Conjunt històric de Ciutadella, Medieval historic district in Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain.
The Conjunto Histórico de Ciutadella is the old town center defined by narrow lanes of limestone buildings, Gothic churches, and aristocratic residences. The layout is interrupted by small squares where traditional markets once operated and where restaurants and shops are now located.
Romans founded the city as Iamo in the 1st-2nd centuries AD. Under Islamic rule in the 9th-11th centuries it was Medina Manurqa, capital of Menorca and residence of the governor; the cathedral stands on the former main mosque. King Alfonso III conquered and repopulated it with people from northern Catalonia in 1287. The walls, of Roman and Arab origin, were reinforced after the Catalan conquest, partly destroyed in the Turkish assault of 1558 and rebuilt in the 17th century; only two bastions remain, sa Font and the Governor's.
The Cathedral of Santa María dominates the skyline with its Gothic design and stands where a mosque once stood. Around this sacred building, aristocratic palaces developed over centuries, shaping how people move through and perceive the streets today.
The narrow streets are best explored on foot, starting from the central Plaza des Born where maps are available and walking tours can be arranged. Restaurants and cafes are scattered throughout, making it easy to rest and eat without leaving the area.
Only two of the old town's bastions survive: the Bastió de sa Font and the Bastió del Governador, the latter standing behind the town hall. The sa Font bastion dates from the 17th century, when the walls were rebuilt after the Turkish raid of 1558.
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