Joia House

A Stately Historic Home Situated in the Heart of Mahón, on Menorca

A generous island classic, this stately home has five bedrooms, each with en-suite bathrooms, making it a great base for families or groups of friends of up to 11. Bedrooms reveal the beautiful patina of time, with antique furnishings and vintage art accents, spacious baths with clawfoot tubs, and original tile floors in swirling colors and varying intricate patterns or historic terracotta. Terraces extend across two levels, ideal for soaking up the Mediterranean slow life, and there are indoor and outdoor dining spaces for enjoying meals prepared in the generous kitchen.

A library and study area with a large table as desk and a corridor with cinema seating and space for projection round out the offerings, and the house is topped by an attic equipped for yoga sessions or events.

Additional information

Guests can also book extra services, such as breakfasts, brunches, or curated art and fashion tours around Mahón. A private parking space for one car, located on a nearby street just 20 seconds' walk from the entrance of Joia House is also available at an added cost of €700 per week. Parking in the center of Mahón can be quite challenging during high season.

Around

Located in the heart of Menorca’s capital city of Mahón, this stately home is ideally situated for exploring the town’s scenic streets. Built on a cliff high above a natural harbor (a five minute walk from the house), Mahón is known for its British colonial Georgian houses in a pastel palette. The town's harbor is the world's second largest natural harbor, with boat trips, tours and excursions to Isla del Re all departing from its shores. The town’s many plazas are lined with sidewalk cafes and taverns, and lunch at the landmark fish market, the Mercat des Peix, is a must for tapas and pinxtos created from the day’s fresh catch.

One relic of British rule in Menorca, the local distillery, Gin Xoriguer, is still going strong, and it's open for visits and tastings in its front-of-the-house shop in the historic center. Sightseers and shoppers should wander the city's upper level, connected to its must-see marina and harbor area by pretty, winding streets. Restaurant and bars join fishing boats and ferries along the waterfront, and the internationally renowned Hauser & Wirth Gallery has an outpost in Mahón’s harbor area. The contemporary art center occupies the Isla del Rey, with an outdoor sculpture garden, walking trail and on-site fine dining restaurant. Access to the gallery is via a shuttle boat.

History buffs will want to slip inside the town's neoclassical cathedral dating from the 18th century, or head to the Fortaleza de Mola, a 19th-century stone fortress just outside of the town center. There are no beaches in Mahón, though several outside the city are easy to reach by car. The neighboring village of Es Castell offers a small, sunny harbor backed by craggy white cliffs and a waterfront restaurant/cafe. The Es Grau Beach is 15 minutes away, with Sa Mesquida Beach another 15 minutes drive, both located on the island's northern coast

Location

Mahón, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. Nearest airport: Menorca (8 minutes)

Best time to visit

May through October

Photography: Maria Missaglia