Ibiza Sights and Tourist Attractions
Discover every fascinating side of Ibiza and Formentera. Visit the caves of Can Marçà, the Pont Vell in Santa Eularìa or the archaeological museum Dalt Vila. Of course, there are also the innumerable gorgeous beaches and stunning views over the Ibizan coastline to consider.
Pont Vell was formerly used as the main path between Ibiza Town and Santa Eulalia del Río. Nobody knows when exactly the bridge was built, although it is thought to have been built sometime in the 16th or 17th century. In the beginning the bridge only had three arches; since its restoration in 1997 it now has four.
This landmark is cloaked in a veil of legend and myth. One Ibizan legend dictates that magical herbs grow under the bridge, which can only be seen at dawn’s first light on the day of the festival of Sant Juan. These herbs shelter the spirits of Fameliars, a kind of ugly pixie from Pitiusic mythology that can be both good and bad. You can catch a Fameliar by collecting the herbs in a black bottle and closing the bottle tightly. Make sure that you pick the herbs quickly, as they can appear and disappear at a glance. Once liberated, the Fameliar will cry: "Soc es fameliar, vull veina o menjar", which means "I am a Fameliar! I would like work or food!" If you do not give the Fameliar work to do, it will eat you out of house and home.
The Pont Vell Bridge can only be crossed on foot. Cars and other motorised vehicles will have to use the modern bridge located next to Pont Vell in order to access the city of Santa Eulalia del Río from the west.
In Ibiza there are many wells and springs with typical Arabic and Roman architectural features from the different influences that have dominated the island of Ibiza. Most of them are well-preserved and can be found throughout the island. The wells are still culturally important and are visited by young Ibizan.
One of the most famous wells is the Pou d’Aubarqueta in San Miguel, formerly jknown as the abeurada or "water trough". Other famous wells include the Pou des Baladre in Sant Vincent, Pou de Labritja in San Juan Bautista and the Verger Spring. The latter is located in down-town San José, at the end of a ravine called "De ses Fonts". Here you will find an emblematic limestone construction.
Dalt Vila can also be accessed from el Portal Nou, the walk is a bit tougher but at the same time very beautiful. You may even see traditional Ibicencos, native women of Ibiza, cooking or doing their daily tasks in the ancient houses. We recommend you to wear good walking shoes to comfortably stroll the many narrow streets of this gorgeous old town. It is a quite spectacular walk through the history of Ibiza and there are lots of lovely restaurants, art galleries and shops. Do not forget to admire the many beautiful houses from the 15th-17th century. The highest spot of Dalt Vila is the Carrer Major and this is also where you will find the oldest buildings.
From Carrer Major you can visit the cathedral Santa Maria de las Nieves and enjoy the breath-taking panoramic views of the city and the sea. Close to the cathedral you will find the Archaeological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera, which is also worth a visit. The Ibiza Museum of Contemporary Art is also situated in Dalt Vila and displays a wide range of the artistic creativity that has emerged from Ibiza since the 1960’s. Enjoy your vacation to the fullest and be dazzled by the sights in Ibiza. Here you can book a holiday home in Ibiza and learn more about the regions of Ibiza.
Ibiza attracted many unwanted visitors and pirates because of its location between Africa and Europe. At that time the captured inhabitants were sold as slaves and the hungry pirates stole the valuable salt and rich harvest produced on the island. The Pirate Tower can be reached from the Mirador d’es Savinar on foot and signs mark the way. Explore this area during your Ibiza holiday and you will find pristine natural beauty, on the one hand peaceful and quiet, but on the other raw and adventurous. Take your time and enjoy the tranquillity, far away from civilisation and the hustle and bustle of the city. Not only adults but also children will enjoy the pervading quiet, and the Pirate Tower will awaken feelings of adventure in younger souls. You will find many pirate towers on Ibiza but the spectacular view Mirador d’es Savinar has to offer is only to be here.
The museum’s buildings were renovated in 1979, connecting them with each other; the Casa Curia and the Baluarte de Santa Tecla, where you can see the remains of the ancient walls of Vila d’Eivissa. The Casa Curia immerses visitors in a medieval atmosphere with especially its special design and lighting effects. You will get insights into the way Ibizan habitants understood death and also learn more about their beliefs, fears and hopes for life after death. Here they can also view a documentary on Ibiza’s history and admire the views from the garden. A tour of the museum will take you out onto the platform of El Baluarte de Santa Tecla, where you enjoy spectacular views over the Bay of Ibiza. After visiting the museum we recommend you to stroll through the old town of Dalt Vila and Via Romana, where you can see the Necropolis of Puig des Molins. The museum is closed temporarily due to construction work. Address: Archaeological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera Plaza de la Catedral 3 07800 Eivissa Ibiza, Balearic Islands If you happen to speak Spanish, you can find more information on the website of the museum.
The town is well-known for its agricultural industry and Mediterranean culture. Balafia is a fifteenth century military stronghold comprising five traditional houses and two fortification towers. The towers are an example of traditional Ibizan architecture. These towers were used as lookouts during pirate conquests, and villagers would climb the towers using ladders, as they had no doors, to get to safety. These days the towers can only be viewed from the outside.
