A thousand and one possibilities to enjoy the Port of Maó
The city of Maó (Mahón), the capital of Menorca, hides an ancient history between its port and its streets. Many towns have left their mark on the island and the capital collects all this historical legacy through its monuments, its architecture and its urban fabric. Undoubtedly, the port is one of the most representative enclaves of Mahón, for its dimensions, for its natural beauty, for its strategic location in the heart of the Western Mediterranean and for its function as a gateway to the city and the Island of Menorca.
With a length of 6 kilometers, it is considered the second largest natural port in Europe and also one of the safest ports.
At the foot of the city, the port is one of the epicenters of urban activity and a large number of commercial and leisure establishments meet on its Paseo Marítimo, with great activity during the summer months.
The Port of Mahón deserves a walk at sea level. With a rental motorcycle in Menorca we will be able to enjoy this itinerary through the port, starting at the easternmost end, going through the entire west pier and the industrial area to La Mola, from Cala Figuera to the Naval Station. And whenever possible, it is advisable to make an excursion on one of the tourist boats to also visit the emblematic islands of the port, the Illa del Rei, Pinto and Llatzeret, to better know its history and to have all the possible visions of this Magical cove that changes its hue depending on the time of year, the time of day and the intensity of the light.
Likewise, visiting the viewpoints that rise on the cliffs of the port and the same Paseo Marítimo, in which the sea is at the same level as the pavement, will allow us to have a true panoramic view of this spectacular enclave.
The Mirador de Sant Francesc is over the old orchards and terraces of the Franciscans. From there you can clearly see Sa Colàrsega, the industrial port, the wintering port and even Monte Toro. The Ses Monges is the most recent of the viewpoints over the port. Hanging from the cliffs, it offers a magnificent view of the interior area of the harbor basin.
The Pont des Castell Viewpoint is, by contrast, the oldest of all the viewpoints in the city, since it already existed inside the castle of Maó, formed by the streets that surround the current Plaza de la Conquista.
In front of it, the Mirador del Carme, which was built with the reform of the Claustro del Carmen and the market and offers a magnificent panoramic view of Ses Voltes.
To see the Naval Station and its outskirts from above, there is the Mirador de Miranda, above the old Carmelite orchards.
Finally, the Pont des General, a narrow alley that connects the port with the city, offers a different image of the port, with all the roofs of the buildings in Moll de Ponent, among which the old Mahonesa Electric and the distilleries of the Menorcan gin, the Gin Xoriguer.
The Mola Fortress is also a must-see, on a small peninsula declared a Site of Cultural Interest, which was the ideal place to build a fortification necessary to defend the Island from the British in the mid-19th century. La Mola was never attacked and therefore maintains an excellent state of preservation. In the 20th century it was used as a penitentiary center and in the 70s it was transformed into a military barracks.