Municipality of Es Migjorn Gran, Minorca

The Gran (great) that features in its name may seem a mite excessive to the outside observer, but the use of the adjective should not be attributed to an ardent megalomaniac. The name in fact refers to its condition of “capital” of a large and fertile area: the migjorn (midday). It also responds to the pride of the local inhabitants who know that their ancestors built the oldest houses that we see today in a setting where human presence has made its mark since prehistoric times. It is not surprising, therefore, to feel the sensation that both the properties and the residents having been there “forever”. When entering the town from Alaior or Es Mercadal, the road runs parallel to the beginning of the Binigaus ravine, enabling you to see the hillside crops on scaled terraces contained by dry stone walls. There were already houses in the Carrer Major (High Street) in the 17th century. The locals who built them belonged to the parish of Ferreries, a spot which at that time had the fame of being rather insalubrious, and when the population grew they approached the idea of building a small church as a necessary step in achieving legal independence. They took a long time in achieving it, despite their conscious awareness of belonging to an independent town. Despite the fact that Es Migjorn has grown in a similar way to other towns on the island, its partial isolation over many years can still be read from the old layout of short streets and the houses which are sheltered in them. A much-loved and remembered figure in the town is Francesc d’Albranca, the pseudonym used by the celebrated folklore expert Francesc Camps i Mercadal to publish his anthologies of Menorcan traditions and legends. The local music band is also highly appreciated, and in recent years has enjoyed great popularity (it is the favourite band for livening up the local annual festivals of many towns). This brings us to once again underline the passion for music of the local people, among whom there are families that could even form their own orchestras with so many instrumentalists in their ranks.