The small village is surrounded by forest and fields, and most of the life here revolves around the church. It is a charming place to visit and you will get a feel of how the locals live in Ibiza. Villagers are sometimes annoyed by tourists who come to their village and treat it like an open-air museum or theme park. We advise that visitors show respect and make as little disturbance as possible, so that others can continue to explore the history and magic of this place. If you are on a full day excursion away from your holiday villa in Ibiza, then Sant Llorenç de Balafia is not the place to go for lunch or dinner. There is only one small bar in the village where you can buy a few refreshments.
Buildings in Ibiza
Pont Vell
The Pont Vell Bridge over the Santa Eulalia River is one of the most famous landmarks in Santa Eulalia del Río and has been declared a Bien de Interés Cultural – an official landmark of cultural interest. The Santa Eulalia River is the only river on Ibiza and is 17 kilometres long. It is actually more like a small stream than an actual river.Pont Vell was formerly used as the main path between Ibiza Town and Santa Eulalia del Río. Nobody knows when exactly the bridge was built, although it is thought to have been built sometime in the 16th or 17th century. In the beginning the bridge only had three arches; since its restoration in 1997 it now has four.
This landmark is cloaked in a veil of legend and myth. One Ibizan legend dictates that magical herbs grow under the bridge, which can only be seen at dawn’s first light on the day of the festival of Sant Juan. These herbs shelter the spirits of Fameliars, a kind of ugly pixie from Pitiusic mythology that can be both good and bad. You can catch a Fameliar by collecting the herbs in a black bottle and closing the bottle tightly. Make sure that you pick the herbs quickly, as they can appear and disappear at a glance. Once liberated, the Fameliar will cry: "Soc es fameliar, vull veina o menjar", which means "I am a Fameliar! I would like work or food!" If you do not give the Fameliar work to do, it will eat you out of house and home.
The Pont Vell Bridge can only be crossed on foot. Cars and other motorised vehicles will have to use the modern bridge located next to Pont Vell in order to access the city of Santa Eulalia del Río from the west.
Wells and Fountains
Architecture buffs will be enthralled by Ibiza’s many historically significant wells and fountains with interesting architectural features, particularly widespread in the San Juan Bautista municipality. In the days of yore, El ball pagés, traditional pagan dances, would take place around the wells and on special occasions and during fiestas locals continue this tradition, so that this traditional art form won’t be forgotten. Visitors are encouraged to take part or just try some of the local delicacies on offer during these events, in the form of local wine and typical regional sweets like buñuelos and orelletes.In Ibiza there are many wells and springs with typical Arabic and Roman architectural features from the different influences that have dominated the island of Ibiza. Most of them are well-preserved and can be found throughout the island. The wells are still culturally important and are visited by young Ibizan.
One of the most famous wells is the Pou d’Aubarqueta in San Miguel, formerly jknown as the abeurada or "water trough". Other famous wells include the Pou des Baladre in Sant Vincent, Pou de Labritja in San Juan Bautista and the Verger Spring. The latter is located in down-town San José, at the end of a ravine called "De ses Fonts". Here you will find an emblematic limestone construction.
Dalt Vila
The old town of Ibiza, Dalt Vila, was in 1999 declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is situated on a hill with amazing panoramic views and the impressive fortress can be seen from far away. When entering the fortress you will walk through the meter-thick walls of the main entrance Portal de Ses Taules, which is flanked by impressive Roman statues. After passing the entrance you will find yourself on the main square, Placa de Vila, which used to house a market inside the city walls.Dalt Vila can also be accessed from el Portal Nou, the walk is a bit tougher but at the same time very beautiful. You may even see traditional Ibicencos, native women of Ibiza, cooking or doing their daily tasks in the ancient houses. We recommend you to wear good walking shoes to comfortably stroll the many narrow streets of this gorgeous old town. It is a quite spectacular walk through the history of Ibiza and there are lots of lovely restaurants, art galleries and shops. Do not forget to admire the many beautiful houses from the 15th-17th century. The highest spot of Dalt Vila is the Carrer Major and this is also where you will find the oldest buildings.
From Carrer Major you can visit the cathedral Santa Maria de las Nieves and enjoy the breath-taking panoramic views of the city and the sea. Close to the cathedral you will find the Archaeological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera, which is also worth a visit. The Ibiza Museum of Contemporary Art is also situated in Dalt Vila and displays a wide range of the artistic creativity that has emerged from Ibiza since the 1960’s. Enjoy your vacation to the fullest and be dazzled by the sights in Ibiza. Here you can book a holiday home in Ibiza and learn more about the regions of Ibiza.
