Minorca / Menorca Spain

Minorca is known for it large collection of megalithic stone monuments: navetes, taules, and talaiots, which speak of a very early prehistoric human activity.

As with other islands and segments of Southern Spain it was occupied and influenced by the Romans, Vandals, Arabs, Moors and Christians.

Captured by the British navy in 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession, Minorca became a British possession but changed hands with the French until finally becoming part of Spain via the Treaty of Amiens in 1802.

During the Spanish Civil War, Minorca stayed loyal to the Republican Spanish government, while the rest of the Balearic Islands supported the Nationalists. It did not see combat, except for aerial bombing by the Italians of Corpo Truppe Volontarie air force.

Many inhabitants are bilingual in spanish and Catalan. The major towns are Mao and Ciutadella.