ROQUETA AUTUMN 2025
EDITORIAL ROQUETA MAGAZINE 376 - AUTUMN 2025 AUTUMN IN MENORCA If you’ve made it to Menorca in October, congratulations – you’re in on one of the island’s best secrets. If you work in the tourist industry and have made it to October, congratulations too! The frantic pace of summer is behind us, the weather is still kind (with the odd dramatic sky thrown in), and the beaches suddenly feel like they belong to you. There’s nothing quite like wandering down to a cala and finding only a handful of people swimming – or sometimes no one at all. This is the month when the island takes a deep breath. Locals are out enjoying their favourite restaurants again, chefs are a little less frazzled and full of creativity, and the markets are bursting with autumn produce. It’s a brilliant time to tuck into Menorcan dishes, sip a local wine, and just slow down with the rhythm of the place. In October, you need to check before you go as the closing dates are always “mobile” depending on the visitors and the weather. Don’t hold it against the restaurant owners, they are up against the terrible pressures of rising food and labour costs and there are no tax breaks for small businesses in Spain. If you prefer to cook at home, we have some delicious recipes from Brindisa, and an interview with the company’s co-founder, Monika Linton, who introduced the UK to quality Spanish food, including Mahón cheese, back in the 80s. The countryside is greening up after the long summer, which makes walking or cycling the Camí de Cavalls a real pleasure – the light in October is golden and soft, perfect for those long, lazy afternoons. And in the evenings, when there’s a little nip in the air, it feels just right to sit outside with a jacket on and a glass in hand, watching the stars come out. Rachael has been out at night to search for bats. They love to live in our caves in Menorca but they need peace and quiet so it is important not to disturb them. At the end of the month, we will enjoy the autumn traditions of Halloween and All Saints Day, or Tot Sants as it is known in Menorca. Food is central to both traditions. For Tot Sants, the island’s kitchens fill with the comforting aromas of bunyols (small doughnuts made with Boniato), roasted chestnuts, and sometimes panellets. If you experience a rainy day, there is plenty to explore in the towns, including the museums and galleries such as Ca n’Oliver. Vanessa tells us about the tours available at the Cathedral in Ciutadella and there are plenty more things to do which can be found in our What’s On Guide, including sporting events and concerts. So whether you’re here for a gentle escape, an active adventure, or simply to enjoy Menorca without the summer crowds, you’ve chosen well. Autumn is when the island feels most itself – calm, authentic, and welcoming. We’re so glad you’re here to share it. After this issue we will take a break, but Roqueta will be back in December to bring you more activities and information about the island, including Christmas and the Three Kings festivities.
Liz & John
IN THIS ISSUE 04 09 12 14 16 18 26 28 30 36 38 40 42 44 46 47 48 52 57 62 63 66
ISLAND NEWS CIUTADELLA CATHEDRAL PLAN FOR THE PORT EES ENTRY SYSTEM MONIKA LINTON, BRINDISA RESTAURANTS, WINES, AND RECIPES PLATE TURNING DR CLEGHORN CLASSIC YACHTS COMMEMORATING THE ROMA THE CASTILLO HALLOWEEN & ALL SAINTS ART IN MENORCA BATS IN MENORCA GRAPEVINE GEORGE FERRARA CHARLOTTE FINDLATER 60 YEARS OF DONCARS CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS WHAT’S ON AUTUMN 2025 ISLAND INFORMATION NUTRITION AND FITNESS PIG TALES - DOT IS BACK
Cover Photo: Cala Sant Esteve
Publisher: John Davies Editor: Liz Parr Printer: LV Grupo Grafico y de Communication, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat Dep Legal ME: 187/1973 No. Registro: 1037/3.992
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ROQUETA AUTUMN 2025
ISLAND NEWS
BY CHRISTINE BROOKER
PRINCESS OF WALES AND PRETTY BALLERINAS The Princess of Wales – Kate Middleton, or Catalina de Gales as the Spanish press loves to call her – was flying the flag for Menorca again. On a visit to the Natural History Museum in London, she wore a pair of suede Pretty Loafers made in the factory in Ferreries.
