The city of Ibiza is the capital of the island of the same name and, perhaps, the most famous and popular resort in the Balearic archipelago. Every year, successful, rich people, celebrities, and “golden” youth come here. Tourists tend to come here, first of all, not for the sake of historical and architectural attractions, but for round-the-clock unrestrained fun.
General information
The city was founded more than 2.5 thousand years ago by the Carthaginians, is located on a hill, surrounded by powerful fortresses towering over the port. It took only four decades for the city to transform from an inconspicuous settlement into one of the most successful and prosperous resorts on the island and the entire Mediterranean. Modern Ibiza is a combination of the best night clubs, kilometers of comfortable beaches and a huge number of shops.
Interesting fact! Quite often there is confusion with the name of the resort and island. If you follow the rules of the Catalan language, the city and archipelago should be called Ibiza, but tourists and locals prefer to say Ibiza.
The city is located on the south-eastern edge of the island, its area is slightly larger than 11 km2, and the population is 50 thousand inhabitants.
The history of the locality is quite tragic. It began with the period of colonization of Spain. At that time, the city was called Ibossim and was actively developing-wool, paints were produced here, the best sea delicacies were caught and, of course, one of the most valuable products was extracted – salt.
Often the city became the cause of wars and strife, in 206 BC. e. the Romans were able to subdue the settlement and called it Ebusus. After the Roman Empire collapsed, the city belonged to vandals, Byzantines, and Arabs. But today, this Spanish city is undoubtedly included in the list of the best and most fashionable resorts.
Ibiza town Attractions
Given the reverent age of the resort of Ibiza-more than 2.5 thousand years – here are preserved unique sights that take you back to the distant past.
Old Town
The heart of the city is the historical center or as it is called by locals – Dalt Villa. The area has preserved the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, where most of the attractions are concentrated. The ancient part of the city is surrounded by fortress walls, which even today look monumental and majestic. These walls hide cozy houses, stone-paved streets and pine forests.
Interesting fact! The age of the Old Town of Ibiza is more than 27 centuries, of course, during this period there were many different events that left their mark on the appearance and architecture of Dalt Villa. The old town is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In the historical part of Ibiza, there are many souvenir shops, restaurants, museums, art galleries. Many are located near the Plaza de Vila. Main sights of the Old Town:
- fortress walls;
- castle;
- The Cathedral;
- An ancient hotel dating back to the 14th century, it is now closed, but in the past Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe rested here.
You can climb up to the fortress walls and enjoy the city and sea views. By the way, archaeological excavations are still being conducted on the territory of Ibiza, and the finds are presented in the Archaeological Museum.
In the old district of Dalt Villa, locals go for a walk, eat, shop in shops. The fortifications were built during the Renaissance, including seven bastions, one of which has a gate (located near the Reina Sofia Park). Today, it hosts cultural events and concerts right in the open air. There is another gate – Portal de ses Taules. Nearby is a beautiful, creative square, where there are many galleries, workshops, restaurants.
Interesting fact! On the way to the bastion of Santa Lucia, you can see a statue made of bronze, which immortalizes the image of the priest Don Isidor Makabich, who devoted his life to studying the history of the island.
Fortress of the city of Ibiza
The fortress or castle of Ibiza is a powerful fortification located on the coast. Construction was carried out in the 12th century. The architecture of the fortress is a combination of Gothic and Renaissance. There are 12 towers built on the fortress wall, and inside there are residential buildings, the governor’s residence, and the cathedral. By the way, some houses are still inhabited by citizens, but most of the back ones are occupied by shops, souvenir shops, bars, restaurants, and galleries.
Useful to know! The fortress wall and the square inside it are open to the public around the clock. Today it is the most popular tourist attraction in the city.
In the fortress of Ibiza there is an Archaeological Museum, where you can see ancient cannons, knight’s armor.
Since the fortress and castle are built on top of a hill, you can see them from anywhere in the city. The attraction looks strict and harsh-massive walls, lack of decor, small loopholes instead of windows.
A tip! For walking, choose days when the sun is hidden behind clouds, be sure to wear comfortable, athletic shoes and comfortable clothes. Be prepared for the fact that most of the way will have to do on the stairs.
The Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Snow is also located in the historical part of the city. The construction of the temple is connected with the appearance of snow, which was considered a miracle.
Initially, a mosque was located on the site of the cathedral, but they did not demolish it, but simply adapted it to the Christian religion.Already in the 16th century, the exterior of the cathedral showed signs of Catalan Gothic. In the 18th century, the city authorities decided to restore the temple, the work lasted 13 years. After that, the Gothic elements completely disappeared and Baroque details appeared. At the end of the 18th century, the Diocese of Ibiza was founded by a decree of the Pope, and from that moment the cathedral received the status of a cathedral.
