Ibiza information
The island of Ibiza is the third largest of the archipelago,
covering an area of 541 km2, and with a population of over 70,000.
Thanks to its hilly terrain the island offers some magnificent
scenery of great beauty. There are a great deal of pine forests
(the Greeks in fact named the island Pitiusa which means "pinery"),
as well as almond trees, fig and olive trees, and also palm trees.
Another interesting fact about Ibiza is that the use of the windmill
and the waterwheels is still quite common, mainly due to the lack
of rainfall. Rainy days on this island of almost perpetual sun
are something of a luxury.The climate is very mild and produces
the phenomenon of an everlasting springtime.
The port of Ibiza is 162 miles from Barcelona, 70 from Palma,
100 from Valencia, 101 from Alicante and 152 from Algiers. The
journey by ship is a most pleasant experience, thanks to the generally
calm sea conditions. The Spanish company Trasmediterranea has
a regular ferry service between Ibiza and the ports of Barcelona,
Palma de Majorca and Valencia, and this service is increased from
spring onwards when there can be as many as four or five crossings
a week between Barcelona and Palma.
There is also an excellent airport on Ibiza which is one of the
busiest in Spain. The flight from Valencia tales half an hour,
while from Barcelona and Palma it tales an hour and approximately
twenty minutes, respectively. The airport never has to close because
of adverse weather conditions.
Ibiza (27,685 inhabitants) Ibiza is the island's capital and a
lively maritime port, built on the side of a mountain beside the
sea. It has some interesting districts, such as San Penya, and
many magnificent viewpoints that look out across the sea. The
white constructions of its popular districts, which were built
following the exquisite architectural lines of the islanders,
constitute an unmistakable and picturesque urban ensemble.
The district of Dalt Vila is at the very heart of the city and
contains some fine aristocratic mansions, the Town Hall, and the
Cathedral which was rebuilt in the 17C. Ibiza was founded by the
Carthaginians in the year 654 B.C. Its walls were put up in the
16C and are considered a National Monument since they are the
only ones of their kind remaining in Europe.
The Archeological Museum exhibits import Punic remains and many
others that have come from excavations made on the island. Three
kilometres from the capital are the beaches of Talamanca, which
can be reached by a frequent bus and motor launch service. In
addition there is Figueretas, at a distance of 1 km, and En Bossa
(3 km away).
Sant Josep (9,095 inhabitants) Here can be found one of the island's
most beautiful churches, along with the beaches of Cala T,244
inhabitants)
This is the ancient Portus Magnus of the Romans, which today is
a lively and cosmopolitan small town. The magnificent church is
in the typical Ibizan style, and the Chapel-cum-Catacombs of Santa
Inies at the mouth of the only river on the Balearic Islands.
It has a beautiful church and the beaches of Cala Llonga and Es
Caning steed cliffs. The centre of the island spreads out in a
long, narrow depression which runs northwards where it ends in
salt pans and two large lakes. The entire coastline is bordered
by beautiful beaches with fine sands.
Access to Formentera is via Ibiza. There is a ferry service between
the two islands six times a day, and this rises to ten during
the summer months. This service is also linked to a bus service
that runs between La Sabina, Sant Francesc Xavier and La Mola.
Sant Francesc Xavier (794 inhabitants) The capital of Formentera
is a white hamlet, lying around a fortified church that is of
delightful simplicity. There is a splendid beach at Cala Sabina.
Visits can be paid in a westerly direction to the wildest part
of the island, and there is a vallery that runs as far as Cala
Sahona beach which is dominated by the promontory of Cape Punta
Rosa.
La Sabina Here we find the island's only port, consisting of a
dozen or so white houses and some small salt silos. San Fernando
Has a forest of pine trees and savines, as well as Es Pujols beach.
Towards the south lies Mitjorn beach and in an easterly direction
if the beautiful natural port of Es Cal