Nature of Ibiza
Can Marçà Cave
Visitors to Ibiza should not pass up the opportunity to visit the stalagmites and stalactites of the Can Marçà cave. This cave is located near the tourist resort of Port de Sant Miquel and is easily reachable on foot. The cave is at least 100,000 years old and is almost completely fossilised, except in its deepest passages, where dripping water continues to form stalagmites and stalactites. For years the cave was used by smugglers to hide illegal goods and the path to the cave was marked very discretely, so that few would be able to find the entrance. Most were afraid to enter the cave, as the opening at the entrance was only 80cm high. Today the cave’s entrance is 40m high, meaning that tourists can enter easily. The cave has to be looked after with water so that the stalactites and stalagmites don’t dry out and break. The cave itself has been equipped with dim lights, which create a romantic effect. There is also an artificial waterfall with a music and light show. This is a perfect destination for people with children or for those who are interested in geology.Mirador d'es Savinar
The Mirador d’es Savinar is located to the south of Cala Hort at the Cap de Jueus. It is considered to provide the most beautiful view in Ibiza, stretching for miles over the entire coast line. The views are usually so good that you can see out to the rocky islands of Es Venadrell and Es Vedrá. Here you can enjoy serenity and idyllic landscapes, and about 200 m from the Mirador d’es Savinar you will find the Pirate Tower, Torre d’es Saviar, once used as a fortification and surveillance point to warn of pirates coming from the Mediterranean Sea. The tower was completed in 1763 and was used until the 19th century. From the top of the tower it was possible to survey the entire surrounding ocean area and to inform other surveillance towers of the intruders by way of smoke and fire signals. The island’s inhabitants would then seek safety in a cave or one of the churches on the island.Ibiza attracted many unwanted visitors and pirates because of its location between Africa and Europe. At that time the captured inhabitants were sold as slaves and the hungry pirates stole the valuable salt and rich harvest produced on the island. The Pirate Tower can be reached from the Mirador d’es Savinar on foot and signs mark the way. Explore this area during your Ibiza holiday and you will find pristine natural beauty, on the one hand peaceful and quiet, but on the other raw and adventurous. Take your time and enjoy the tranquillity, far away from civilisation and the hustle and bustle of the city. Not only adults but also children will enjoy the pervading quiet, and the Pirate Tower will awaken feelings of adventure in younger souls. You will find many pirate towers on Ibiza but the spectacular view Mirador d’es Savinar has to offer is only to be here.
Explore the History of Ibiza
Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera is located in a medieval building in the old town of Dalt Vila, opposite the Plaza de la Catedral. It was given to the city by the Ebusitana Archaeology Society in 1907. The building, in which the museum is located, used to house the University of Ibiza but it was shut down in the 18th century. The Archaeological Museum preserves, researches and displays historical remnants of Ibiza and Formentera’s past going back 3000 years – from prehistory to the Catalan conquest in 1235 – and is divided into six sections: prehistory, the Phoenician Colonisation, the Punic Era, the High Period of Roman Colonisation and the Low Period of Roman Colonisation.The museum’s buildings were renovated in 1979, connecting them with each other; the Casa Curia and the Baluarte de Santa Tecla, where you can see the remains of the ancient walls of Vila d’Eivissa. The Casa Curia immerses visitors in a medieval atmosphere with especially its special design and lighting effects. You will get insights into the way Ibizan habitants understood death and also learn more about their beliefs, fears and hopes for life after death. Here they can also view a documentary on Ibiza’s history and admire the views from the garden. A tour of the museum will take you out onto the platform of El Baluarte de Santa Tecla, where you enjoy spectacular views over the Bay of Ibiza. After visiting the museum we recommend you to stroll through the old town of Dalt Vila and Via Romana, where you can see the Necropolis of Puig des Molins. The museum is closed temporarily due to construction work. Address: Archaeological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera Plaza de la Catedral 3 07800 Eivissa Ibiza, Balearic Islands If you happen to speak Spanish, you can find more information on the website of the museum.
Sant Llorenç de Balàfia
Sant Llorenç de Balafia is a quaint, quintessentially Ibizan village located in the municipality of San Juan Bautista and is often only referred to as Balafia. Its main attraction is a 17th century church perched atop a hill, from which you can enjoy amazing views of the surrounding area. The church has the same arch at the entrance as the Santa Gertrudis temple. The belfry used to be at the one end of the church, but is today located in the middle of the façade after it was moved during a restoration of the church in the 19th century.The town is well-known for its agricultural industry and Mediterranean culture. Balafia is a fifteenth century military stronghold comprising five traditional houses and two fortification towers. The towers are an example of traditional Ibizan architecture. These towers were used as lookouts during pirate conquests, and villagers would climb the towers using ladders, as they had no doors, to get to safety. These days the towers can only be viewed from the outside.
The small village is surrounded by forest and fields, and most of the life here revolves around the church. It is a charming place to visit and you will get a feel of how the locals live in Ibiza. Villagers are sometimes annoyed by tourists who come to their village and treat it like an open-air museum or theme park. We advise that visitors show respect and make as little disturbance as possible, so that others can continue to explore the history and magic of this place. If you are on a full day excursion away from your holiday villa in Ibiza, then Sant Llorenç de Balafia is not the place to go for lunch or dinner. There is only one small bar in the village where you can buy a few refreshments.
