La Bonanova

A couple of milles before reaching Ciutadella on the left handside of the road as you arrive from Mahon rises a majestic country house in ruins, with the name of "Bonanova". It is a building that follows, religiously, Palladio's scheme for the villa "Sarraceno" in Finale de Vicentino.

The situation of the house in relation to the surrounding landscape is also markedly Palladian.

 Foto Andreu Beltrán

I have always been fascinated by this building in such a decadent state. As if no one could or would have never enjoyed its arcaded terrace and gardens.

By the light that is perceived through its boarded up windows, it must be deduced that the ceiling has already fallen. And so that nature claims its part.

Mahon 1959, ....and Collingwood House too!

In this video you can see (minute 5) how was Collingwood House in 1959. It was not a Hotel yet. The works to make a 'pension' here started in 1961.

The Atlante in Cala Figuera

The ship that appears in this picture was called 'Atlante' and during the Spanish Civil War, was used as a prison boat.

Today exactly 80 years ago that 52 people who were imprisoned in this ship were shot and killed. Most of them were people of the clergy.

I belong to a facebook group that publishes and comments old photographs of Menorca. Today this image has been published and a great controversy has been generated among descendants of the relatives of the murdered and defenders of the Spanish Republic. It is not a novelty. 80 years later the wounds of this war remain unhealed.

By the way, the building that you can see at the top of the cliff

 is the Collingwood House, the Hotel del Almirante.

Hotel del Almirante, Nelson's Home?

A pencil drawing made in 1851 that shows the South shore of Mahon harbour and Collingwood House on the cliff. 

 

The original is in the Maritime Museum of Greenwich and erroneously the author, George Pechell Mends, naval officer, indicated that it was the house of Lord Nelson.