was

the 13th century Cathedral.

In the Placa des Born, once the parade ground

for Moorish troops,

is an obelisk commemorating the year of misfortune.

In 1708, the British became the next occupiers and moved

the capital to Mahon on the opposite side of the island.

However, the bishop refused to move,

and so Ciutadella still remains the religious

capital of Menorca.

Today the city is a popular place with summer visitors

who come and walk along the harbor

in the early morning to see

the fishing boats arrive with the day's catch for all

the waterside restaurants.

To the north of the city

is the Hipodromo de Ciutadella where the 200 year old

popular sport of trotting races takes place.

(horses hooves beating)

Close by the racecourse and constructed close

to the rocky inlets and coves is a purpose built holiday

development called Los Delfines.

And on the south side of the city is Cala Santandria

which boasts a fine beach and also becoming a popular

place for holidaymakers.

(gentle music)

Heading inland from Ciutadella, the landscape is dotted

with Talaiot circular structures.

Many have been restored and can be explored and climbed.

(birds chirping)

No one is really certain what they were used for,

although suggestions include burial chambers,

watch towers and store houses.

But as no hard evidence has been found,

and they date from a time before recorded history,

perhaps they will always remain a mystery.

Time to head for the coast,

and a deep ravine leads to one of the many sandy curves,

along the southwest coast.

(birds chirping) (gentle music)

During the year, around a million people visit

Menorca, and many come to the west coast resorts.

One of the most popular or beautiful is

Cala Galdana which lies in a near perfect horseshoe bay,

and is surrounded by near vertical pine clad cliffs.

The warm shallow water makes the resort a favorite

with families with young children.

On the cliffs are some spectacular private villas with views

out to sea.

All along this stretch of coast,

the sea has carved out sandy curves,

making them ideal places to get away

from the built up resorts.

On average, Menorca has 300 days of sunshine

throughout the year,

and the sea temperature in the summer is roughly

25 degrees centigrade.

And during the winter,

the weather is still mild and makes the island a pleasant

place to stay with far fewer people around.

In 1993, the whole island was declared

a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, meaning that there is

a balanced relationship between man and nature.

The beaches are clean, and the sea water fairly pure.

But there is a constant struggle between growing tourism

and the impact on the environment.

The next resort along the coast is Santo Tomas.

This modern purpose built resort is hugely popular

with British families who stay in the large hotels

at the end of the bay.

And when the thousands of tourists from hotels and villas

have gone at the end of the summer season,

the town has a population of just under 100 people.

Unlike other popular resorts in both

Ibiza and Majorca,

the beaches in Menorca are generally less crowded.

And with a bit of a walk,

it's possible to get away from it all.

(gentle music)

The longest beach in Menorca is at Son Bou, which is

about two miles long, and on the southern end,

is a prominent hotel complex.

The town of San Jaime stands on a hill

overlooking the resort

where apartment blocks and hotels overlook the sea.

Also on all Menorca's beaches,

topless sunbathing is acceptable,

and on one end of Son Bou beach, nudity is allowed.

For the more energetic,

walking is one of the best ways of exploring the island,

and footpaths follow some of the ravines and gullies.

Recently,

Recently, the Cami de Cavalls,

a network of parts around the coast

have now been joined together,

forming a great circular route around the island.

In the past, many of the paths were used by smugglers,

and the customs officials who tried to stop them.

The views across the cliffs,

and down to the shoreline with the brilliant clear blue

sea, are quite stunning.

One of the longest established resorts on the island is

Cala En Porter.

Once again, it's very popular with British visitors.

On the cliffs are a number of private villas,

many of which are let out during the summer months.

Another reason for its popularity

is that it's fairly close to Menorca's airport,

and a place for us to refuel.

However, we have to wait our turn to land.

Because ahead of us

are a group of military helicopters on a training flight,

who are also waiting to refuel,

and we all have to wait for a jet to land,

before making an approach.

(airplane engine roaring) (dramatic orchestral music)

Around one million passengers a year

pass through Menorca airport.

Both scheduled as well as charter aircraft land here.

A slower way of getting to the island is by ferry

from Barcelona on the Spanish mainland,

or from Parma in Majorca.

But most people come by air.

The airport was built in 1969 because the runway of the old

airport, situated nearby, could not be extended,

and that meant new and larger jets were unable to land.

Today, Menorca Airport handles

around 13,000 aircraft movements

a year from its 16 gates.

Next to land are the four military helicopters

on a training exercise.

The aircraft type is a Bolkow 105 which has been in service

since the late 1960s.

The Spanish Army use the helicopter both as an anti-tank

attack aircraft as well as for scouting and observation.

It was the first lightweight twin engine helicopter

in commercial service.

While over 30 countries have the Bolkow in service,

and in many of them, it is used as an air ambulance.

Four rigid fiber glass rotor blades were a world's first

and it means the aircraft has a high maneuverability.

In the United States, an acrobatic display team uses

the Bolkow to perform loops, rolls, and other stunts

which are normally only associated

with fixed wing aircraft.

In 2001, production ended

and the last to be sold was in 2009.

However, it will remain in service around the world

for many more years to come.

Two miles to the east of the airport,

is one of the best preserved Talaiot settlements

on the island, Trepuco. (gentle music)

One of the main features is the well preserved taula.

This is a T-shaped construction

much like Stonehenge in Britain.

No one really knows what they were used for,

but some sort of religious use must be a good guess.

In the settlement is around tower construction surrounded

by a restored star-shaped base.

But the site appears to have been abandoned during

the Second Punic War

between Carthage and Rome around 200 BC.

It's estimated that the original settlement was probably

close to 5,000 square meters.

More modern historic sites can be found close

to the capital city Mahon.

And most are military because during the 18th century,

the island was fought over

between France, Britain and Spain.

