ALAIOR 

Menorca's third largest town, 12km west of Mao, was founded by Jaume II of Mallorca in 1304 when he divided the island into seven regions, each with a central market town. The existence of Roman roads around the town, and the wealth of prehistoric remains nearby, suggest that it was a centre of population much earlier. There are few specific sites in Alaior, but it makes a pleasant place to stroll a town of gleaming white house's huddled together in narrow streets which lead up to the parish Church of Santa Eulalia at the town's summit. Jaume II built the first church here; it was later fortified by villagers following the Turkish attacks on Mao and Ciutadella The present baroque church dates from the 17th century.

Another 17th century church, Sant Diego, was once a Franciscan convent its peaceful cloisters have been turned into modern flats set around a courtyard with an old well at its centre. You can enter the cloisters via a vaulted, whitewashed alley beside the church. The style is said to be based on the Spanish colonial missions in Mexico and California. The courtyard, now known as Sa Luna, is the setting for concerts and folk dancing in summer Alaior is an important centre for the manufacture of shoes, ice-cream and especially Mahon cheese  you can buy cheese at the Coinga factory shop, which is sign posted as you enter the town from the south.

The shop sells the full range from fresco (fresh and soft) to anejo (matured for two years and as strong as Parmesan), as well as various cheesy souvenirs and jars of cheese in olive oil