If you travel to the island of Menorca during January for a quiet winter sun break and you may stumble across an unexpected national celebration.

Spain's National Day of celebration falls on the 12th of October when everyone gets a day off to commemorate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. That might seem an odd thing for a nation to celebrate but the Spanish seem happy to do that and they mark the day with events like a military parade in Madrid attended by the King.

Menorca chooses to celebrate an additional National Day on the 17th of January to mark the date in 1287 when King Alfonso the third regained control of the island from Moors who had declared it an Islamic state. The action was part of the 800 year "Reconquista" that saw the whole of the Iberian peninsula return to Christian rule. Following the change of leadership the mosque in the former capital of Cuitadella was replaced with the construction of a new cathedral which still stands to this day. Cuitadella is no longer the capital of the island as it was moved to Mahon when the British Navy captured Menorca in 1722. The Navy decided that the harbour at Mahon would be a better place from which to rule the island and the capital has remained there ever since.

The National Day in January is called the Festes d'es Tres Trocs or the festival of the three blows, but is also referred to a St Anthony's day. The Placa San Antonio is one of the places to best experience the celebrations, where there will be a colourful procession and a street market.

Flights to Menorca from the UK are offered by flythomascook.com departing from 12 airports from April onwards.