History

Around 1800 BC:

The megalithic burial site Ca na Costa proves that the island was inhabited.

123 BC:

After Rome's victory in the Third Punic War and the destruction of Carthage, the Romans also occupy Formentera and rename it Frumentaria ("Wheat Island").

70 BC:

Formentera becomes part of the Roman Empire.

426:

During the Germanic migrations, the East Germanic tribe of the Vandals, under Genseric, invades the western Mediterranean, establishes a new kingdom in North Africa, and takes control of Formentera for a century.

533:

The Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian destroys the Vandal kingdom. Formentera returns to Byzantium.

711:

The Moors defeat the Visigoths, who had settled on the Spanish mainland, and conquer the Balearic Islands. Remnants of the Visigoths establish the Kingdom of Asturias, while the Spanish March of the Frankish Empire emerges in the northeast, with Barcelona as its capital. The internal turmoil also affects the islands, which suffer from constant conquests and changing rule.

859:

Formentera is raided by plundering Vikings.

902:

The Caliph of Córdoba occupies Ebusus (Ibiza) and renames it Medina Iabissa. Peace is restored, and the island flourishes once again. Islam becomes the second religion alongside Christianity. The Moors introduce their rich agricultural knowledge, creating terraced fields, irrigation systems, fruit plantations, and vegetable gardens. Art and science revive. The island is divided into five administrative districts: Alhaueth, Algarb, Portumany, Benizamid, and Xarch. From 1014, Medina Iabissa belongs to the Caliphate of Dénia.

1235:

The Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of Islamic Spain, reaches Medina Iabissa. Led by the Catalan commander Guillerm de Montgrí on behalf of the Crown of Aragón, the Christian army defeats the Moors and drives them from the island. The Catalans rename Medina Iabissa to Eivissa, and the five districts are renamed Pla de Vila, Ses Salines, Portmany, Balanzat, and Quartó des Rei. These later became the current municipalities of Eivissa, Sant Josep de sa Talaia, Sant Antoni de Portmany, Sant Miguel de Balanzat, and Santa Eulària des Ríu. With the establishment of the Kingdom of the Balearics in 1276, the Pityusen Islands came under Mallorcan administration.

1469:

Formentera becomes part of the Spanish Kingdom! The marriage of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragón lays the foundation for the Spanish state, which includes the Balearics. However, the Spanish crown is distant, and pirates are nearby. Constant raids cause many victims. The last inhabitants of Formentera flee to Eivissa, leaving their island desolate. On Eivissa, watchtowers are built. In 1555, King Charles I (who ruled as Charles V in Germany) orders the renovation of the city wall by the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Calvi, adding bastions. The construction lasts thirty years. Yet, the population of Eivissa continues to decline, and in 1652, half of the city's population dies from the plague.

From 1580:

Due to constant pirate attacks, Formentera is completely depopulated.

From 1780:

Formentera is slowly resettled from Ibiza.

From 1960:

In the 1960s and 1970s, the island was very popular with hippies who came over from Ibiza. Formentera is associated with Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Bob Dylan. Chris Rea also lived there, and the music video for his song "On the Beach" was filmed here. Remnants of the hippie era include the restaurant Fonda Pepe and the guitar-making school "Formentera Guitars," as well as the arts and crafts market ("Hippie Market") in El Pilar de la Mola on Wednesdays and Sundays.

From 1975:

Franco dies. Juan Carlos I becomes King of Spain and initiates the transition to democracy. The Spanish Constitution is passed in 1978. Spain joins the EU in 1986. Since 1982, the Balearics have been an autonomous region with its own parliament, where the island councils of Mallorca, Menorca, and the Pityusen Islands fiercely debate their powers. Since 2007, Ibiza and Formentera have had their own island councils. Catalan is reintroduced as an official language alongside Castilian and is increasingly used as the language of instruction in schools. At the airport, Ibiza/Eivissa is now used as the name.

Arrival to Formentera

Formentera does not have its own airport, so the usual way to reach the island is via the neighboring island of Ibiza. The transfer from Ibiza to Formentera is done by ferry, with the duration varying depending on the type of ferry, ranging from 30 minutes (hydroplane) to 45 minutes (regular ferry).

Summer: In summer, numerous charter flights from all over Europe fly directly or indirectly to Ibiza.

Winter: In the winter months, there are fewer charter flights, but regular scheduled flights are offered from many European cities to Ibiza.

By Car: Traveling by car from Germany is possible, but it is mainly recommended if overnight stops are planned. The distance from Düsseldorf to Barcelona is, for example, 1,420 km. There are highway tolls in France and Spain. From Barcelona to Valencia is another 351 km, and from Valencia to Denia it is 105 km. Ferries run regularly from Barcelona, Valencia, and Denia to Ibiza, with it being especially advisable to book the ferry in advance during the summer.

Ferries: The large ferries between the mainland and Ibiza/Formentera transport passengers, cars, trucks, and buses. Ferries run regularly from Denia, Valencia, and Barcelona, although they are often fully booked in summer. The travel times vary depending on the departure location:

From Denia: daily, 3-4 hours
From Valencia: 3-5 times a week, 5-6 hours
From Barcelona: 3-5 times a week, 8-9 hours
It is recommended to reserve the ferries early to secure the best connections.

Temperatures

Formentera impresses with its balanced and mild climate, which is considered one of the island's greatest assets. Thanks to its location in the Mediterranean, which acts as a heat reservoir, extreme weather conditions—neither unusually high nor low temperatures—are rare on the island. The weather remains stable and pleasant throughout the year.

Spring begins on Formentera as early as late January, with mild temperatures. The summer months are significantly hotter than in other regions, often reaching temperatures in August that can be perceived as almost unbearable due to high humidity. However, the constant wind that sweeps across the island provides a refreshing breeze, making it possible to tolerate the high summer temperatures in July and August.

Rain is rare on Formentera, as the island is relatively low-lying. Most precipitation occurs towards the end of September and in early October, when heavy showers occasionally refresh the island.

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