Conquerors and Palaces: A Ciutadella de Menorca Walking Tour

(149 reviews)

Menorca audio tour: Conquerors and Palaces: A Ciutadella de Menorca Walking Tour

This is a 1.8mi walking tour

It takes an average of 120 mins to complete.

Menorca

Spain

$7.99

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About the Tour

Ciutadella's layers of history tell the story of Menorca's strategic importance in the Mediterranean. On this walking tour, you'll explore the architectural legacy of Islamic rulers, British governors, French occupiers, and Spanish nobility while discovering why this compact old town contains 13 palaces and 10 churches built from the same distinctive golden limestone.

The tour starts at Plaza del Born, Ciutadella's vast central square dominated by a 22-meter obelisk commemorating the devastating 1558 Turkish siege. You'll walk past castle-like civic buildings and elegant palace facades, explore the Governor's Bastion where military leaders once controlled maritime traffic, and descend to the marina where a mysterious climatic phenomenon causes water levels to oscillate up to 3 meters in just 10 minutes.

You'll climb narrow Arab-heritage lanes following ancient Roman roads, hear the tragic story of Pialí Bajá's assault that captured 3,500 citizens, and visit the Cathedral de Santa Maria built atop a former mosque. Along the way, you'll discover the unique mares limestone that gives the city its character, learn about Poor Clare Sisters who still make traditional pastries using centuries-old recipes, and explore atmospheric cloisters where noble families once competed for power and prestige. The tour ends at Palm Trees Square, where a small stone cross marks the site touched three times by Alfonso III when he conquered the island in 1287.

On this 2-hour tour, you'll have a chance to:

Step inside palace vestibules featuring vaulted mares stone ceilings and grand staircases lit by dome skylights
Explore the 19th-century Fish Market, Menorca's only modernist iron structure, now filled with lively bars
Visit the art gallery inside El Roser Church, housing sculptures by local artist Matias Quetglas
Learn about the Menorcan horse breed and the San Juan festival that swells the town to 125,000 people
Browse the Civic Museum in a medieval bastion where you can feel the thickness of original city walls
Discover traditional treats like sobrasada, carquiñols, and the Poor Clares' famous egg-based pastries

Walk through centuries of Mediterranean history while discovering why the 1950s demolition of Ciutadella's walls remains a source of local regret.

Tour Producer

Víctor Seguí

1 tour

I was born in Ciutadella in 1971. Everyday I walk the center of the town working as an officer. I know a lot about the history and hidden sights of the city.

Preview Location

Location 27

Marina

Stop for a moment at the bottom of the stairs.

At the foot of what remains of the wall, I will tell you about the battle of the greatest "disgrace of Ciutadella", a looting and slaughter committed by the Turks commanded by Mustafa and Piali in July 1558.

On the morning o... Stop for a moment at the bottom of the stairs.

At the foot of what remains of the wall, I will tell you about the battle of the greatest "disgrace of Ciutadella", a looting and slaughter committed by the Turks commanded by Mustafa and Piali in July 1558.

On the morning of June 30, 140 sails appeared to the north of Ciutadella. The regent was ordered to recruit people from the different populations of the island and to fortify Ciutadella, while 15,000 Turks besieged the city and bombarded it with their artillery. All the island's citizens contributed to the heroic defence. These included those led by the regent Arguimbau, and by the captain Miguel Negrete who had arrived shortly before with about 40 Castilian soldiers to fortify the square, as well as by the knights. Due to low numbers, women took part as well. They all helped clog the gaps in the walls while the artillery pieces were constantly being fired.

Now, continue walking to the left, following the road along the waters edge while I tell you the rest of the story.

The house of the University, where the ammunition was kept, was blown up. The situation became so unsustainable that the jurors, captains and other notable people suggested to Arguimbau and Negrete to abandon the population at night. But the two leaders responded that they should defend the place "usque ad mortem" - until death. On July 9th, the Turks entered through a breach in the walls next to the place of the Borne, where the besieged tried a desperate resistance. But they were wounded by the forces of the pirates, and they overpowered the population, killing, burning and robbing with great cruelty.

Temples and houses were burned, objects of value were stolen. After three days of violence and massacres, Piali was once again at sea with the great Turkish fleet, capturing almost 3500 people.

The city was so destroyed that the interim governor had to spend the night in a cave because there was no habitable house in Ciutadella.

The Constantinople Act - which is preserved in the town hall - is a document of vital importance in our history, where the tragic and glorious "disgrace of Ciutadella" is told. It was written by the Menorquín notary Pedro Quintana on the 7th of October of that same year, at the request of the regent Arguimbau and the captain Negrete.

The Minorcan authorities immediately worried about the fate of the unfortunate captives who had been sold into slavery in Turkey. They succeeded in having Philip II grant a franchise of tithes for ten years, and that Pope Pius IV should authorize an extraordinary jubilee, which would be extended to all of Spain. This was in order to obtain alms for the numerous and heavy ransoms.

Continue following the road, keeping the water on your right. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Plaça des Born
Ciutadella de Menorca City Hall
Mirador des Bastió des Governador
Palacio Torresaura
Cathedral Basilica of Ciutadella de Menorca
Església i Claustre del Socors
Monestir de Santa Clara
Bastió de Sa Font - Museu Municipal
Mercat Peix Menorca

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Plaça des Born, 15, 07760 Ciutadella de Menorca, Illes Balears, Spain
Total distance

3km
Final location
Avinguda de la Constitució, 22, 07760 Ciudadela de Menorca, Illes Balears, Spain
Distance back to start location

435.72m

Directions to Starting Point

We'll start at Plaça des Born, in the centre of town. You can take the bus which will drop you off at Ciutadella Central Station, a short walk from the Plaza. All the popular shopping areas, restaurants, attractions and the marina are located right near it. You have a paid parking area too.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Various palaces, churches and the Town Hall.

Best time of day

The tour can be done at any time, but the walk is most enjoyable in the early morning or late evening.

Precautions

The area is safe but take the usual precautions and use common sense.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”