The interior of the cathedral is strict, restrained, concise, but at the same time majestic. The halls are decorated with marble columns and white walls. The main decoration of the cathedral is an altar decorated with a sculpture of the Virgin Mary. The cathedral is especially proud of its collection of treasures – medieval paintings depicting the faces of saints, church objects and, of course, a sculpture of the Virgin Mary.
Practical information:
- admission to the cathedral is free;
- visit to the treasury for a fee – 1 EUR;
- opening hours-daily except Sundays from 10-00 to 19-00.
Port
The port where cruise ships arrive is 3.5 km from the city center, closer to its outskirts, but small, private boats are moored in the Marina de Botafoc harbor.
It offers passengers all the infrastructure-shops and restaurants, hotels, casinos and, of course, night clubs. The main attractions can be reached on foot, but if you don’t have much time, take the shuttle service to the center and back to the port. Buses and taxis also leave for the historical part of the city. From the port, you can take ferries to the neighboring islands, where you can go on excursions. One of the most popular among tourists is the island of Formentera.
Beaches of Ibiza Town
The city has three beaches:
- Talamanca;
- Playa den Bossa;
- Ces Figueretes.
Talamanca
It has a curved shape, with a beautiful view of the city from the shore, and the landscape is especially fascinating in the evening. Talamanca is perfect for a leisurely family vacation.
The beach is located 20 minutes from the center of Ibiza, so many tourists walk to the shore on foot, admiring nature. By the way, the atmosphere in the city and on Talamanca is radically different, if in Ibiza life boils around the clock, then on the shore it is calm and quiet.
For tourists, there is a water park, and you can eat in one of the many cafes or restaurants located on the embankment. By the way, most establishments are open from lunch, some open only in the evening. The menu is dominated by Mediterranean dishes. There are also places with Asian and Mexican cuisine.
Useful to know! The coastline is 900 m long and 25 m wide. The beach is equipped with showers, places where you can change clothes.
A few kilometers from Talamanca there is a small village of Jesus, where the oldest church of the archipelago is preserved, it was built in the 15th century. The main attraction is the iconostasis of the medieval Gothic period.
Playa den Bossa
The length of the coastline is 3 km, there is soft, golden sand, the depth increases gradually. In terms of the number of entertainment venues, Playa den Bossa is second only to Ibiza itself. There are many shops, souvenir shops, and tourists come to relax in some of the best night clubs on the island.
Interesting to know! The beach offers a wonderful view of the Old Town.
Characteristics of the beach-clear water, soft sand, depth, safe for children. There is also a sunbed and umbrella rental service, as well as water sports equipment. The disadvantage of Playa den Bossa is the lack of shade on the beach.
If you walk along the shore and walk almost to the end of the beach, you will find yourself on Coco Platja. It is quiet, quiet, almost no people. You can also walk to the observation tower, which offers views of the wonderful bay. There is a nudist beach nearby, and there is also a water park and a bowling center next to Playa den Bossa.
Ces Figueretes
Classic for Ibiza beach-consists of coves that are connected by low rocks. Ses Figueretes is the closest to the city center, with an alley on one side that offers excellent infrastructure.
A selection of the best beaches on the island with photos can be found on this page.
Where to stay
There are no problems finding accommodation on the island, there are also cheap hostels (from 30 EUR), standard rooms in 3-star hotels (from 45 EUR), luxury villas and apartments in 5-star hotels (130 EUR).
How to get to Ibiza
The international airport is located just 7 km from the city center in a south-westerly direction. European flights arrive here.
Buses depart from the airport from 7-00 to 23-00 at one-hour intervals. The exact schedule is shown on the bus station information board. In addition, the necessary information about the departure of buses is available on the official website of the bus station: http://ibizabus.com.
Tickets can be purchased at two ticket offices or directly from the bus driver. The bus station is located at Av. Isidoro Macabich, 700 m from the port.
Just 10 minutes from the airport to the city will take a taxi, but be prepared for the fact that in high season you can wait for a car for several hours. The cost of the trip is about 25 EUR.
If you are vacationing in Barcelona or Valencia, you can get to Ibiza by ferry during the summer months.
So, the city of Ibiza is a great place for sightseeing, beach, entertainment. By the way, shopping here is also one of the best on the island. If you are planning a family holiday with children, pay attention to the surrounding area with clean beaches.
