"Did you know that..." Ciutadella edition
Do you think you know everything about Menorca, its history, its people, or its culture? Do you think you know all the secrets or important events that have happened on the island? Well, with this series of articles that we start today, we are going to try to reveal curiosities about Menorca that perhaps you did not know about. Starting today with Ciutadella we are going to discover together some of its curiosities.
When you visit Menorca and discover its corners, its history, and its people, you realize the amount of information you didn't know about the island... and that's when you really fall in love with it.
With this series of articles, that we begin today, we aim to highlight some curiosities that you did not know about each of the towns in Menorca.
Let's start with Ciutadella, the most populous town on the island:
Did you know that "Plaça des Born" was the venue for equestrian tournaments and games in the Middle Ages?
The Plaza des Born is one of the most emblematic places in Ciutadella, not only because of the "Caragol" during the Ciutadella festivities but also because of the spectacular and traditional buildings that surround it. Once you have this image in your head, now imagine a whole medieval setting worthy of the best Game of Thrones jousts, as this was the Plaça des Born during the Middle Ages. There are several documents that prove that it was the place chosen for the celebration of these shows in ancient times.
Did you know that Ciutadella was in the past the capital of the island?
In fact, it is not that it was the capital for a short time, but that Ciutadella was the nerve center of the island since the year 903 when the Arabs conquered Menorca and named it their capital. It was not until 1714, with the British conquest, that the capital was moved to Mahón due to the strategic location of its port.
Did you know that Jorge Farragut, from Ciutadella, saved the life of George Washington, the first president of the United States?
When Jorge Farragut was born in Ciutadella in 1755, little did one know that he would end up emigrating to the United States. Born into a family with a seafaring tradition and working for the merchant navy, at the age of 21 he decided to emigrate to the United States. When he left British Menorca and arrived on the new continent he was so moved by the colonists' fight against the British crown and their fight for independence from the British Crown that he Anglicized George and joined the American revolutionaries in the War of independence. It was during this war, specifically during the Battle of Cowpens, where it is said that he saved the life of the future president of the United States who was surrounded by a group of British soldiers and was about to drop dead until Captain Farragut appeared in a boast of unconsciousness and courage saving his life.
Did you know that David Farragut, the first admiral of the United States Navy, has ancestry in Ciutadella?
If before we talked about Jorge Farragut, it is his son, David, with the birth name James, who concerns us now. Following in his father's footsteps and influenced by his adoptive father, at age 9 he entered the Navy as an aspirant. His main military exploits during the Civil War were the ones that earned him being proclaimed admiral of the United States Navy, and being the first to hold the position.
Did you know that you can see Mallorca from Ciutadella on beautiful sunny sky-clear days?
And it is that, on days when the sky is clear and cloudless, if we move towards the west of Ciutadella, to the Castle of San Nicolau or sa Platja gran, for example, we can clearly see the silhouette of the neighboring island. So close and so far at the same time, being able to enjoy this view reminds us of that typical saying that says "The world is a handkerchief".
And up to here our humble brushstroke of curious facts about Ciutadella. But don't worry, we have left you many more so that you can discover them yourself while having a coffee in one of its bars full of history or strolling through the historic center of town. And if you are outside of Menorca right now you can go through any of our articles that will make you feel as if you were on the island while, in addition, you learn more about our little island.
And before we say goodbye, just in case you're looking for houses for sale in this area of the island, here's a selection of properties for sale in Ciutadella. We hope you like them!
