Are you one of those who enjoy visiting places full of culture or taking a walk through a lush pine forest with the sea in the background? Ibiza is the ideal place, it has it all!
Do not hesitate, it is not only parties and beaches, Ibiza is a corner of the Mediterranean of great cultural and aesthetic value. It is worth it and, here we are going to tell you all about it, so you can enjoy it to the fullest, delighting yourself with good afternoons in the sun and bathing in turquoise waters, accompanied by mornings of culture and nature.
Let’s start with the visits you should not miss. They are also ideal to do with family or friends, you will see incredible spaces and learn interesting things about the history of the island.
You already know that, throughout the history of Ibiza, there have always been interactions with other cultures, such as the Phoenicians, Arabs or Romans. Ibiza has a great cultural richness as a result of the occupations it has suffered, and this is reflected in the monuments that can be visited and range from Punic times to the present day.
Let’s start the tour! It does not have to be in the same order, we only list what you should visit, to get a good idea of the passage of time on the island of Ibiza.
Museum of Ethnography. It is located in an old farmhouse and displays a collection of jewelry, clothing and a wide variety of classic household items.
Here you can see the wine cave and the views from the upper porch, from where you can see the entire coastline of Santa Eulària des Riu, are a must.
Museumized bastions of Sant Pere and Sant Jaume. These are interactive spaces where they show how the walls were built, with different projections on the construction process, a reproduction of the original Renaissance scaffolding and information on the difficulties involved in the completion of the fortress. This route explains the weapons used in the Renaissance period and its purpose is to show visitors “how the emergence of pyroballistics affected the structures and construction methods of the walled fortresses” according to the sources of the Museized Bastions themselves.
Phoenician settlement of Sa Caleta. Be sure to visit this Phoenician camp of the seventh century BC and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is located in Sa Caleta, a small peninsula between two beaches (Es Codolar and des Jondal) on the south coast of the island. The story goes that perhaps, in the beginning, Sa Caleta was a kind of provisional and stationary base, both for economic and geographical prospecting in the islands themselves, as well as for the exchanges that were carried out from the south of the peninsula with the coasts of the east and northwest, even with the central Mediterranean.
Madina Yabisa. It is an Interpretation Center located inside the building of La Casa de la Curia, in the acropolis of Dalt Vila. During the 16th century, it was the seat of the courts of justice and one of the centers of power in Ibiza. Inside you will receive graphic information that will allow you to learn about the history of the city, especially during the Muslim period.
Des Culleram Sanctuary. This Punic sanctuary is a natural cave that was discovered in 1907, and that same year excavations were carried out, in which they discovered large quantities of terracotta figures and other materials, such as a lion of bone and ivory.
The sanctuary is spectacular as it is located in a large natural cavity that the circulation of water had subdivided into several rooms, especially two large ones, separated by a large curtain of stalactites that you can still see.
We advise you to make these cultural visits, interspersed with the natural routes that we tell you below. There can be no better plan!
The nature of Ibiza is one of the most impressive attractions of the island: Huge Mediterranean pine forests fill its landscapes. The pine trees go down to the beaches with coves of turquoise waters, islets, and the Natural Park of Ses Salines or the Natural Reserves of Es Vedrà, Es Vedranell and the islets of Poniente are those places that will remain engraved in your retina.
Let’s start with the Natural Park of Ses Salines, which comprises an area located between the south of Ibiza and the north of Formentera and occupies a territory of 1,786.52 hectares of land and 13,611.80 marine hectares. In this park we can find, from the ponds of the salt pans, the beaches, to the lunar cordons with centenary junipers, the cliffs and rocky coasts, where you can find such as the peregrine falcon and the osprey, and the islets des Freus (s’Espalmador, s’Espardell, the islet des Penjats, among others).
The Natural Reserve of es Vedrà, es Vedranell and the islets of Poniente is located in the southwest of the island in the municipality of Sant Josep de sa Talaia. The protected territory includes islets, marine environment, cliffs, torrents, beaches and cultivated fields, forests and important mountain massifs. A relevant feature is that this reserve includes the most important elevation of the island of Ibiza, sa Talaia, with 485 meters above sea level. Here you will enjoy the most spectacular sunsets, bathe in crystal clear waters, or stroll through fields of almond blossom and other fruit trees scented by rosemary, thyme and lavender.
Further north, there is the protected area of Es Amunts and the villages of Sant Mateu, Santa Agnès, Sant Agustí or Es Cubells, areas where you can breathe calm.
We also find the village of Sant Mateu very small and cozy, and that cultivates an ancient tradition of wine cultivation. In the month of December the Wine Festival is celebrated, where hundreds of people gather to taste the wines of the island.
The road that joins Sant Rafel and Santa Agnès runs in its last three kilometers through the area of Es Amunts, catalogued as a protected natural area. Santa Agnès becomes the main attraction of the island on full moon nights in January and February, when people come to contemplate its hundreds of almond trees in bloom. Its church was built in 1812 and inside it keeps a carving of the Mother of God of the Rosary, which dates from the same period as the temple.
Sant Agustí is one of the best preserved villages on the island. Its parish house, located at the back of the church, the stone tower in the background and the farmhouses surrounding the square. From the hill you can see the surrounding fields, famous for their vines that produce a homemade and fruity red wine. Nearby you can find many unspoiled beaches, such as Platges of Comte or Cala Bassa.
Es Cubells has a tiny urban center, and is located on the edge of a large cliff. Most of the inhabitants of Es Cubells live in the surrounding fields.
During your tour of the island of Ibiza you will see that it has a natural heritage that remains untouched, where olive trees, junipers, hawks, hares and hounds stand out.
After these long days of visiting exciting places, full of color and diversity, from the blue of its crystal clear waters to the intense yellow of its fields, you will need a well-deserved rest. We suggest you visit the best hotels on the island for their excellent value for money, where you can also enjoy delicious breakfasts to recharge your batteries.