Heavy hail hits the charming medieval streets of Ciutadella

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Ciutadella is a city to explore by foot, discovering its charming medieval streets. Es Born, the old parade ground of the medieval city, is located in the middle of the historic quarter. An obelisk dominates the square, traditional stage to a number of festivities and social events that take place in the city. Among the most significant buildings that face this square, the City Hall stands out, built on top of the old Arab citadel. The present city hall dates back to the 19th century and still preserves some remains of its primitive construction. Ciutadella de Menorca - Nicknamed Vella I Bella “The Old and the Beautiful”, Ciutadella was originally founded by the Carthaginians, and was already the seat of a Bishop by the 4th century. Always in competition with Mahón, Ciutadella was the capital of Menorca during the Moorish occupation and was at that time known as Medina Minurqua. After being recaptured by the Christian forces of Alfonso II it was annexed to the Crown of Aragon and became an important Mediterranean trading centre with a busy port. Ciutadella today is an attractive city with a population of around 28,000, it has a picturesque port and a charming old quarter, which is a pleasure to explore. Although little remains from the Arab occupation, Ciutadella still has plenty to offer in the way of architecture, boasting several splendid Baroque and Gothic churches and some opulent palaces, dating from the restoration of the city during the 17th and 18th centuries. The attractive port, situated on a long curving inlet, is lined with traditional fishing boats on one side and yachts and pleasure craft on the other, visit in the morning and you will see the fishermen arriving with the days catch, fresh and ready to supply the waterside restaurants. The market, on Plaça Llibertat, another delightful corner of the old town, where fresh fruit, vegetable and fish stalls mingle with lively and inexpensive cafés selling the freshest of ensaimadas. In the evening , more ambitious and expensive food is available at a string of excellent restaurants down by the harbourside.

After the rain and hail the sun shines a bright in the historic quarter of Ciutadella - Menorca. The past can still be felt in this city as each episode of its history has been written in its streets. Can Torre Saura here above is the most impressive manor house of all of the ones in Ciutadella because of both its size – it occupies three-quarters of the city block – and because of its conception, and it is the purest example of neoclassical civil architecture.

Ciutadella is de voormalige hoofdstad van Menorca en is gelegen aan de westkust van het eiland. Het is een kleine, authentieke en levendige stad met een historisch centrum. Hier kunt u heerlijk rondslenteren tussen de oude kerken, kleine paleizen en langs de 14e eeuwse kathedraal. Een bezoek aan de lokale markt is ook zeker de moeite waard. De pittoreske stad wordt gekenmerkt door een grote haven en gezellige pleintjes waar genoeg te beleven is. Bijna dagelijks zijn er veerboot overtochten van Ciutadella naar Barcelona. Daarnaast staat Ciutedella bekend om de gezellige feesten. De meest klassieke feesten van Menorca worden elk jaar in deze stad gevierd. Tijdens het fascistische tijdperk werd het bovenstaande plein in het hart van Ciutadella omgedoopt tot Generaal Francoplein, maar iedereen bleef het gewoon es Born noemen. Het woord born betekent paradeplaats, in vroeger tijden werd het plein gebruikt voor steekspelen en het is nog steeds het toneel voor een ruiterparade tijdens het jaarlijkse stadsfestival in juni. In het midden van het plein staat een obelisk ter nagedachtenis aan de inwoners van Ciutadella die tijdens de Turkse inval van 1558 werden gedood of afgevoerd in slavernij. Veel van Ciutadella werd verwoest, waaronder de alcázar ofwel het gouvernementspaleis. De Kerk van Sint-Franciscus achter de fontein, gesticht in de dertiende eeuw, werd ook vernietigd door de Turkse aanval, en gerestaureerd en gerenoveerd op verschillende tijdstippen.

Taken in: España / Illes Balears / Ciudadela (show map)

Taken on: October 25, 2010

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Plaça Born

Ciutadella

España

Ciutadella de Menorca

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Menorca

Minorca

Balearic

Islands

The Old and the Beautiful

former Capital

Baroque

Gothic

churches

restoration

city

harbor

rain

raining

heavy

water

raincoat

old town

rain drops

Tapas

Mediterranean

picturesque

centre

downtown

pink

rainy weather

market

lights

architecture

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port

old quarter

the former capital

The heart of town

town-walls

narrow lanes

alley

alleys

white-washed walls

picturesque natural port

Rainy days

Vella I Bella

Spain

streaming

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Dark clouds

Sun after rain

after the rain the sun

after the rain the sun shines then a bright

Obelisk

Town hall

Es born square

geotagged

geo:lon=3.836268

geo:lat=40.001388

geomenorca

Con Torre Saura

neoclassic

civil

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Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ38, f/5.6, 1/400 sec, 4.8mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-FZ38
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	4.8mm
ISO:	80
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Fine Weather
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	PaintShop Photo Pro 13,00
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