Monte Toro in Menorca: all about your visit

Monte Toro is the highest point of Menorca, so its main attraction is the panoramic views of the whole region. Besides that, in Monte Toro and its surroundings you will be able to discover multiple places and experiences that you cannot miss. This makes it one of the places to include among the things to see and do in Menorca.

Both at the top of the peak and at the foot of the mountain, there are interesting places that you will surely want to visit. One of the things I highly recommend you to do is to try the typical gastronomy of the place, whose intense flavours will leave you wanting to come back.

On the clearest days, Monte Toro can give you one of the best sunset views of the whole island and its surroundings. If you are lucky, you can even catch a glimpse of neighbouring Mallorca. During the day this is a magical route that everyone who visits Menorca has to do.

When you get to the top and start looking around the whole island, you will realise how small Menorca can be in terms of geography. Being located at about 358 metres above sea level, Monte Toro is a perfect choice for appreciating the island.

The views from Monte Toro are so impressive that they continue to amaze locals and visitors alike. This view will surprise you if you visit the place for the first time, because you will not only see the sea as it is usually thought, but you will also be able to see the great extension of land that comprises the island.

The route to the top of the mountain can be done on foot, by car or by bicycle. If you decide to go on foot or by bicycle, it would be best to stop a few times to appreciate the scenery every step of the way.

Climbing the Mount is not difficult, anyone can do it and once you get to the top you can walk around the area. If you're going as a family, a car is definitely the best option.

Once at the top, the most important thing is to enjoy the scenery and walk around every corner of Monte Toro.

If you want to go hiking, (without a doubt, one of the best activities in Menorca) my recommendation is that you leave your vehicle in Es Mercadal and continue the ascent on foot.

Along the way you will come across various attractions, where the characteristic mountain atmosphere prevails. If you venture up on foot, it will take you about an hour, but it will be worth it once you get to the top.

This sanctuary is considered the most isolated and secluded church on the island of Menorca. In fact, it is located on the highest point of the island.

Urban legend has it that the sanctuary and the mountain bear this name because in ancient times they were guarded by a bull that kept all visitors away from the place.

One day, a group of religious men set out to climb the mountain even if they had to face the bull. When they reached the top and the bull realised that they were carrying crosses in their hands, he led them to a cave where the image of the virgin was.

During the tour inside the sanctuary you can learn first-hand about the living history that this monument represents. It is currently managed by the Franciscan Order of Mercy. The monks who live there nowadays, kindly open the doors so that you can get to know the place from beginning to end.

The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Monte Toro stands out for its grand Gothic-style architecture, which reflects an example of the culture and history of the Mediterranean.

Inside the sanctuary there is an image of the virgin carved in wood, a nice plus that you can't fail to admire.

Although it is not common to go up at night, Monte Toro offers one of the most spectacular sunsets on the island. Watching the sun go down over every corner of Menorca is an experience you won't want to miss.

In case you want to see the sunset at Monte Toro, I recommend you to take into account the time of the sunrise.

The climb can take up to an hour depending on the type of vehicle you are travelling in. The best time to arrive is in summer because the atmosphere is much clearer and the view will be clearer.

The sunset is a wonderful spectacle that you can enjoy with friends, family or as a couple. If you want to enjoy a nice view while having a refreshing drink, Monte Toro also offers you a good option to spend a pleasant afternoon gazing at the horizon.

At the top of Monte Toro is the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is located right at the lookout point and is a must-see attraction on your way up the mountain. This statue depicts Jesus with his arms outstretched, as if welcoming and embracing the whole island equally.

The statue represents the faith and spirituality of the island's inhabitants, which is concentrated in both the Mount Toro shrine and the figure of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This monument is a replica of Brazil' s Christ of Corcovado, although considerably smaller than the Carioca image.

This monument is divided into two sections, the first of which is the base that was inaugurated to the public in 1928. Initially this base was placed there as an offering to the fallen during the war in Africa.

Later, around 1944, the statue of Jesus was unveiled just above the first monument.

