| Overview | Things to do | Suitability | Country Info (Spain) |
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Ciutadela, (also known as Ciudadela) is situated on the W coast, 28 mls W of Mahon and the airport, by good main road. It is set around long sea inlet, spreading outwards to dry rolling plains inland.
Flanked by lively urbanised coastal areas to S and relatively deserted coastline to N, it is a small historic town and former capital of the island and is steeped in reminders of the Middle Ages and 400 years of Arab occupation. A long narrow harbour leads right to the doorstep of the delightful historic old town, which is compact (only 500 yds across) and easy to wander around; in addition, many of the narrow, winding streets in the centre and near the waterfront are almost traffic free. The small square and alleyways near the cathedral have shops and bars, some of them beneath the arches of ancient vaults, and the road encircling the centre (built where a city wall once stood) has many shops as well as several fine buildings. The large Born Square (Plaça d'es Born) contains some grand palaces, a theatre and the town hall. Look down from the balustrade along the N side and you have a view of the harbour, with a continuous row of terraced restaurants running the length of the near side. The rest of the town is made up of uninteresting modern developments, sprawling for over 1¼ mls and ending in industrial anonymity. |