6.64 MILLION EUROS A DAY ON BALEARIC ISLANDS HEALTH Raúl Lara, the director of the Health Service on the islands, has explained how some of the daily expenditure of 6.64 million euros is spent. Ten years ago, the figure was 3.5 million. There is a staff of 18,000, and new technologies include CAR-T, which is personalised treatment for each type of cancer per patient. More complicated surgery, especially in cardiology, takes place in Son Espases in Mallorca through the CESUR programme. There are over 30,000 daily appointments with specialists, which reduces queues in Outpatients. No mention is made of the scandal of nearly four million euros that was spent by Francina Armengol, when she was president of the Govern Balear, on masks from China during the Covid crisis of 2020, which turned out to be useless. The case is ongoing, with more revelations currently being published. Meanwhile, she is now the equivalent of the Speaker of the House of Commons in Congress in Madrid.
CALA EN PORTER WANTS REPRESENTATION Residents in Cala en Porter are organising a group to demand representation on the town council in Alaior, on behalf of Cala en Porter, Son Vitamina, and Cales Coves. They want fairer investment in the urbanisation. Leading the project is Roger Ferrer Kemp, who previously served on the town council as an independent when the PP was in power. He has experience and says that during the last six years hardly anything has been spent on residents or tourists. There are 1,000 people on the census in Cala en Porter, 250–300 in Son Vitamina, and about 100 in Cales Coves. Ferrer questions where the tourist tax goes, saying it certainly isn’t to Cala en Porter. The town needs help socially and in sports. The citizens’ office currently only opens on Fridays, but Ferrer says it should open daily. 04
ROQUETA AUTUMN 2025 UNFORTUNATE COMPLAINT
FLAT OR VILLA FOR RENT, AT A PRICE
The Spanish Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, who regularly spends his holidays in Menorca, complained about the time he had to queue in a bakery in Es Mercadal, saying that in 15 years he had never waited so long to be served. The owner replied that, as the government had raised the minimum salary so much and had increased the costs of running a small business, it was impossible to employ more staff. The incident was reported in the national press.
Autumn is nearly here, with the disagreeable surprise that the properties for rent which appear on the market from October to May – sometimes for fewer months – are no longer at a reasonable price. These rentals, useful for people who cannot find long-term contracts, have now risen sharply. Most properties are 800 euros a month or more. One example is a 55 sq. m apartment in Cala en Blanes from November to May at 1,200 euros per month. The market has adapted quickly to the reality of the lack of accommodation, and rooms in flats are now being offered at what was until recently the price of a whole flat. Many come with conditions: no children, no animals, some only want women. Since 1st July, owners must display their registration number showing they can legally rent – either to tourists or for short-term contracts. Noticeably, this is not always happening, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Districts will force websites to remove those who are not registered. Another legal modification to prevent fraud is that tenants must justify shorter rentals (e.g. studying away from home or temporary work). Otherwise, the property will be considered residential and subject to different laws. The councillor for tourism in the Consell, Núria Torrent, says many adverts that appear after August are highly suspicious and may be used for illegal tourist rentals in the high season. She encourages those who suspect such fraud to make an official complaint to the Consell.
PIPEFISH SEEN IN THE PORT OF MAHÓN Two Black Striped Pipefish (Syngnathus abaster), known as “River Needles” in Menorquín, have been spotted on the north side of the port of Mahón. The fish is related to seahorses and is classified as rare in the Balearics due to the degradation of its habitat. It was documented by Alba Piris during her student placement at Barcelona University, as part of a project for the conservation and restoration of the bays at Addaia and Fornells, and the port of Mahón. The programme is evaluating coastal ecosystems. The bays and the port are home to many habitats for rare species, but pressures such as poor water quality, the effect of navigation, and coastal urbanisation are a major threat to them. The prohibition of trawling in nearly 2,000 square kilometres of the Canal de Menorca (the channel between Mallorca and Menorca), which was declared a ZPP (protected fishing zone) in 2016, has allowed many natural habitats to recover. There has been a vast improvement of the seabed, with the return of species and calcified red algae – even in areas where trawling is still permitted, next to the protected zone. An article about this was published in Biodiversity and Conservation magazine.
POPULATION FIGURES Menorca’s population has increased in the 21st century from 72,716 in 2000 to 100,323 in 2024. Es Mercadal has shown the largest increase, doubling its inhabitants from 3,100 to 6,200. Sant Lluís has also risen significantly, from 4,395 to 7,130. Es Castell has seen the smallest rise, from 6,504 to 7,772. Mahón and Ciutadella still have the largest share, with a total of 62,360 people. Ciutadella, with its urbanisations, remains the most populous municipality, while Es Migjorn is the smallest with only 1,690 inhabitants.
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