Discover San Juan, the most international festival in Menorca
Menorca is one of the most incredible destinations for experiencing all the magic of the San Juan festival. The streets of Ciudadela are full of people from all over the world, there to enjoy one of the most spectacular celebrations in Spain, with a fantastic atmosphere and a long and splendid history.
Index
When is the San Juan festival held?
Ciudadela will be dressing up for a party from Saturday, June 22 until Tuesday, June 25, with the most popular events taking place on the 23rd (Saint John’s Eve) and continuing on the great day itself, June 24.
The festival is a deep-rooted tradition in which horses and riders, the latter consisting of “els caixers” and “els cavallers”, are the main attraction. The “caixers” are representatives of the ancient social classes of the church, nobility, artisans and peasants. They play a major role in the entire festival, performing rituals based on protocols that have been repeated year after year and give shape to the whole celebration.
As you can see, this is a festival with a lot of history and the most popular of the whole year in Menorca.
Three great events you must not miss
The San Juan festival events in Ciudadela that you really must not miss are:
- June 23, Caragol des Born: the horses and their riders circle La Plaça des Born accompanied by great throngs of people and music
- June 23, Avellanada: after the Caragol des Born, the action moves on to the Contramurada and a friendly hazelnut war
- June 24, Jocs es Pla: without any doubt, this is the most famous and most popular event at the festival. It consists of a series of tests with their origins in medieval tournaments. Riders gallop through the huge square in the Ciudadela port area, cheered on by the crowds as they enjoy the celebrations and dance to music provided by the Ciutadella Municipal Band
Accommodation in Ciudadela
During the festival it’s not at all easy to find accommodation in or around Ciudadela given the huge crowds the festival attracts.
That’s why we recommend you plan your stay on the island as far ahead as you can. Zafiro Hotels has a four-star hotel which is only 8km from the centre of Ciudadela. Zafiro Menorca is an ideal resort for anyone that wants to enjoy all the magic of the San Juan festival plus a few days of peace and relaxation.
Located alongside the sea, the hotel provides fully renovated apartments and swim-up rooms with direct access to the pool. The facilities and choice of different types of apartments make it an excellent choice for couples, groups of friends or families.
And if you are travelling with children, they will love the Mini Club and its endless activities and a fantastic children's pool with a pirate ship.
So now you know! If you want to learn more about the splendid San Juan festival in Menorca, the best way is to come and see it for yourself. At Zafiro Hotels we would be delighted to see you!
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