Sa Posada del Toro is a restaurant located at the top of Monte Toro. Here you can enjoy exquisite tapas and Mediterranean dishes that only the best restaurants on the island can offer.

It is a good place to rest after an intense climb, especially if you have been walking. This restaurant offers a wide and varied menu for the whole family to enjoy.

This restaurant is open from the morning, so you can have a drink or a snack at any time of the day. If you come up in the afternoon, the restaurant offers a wide variety of snacks and types of coffee or refreshing drinks. In the case of main courses for lunch, you can enjoy paellas, lobsters and other dishes of Mediterranean origin.

If you want to try the island's most typical sweets, this is also the place to do it. The pastry menu ranges from crepes to cakes and mantecados.

The food can be accompanied by a good selection of wines, which are also available in the restaurant. Among the wines you can taste are white and red.

All the food, desserts and drinks that you can have at Sa Posada del Toro can be enjoyed while appreciating the beautiful view that the place offers. Undoubtedly a gastronomic experience at the highest point of the island of Menorca.

White houses with an air of antiquity, Es Mercadal is a good place to visit before or after climbing Monte Toro. This village is situated right at the foot of the hill and represents the geographical centre of the whole island.

Es Mercadal has different attractions to visit for a couple of hours at most.

One of the best things you will notice in the locality is the friendliness of its inhabitants and above all the renaissance architectural design that can be found all over the place.

One of the most special buildings to visit is the parish church of San Martín. The mill is also a great attraction of the small village.

To eat in Mercadal you have many options, especially typical dishes of the region and of the whole island of Menorca.

The most recommended recipe and one that you should try is caldereta (stew). Other dishes that you should also try if you visit Es Mercadal are stuffed squid, baked skate and rice with seafood. There is no doubt that visiting this little town and enjoying its gastronomy is a magical and exquisite experience for the palate.

If you go to Monte Toro, it is a must to take souvenirs to remember your trip. To do so, you can stop at the souvenir shop located upstairs near the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Monte Toro.

In this shop you have a wide variety of souvenirs to choose from, both to give to your relatives and to remember your trip.

The premises where this souvenir shop is located has an old structure where you will surely feel at home, with a warm and pleasant atmosphere so that you can make your purchases with peace of mind.

Some of the things you will find in this place are: key rings, books, diaries, statuettes and other curiosities that make reference to Monte Toro and the island of Menorca.

If you are looking for good photos and to create beautiful memories, Monte Toro is definitely one of the best places on the island to get some nice postcards. If you go with your family or couple, the place will provide you with the most beautiful scenery for your quality photos.

If you go up during the day, you have the option of taking pictures inside and outside the sanctuary. I advise you to bring a camera with excellent resolution so that you can capture every little detail of the views of the island, the sights at the top and the Sanctuary of the Virgin.

In the afternoon and late evening, the pictures get even better, thanks to the sunset over the island.

You will have the opportunity to take pictures of both the sun and the rest of the island as dusk falls. The best postcards of Menorca are the sunsets that can be seen from the top of Monte Toro.

Inside the Sanctuary you can take as many photographs as you like of every part of the monument. However, it is important that you first check with the monks who look after the place to find out what the restrictions are regarding the photographs you can take.

If after visiting Monte Toro you want to have a beach visit, it is a good time to visit a cove very close to the highest mountain of the island.

This is none other than Cala en Tosqueta. It is a real gem, an unspoilt beach located very close to the town of Fornells and Es Mercadal. One of the best things about this cove is that it is not very crowded and really small, a nice place to spend some time with the family.

It is a good destination if you want to leave Monte Toro to have a comfortable and comforting evening after a good visit to the mountain. It is a destination you can visit with family or friends.

It is a good option for activities to do with children on the island, given the tranquillity of its waters.

You can reach this place by taking the Camí de Cavalls, which is one of the best routes to get there.

If you also want to visit another beautiful and unspoilt cove very close to Monte Toro, you can go to Cala Pudent. Definitely the best things to do in Menorca are to be found on the coast.