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MAHN AS IT WAS IN 1535

The shaded area shows aproximate size when Alfonso III took Menorca in 1287)

1287 Alfonso III of Aragon takes Menorca from

the moors.
1288 Start construction of the original Church
of Sta. Maria.
1535 Sacking of Mahn by Barbarrosa New
defence walls started to be re-established.
1628 Founding of Convent of Conception using
old castle walls.
1644 Town starts to expand outwards to new
boundaries.
1690 Founding of Convent of Carmen.
1696 First ware-house built on harbour side.

Demolition of slums behind

Sta. Maria Church
1942/1944

Statue of Alfons III

In original position

1708 British arrival and work on the naval

arsenal commences.
1713 Construction starts of a new road from St
Philips Castle to Ciutadella, through Mahn.
Todays Cami des Castell, previously Cami
denKane.
1721 Richard Kane transfers capital from
Ciutadella to Mahn
Transfers meat &fish markets to outside old
walls Reforms Portal del Mar & Portal de
Hannover Construction starts on
Royal Hannover Street - c/Ses Moreres George
Street - c/Sant Jordi.
1724 Richard Kane orders the transfer of the
Naval Base to the opposite side and work
commences.
1725 Works starts on the demolition of the city
walls To allow for urban expansion.
1748 Complete reconstruction of Church of
Santa Maria over the top of the existing
Completed in 1788.
1750 Start of construction of Church and
Convent of Carmen
1765 Construction of Military Barracks and
Parade square (now Plaza Esplanada)
1766 Work commences on Royal Naval HQ on
Isla Pinto.
1785 Construction of Principal de Guardia.
New facade to Ayuntamiento.
Reconstruction of Aduana.
New cemetery of Gracia on green field site.

Unveiled in 1950

Costa Baixamar and Costa Vella

before demolition in 1942 to 1944

1809 Organ arrives for Sta. Maria Church.

1829 Theatre Principal completed on site of old
Bastion Grande.
1848 Installation of Gas lamps to streets.
1856 Industrial Maonesa de Teixits in Cala
Figuera opens and operates until 1911.
1868 Purpose built Fish Market opens.
1884 Transfer of Fruit and vegetable market to
Cloisters of Carmen.
1892 Electricity arrives. Power station
inaugurated.
1915 Santiago barracks built.
1916 New post office opens.
1918 The butchers are moved to Cloisters of
Carmen.
1922 Plaza Miranda is constructed on the old
convent gardens.
1925 Concession given for the selling of petrol. 3
sites, the first in front of the Sta. Maria Church.
1930 demolition of the Bastion of St. Roc to
form new Square.
1936 Civil Warmuch aerial bombing towards
the end to With considerable damage to private
houses.
1939 Theatre Principal. Sa Graduada, the fish
market, Cloisters de Carmen and the Naval Base.
1939/1943 Demolition of Costa Baixamar and
Costa Vella.
1942/1944 Demolition of the houses of the slum
area behind the Sta. Maria Church to form the
Plaza Conquista. Statue of Alfons III, inaugurated
In 1950 when General Franco visited the city.
1944 Military cease using the parade square &
handed Over to the Ayuntamiento as the Plaza
Esplanada.
1956 Hotel Port Mahon inaugurated.

Bastion de Sant Roque before & during demolition 1930

<- Arc de Sant Roque, the only remaining

part of the old city wall & Plaza Bastion
after demolition in 1930

Plaza de Armas y cuartel built in 1765

Todays Plaza Esplanada

MAP OF MAHN of 18th Century
With plans of 3 of the main gates

PORTAL DE DALT
The only gateway still existing, now called
Arc de Sant Roque

PORTAL NOU
Erected as the main entrance from St. Felipe
when Cami den Kane was constructed

PORTAL DE MAR
Entrance to town from Harbour Demolished in the year 1800

Ses Voltes before and after bomb damage 1938

Fish Market inaugurated in 1868

Badly damaged by bombing in i938

Plaza de Pescadores before its reconstruction

Plan of original 1939 project to reform

Costa de Ses Voltes
By the Municipal Architect Josep Claret i Rubira
The old houses, some badly damaged during
bombing of Civil War are purchased by town
council in 1941 and it takes about 3 years in
phases for the demolition of these.
Works starts on the ambitious construction of
Ses Voltes
in the year 1945

Work under way on the construction of Ses Voltes and the Parque Rochina. Completed and
inaugurated in 1951

1922
Plaza Miranda constructed on the site of the vegetable gardens of the Convent of Carmen
Interesting and miscellaneous photographs of the past

First autobus Mahn to Ciutadella---Steam

powered

1935
Isla Rata dynamited to free longer landing and
takeoff space for seaplanes based at Naval Base

1925
Petrol pumps installed in Plaza Constitucion
Concessions given for three sites in Mahn,

Cala Figuera
Maonesa de Teixits
Textile Factory operating from
1856 until 1911

The Plaza Esplanada, showing first landscaping following acquisition by Ayuntamiento

1945
Compiled for Asociacin Menorca Britannia
Bryce Lyons
April
2013