In 1710, the British built fort Marlborough, named

after the British General John Churchill,

1st Duke of Marlborough.

The fort was subject to many attacks

but was never destroyed.

Because the port at Mahon is one of the deepest natural

harbors in the world,

it is a perfect base for a naval fleet operating

in the Mediterranean.

It has therefore been heavily defended for over 300 years

with various styles of military forts.

After Spain finally regained Menorca in 1802,

from the British, they began to fortify the island

of La Mola, which stands at the harbor entrance.

By the mid 19th century,

the Spanish began building the great fortress

of Isabella II, which was rebuilt several times.

With it's angled walls, redoubts,

loopholes for the cannon,

it became a formidable fortress.

Firing positions along the coast facing the sea,

ensured a warm welcome for an enemy ship.

And on top of the island

were living quarters and headquarters for the fort.

With better firepower from new types of artillery,

the old fortress gradually became redundant.

A more effective form of defense

was bigger and better artillery,

and in the 1930s, two Vickers 15 inch guns were installed

at the highest point of the island.

One of them is about to fall over the cliff,

but the other is open to visitors.

(dramatic music)

The importance of this deep natural harbor had been

recognized since classical times,

when the island was occupied

by the Carthaginians and of Mago, the brother

of the great Hannibal.

Mago gave his name to the city and harbor of Mohan.

The harbor is three miles long,

and the depth varies from 45 feet to 90 feet

which means almost any size vessel can use it.

Including all the private yachts

sailing between the islands and mainland ports.

They can make use of the marinas around the harbor.

During most of the 18th century when Britain occupied

the island, their naval fleet would have anchored

in the harbor to await orders,

be resupplied, and carry out repairs.

At the harbor town of Es Castell, it was originally built

by the British and called Georgetown after their king.

This was the headquarters of the occupying force,

and much of the architecture has

a strong British influence.

Long after the Spanish regained the island,

they renamed the town Es Castell, meaning the castle,

because of its proximity to all the castles and forts

guarding the harbor.

The town also has another claim to fame,

as it is the most easterly town

in Spain, and so the first to see the sunrise.

(gentle music)

In the early 18th century,

the British moved the capital of the island,

to here at Mahon.

The reason for the move can be seen today,

as large cruise ships are able to moor up,

alongside the city's quay.

Passengers need only take a short walk to explore the city

and its historic buildings.

And they follow in the footsteps

of the Great British Admiral Horatio Nelson, who stayed

here on his way back home,

following his victory

over the French at the Battle of the Nile.

The city has a distinct British feel to it

which is not surprising

as they occupied it three times during the 18th century,

and left their mark in the simple style of houses

they built, often to be found with green shutters.

The narrow streets of the Old City create deep shadows,

and this helps keep the buildings cool

in the hot Mediterranean sun.

Dominating the city skyline, are several beautiful churches,

including the Iglesia del Sant Francest, on the northern

end of the old City, and in the center,

the imposing Esglesia del Carme, a former Carmelite church

which is now a cultural center, as well as a marketplace.

Away from the historic center,

Mahon has a more modern feel with apartments and hotels

to accommodate the growing number of tourists.

Mahon also has a culinary claim to fame,

because when the French Admiral Armand Vignerot du Plessis

defeated the British Navy in 1756, he returned

to France with a new source he had discovered

on the island,

mahonnaise, which was later named

by the French, mayonnaise.

To the north of Mahon

is S'Albufera des Grau Nature Park, which includes wetlands,

a long shoreline,

and a number of farms still using

traditional farming practices.

This diverse landscape also includes over 100 species

of birds and animals.

On the coast in the Nature Reserve is Es Grau,

an old fishing village,

which has been turned into a small resort.

The diversity this landscape

played an important part in the decision

of the International Committee of UNESCO, declaring

Menorca a biosphere reserve in 1993.

At strategic points on the coast,

are a series of defense towers built in a design which

can be seen in many countries around the Mediterranean.

These defense towers were first constructed in the late

17th century to protect the island from pirates

and a possible Turkish invasion.

They both acted as lookout towers

as well as forts with cannon mounted on the top,

with living quarters underneath.

They were so successful

that when the British attacked a similar tower

in Corsica, at the end of the 18th century,

it took two ships to do it.

With a heavy loss of life on one ship, and great damage

to the other.

The tower was manned by only 33 people.

As a result,

Britain copied the design and built new defense towers

around Minorca's coast,

and indeed exported the forts back

to Britain's coastline,

where they were known as Martello towers.

To the north to the S'Albufero Nature Park, the coastline is

home to a few resorts built into the rocky coves and inlets.

And on a perfect crescent-shape sandy bay is the resort

of Arenal d'en Castell.

It's renowned as one of the liveliest places

on the island,

and the only place with a number of large hotels.

Further north is the remote pretty fishing village

of Fornells, which attracts that rich and famous,

including the King of Spain, Juan Carlos, who comes

for the famous seafood dishes served in the restaurants

overlooking the harbor.

On the most northerly point of Menorca,

is the Cap de Cavalleria,

a narrow rocky spine jutting out into the sea.

This is one of the most dangerous parts of the island

for shipping, where it has been recorded that more

than 700 ships have been wrecked on the high cliffs

over the past few centuries.

After public pressure,

a lighthouse was eventually built in 1857.

The light used a pressurized oil vaporized system,

which was not the most reliable, and was eventually

replaced by electricity when it became available.

Today the lighthouse uses solar power and batteries.

In 2005, the Cap de Cavalleria Ecomuseum was opened

in the building under the lighthouse,

where visitors can explore the cultural and natural

heritage of the north of Menorca.

A dramatic and beautiful part

of this magical island,

and a perfect place to end this journey.

(gentle music)