If you're planning on booking a ticket to the Balearic islands in Spain, you probably don’t want to do any more than relax, read a book and drink in the sunshine. But whether your stay is long or short, there is actually a much fuller experience to be had, which will not compromise your dreams of sun-soaked languor one little bit.
A rich history
When you visit Menorca, villas with private pools and far reaching views will attract you with their indulgent promise. Many are in spectacular locations and all will afford you the opportunity to simply get away from it all and enjoy a laidback beach holiday. But behind the façade of this holiday island lays a host of rich history waiting to be explored. If you can pull yourself off the beach for a little while, you will be rewarded with the remains of basilicas and ancient towns like Torre d’en Gaumes.
A vibrant culture
These ancient remains are an indication of how long people have set foot and made their home here on this tiny patch of paradise. From the clans of pre-history to the enigmatic Minoans and the all-conquering Romans, and all the way through the Middle Ages to the modern tumults between France, Spain and Britain in these incandescent seas, this small island has been in the thick of cultural change and expansion. In Menorca, villas are set in locations rife with the traces of a rich cultural vein that runs deep and wide.
A colourful flora
Few people would think to come specifically for the flora and fauna found on Menorca. Villas on the island, however, make a great base from which to experience nature up close and personal. If you know where to look, there is a wonderful array of plant and animal life waiting to be appreciated. A champion of sustainability long before it became a tourism fad, this UNESCO Biosphere boasts more than 900 species of flowers and 30 species of butterflies. Perhaps the only experience that can challenge the tranquillity of a dusky shore is a stroll through a bright, flower-strewn field full of mesmerising butterflies.
A scintillating cuisine
You will have to pull yourself away from the beach at some stage to eat and drink and here on this lovely island you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to cuisine. Many resorts, restaurants and bars are top-class and have an international appeal beyond Menorca. Villas will no doubt be within an easy drive of many fine examples. You'll have the chance to try out the local cheeses, wines and gin cocktails, alongside the delicious seafood based cuisine.
Brenda Jaaback is the Managing Director of Bartle Holidays. They can provide you with a wide selection of great Menorca villas for your holidays. Bartle Holidays makes no warranty as to the accuracy of information contained in this article and excludes any liability of any kind for the information.