Port of Maó-Mahón, Mahón

The port of Mahon, located on the east coast of the island of Menorca, is one of the largest natural harbors in the Mediterranean, with more than six kilometers long. Strategically located in the center of the western Mediterranean, over the centuries it has been the reason for conquests and reconquests of the island by the main European nations. Today, it combines a tourist function, with the arrival of numerous cruise ships throughout the year, and an industrial function, housing an area for unloading various materials that supply the island's inhabitants. On the southern shore of the port are the city of Mahón and the village of Villacarlos. Both towns have their own promenades, where you can find restaurants, bars and stores, as well as a gambling casino. On the northern shore of the port there is an industrial zone for unloading ships, a power station and a military zone, as well as numerous summer houses for the inhabitants of the island and the residence of celebrities from all over the world. These summer houses are spread over the numerous coves found on the north coast of the port: Cala Rata, Cala Deslinde, Sano Balsa, Cala Larga among others.

Continuing along the northern shore of the port is located the Fortress of La Mola, a military fortress built under the reign of Isabel II that today can be visited as a tourist attraction. Within the same port there are four islets, the largest in extension is the Lazareto de Mahón, former peninsula of San Felipe that during the nineteenth century became an islet to be used as a lazaretto. Today it is still owned by the Ministry of Health and Consumption, it is used as a summer residence for ministry officials and scientific symposiums and congresses are held there. The second islet is the King's Island in honor of King Alfonso III, conqueror of Menorca in 1287. Currently this islet is being recovered as well as its buildings through the Friends of the King's Island Society. In third place is Pinto Island, a military islet currently in disuse. And the fourth and smallest of the islets is the island of Cuarentena, former lazaretto of the port and that later passed to have military functions.