Ibiza-Town
Municipalities & Their Villages
(Ciudad de Eivissa) - The city that gave the island its name. With around 45,000 inhabitants, Ibiza, commonly known as Vila, is the largest city on the island and, recently, also officially the capital. The old town is divided into three districts: La Marina, Sa Penya, and Dalt Vila.
The Districts Ibiza Town
La Marina
In the harbor district of La Marina, trade and entertainment have always been concentrated, both in the past and today. One shop follows another; fashion boutiques and handicraft stores invite you to stroll. In the numerous bars and restaurants, you can rest your tired legs and recharge your energy.
In the evening, the harbor promenade turns into a bustling walkway, with street performers, musicians, and stilt-walking nightclub entertainers providing a colorful spectacle. However, in the winter months, La Marina takes a break: most shops are closed, and you can leisurely watch the ships coming in and out while enjoying a coffee.
Directly in front of the harbor building stands the obelisk, erected in 1906, in memory of the Ibizan corsairs who protected the island from hostile pirates for centuries while also making rich plunder. Antoni Riquer was celebrated as a hero for capturing the English brig "Felicity" in 1806, to the jubilant applause of the population watching from the city walls.
Sa Penya
The former fishing district of Sa Penya rises from the marina up to the steep cliff and the city wall. Narrow alleyways and staircases run through the district, which was the poorest in the city and still requires renovation in some of the upper areas, where mostly gypsies live. In the lower-lying Calle de la Virgen, also known as Carrer de sa Mare de Deu, the nightlife thrives in small bars and trendy boutiques. Behind the round building of the old fish market Sa Peixateria, you'll find Lola's, the island's first nightclub. The nightlife in Sa Penya is particularly popular with the gay community, who make up the regular clientele here.
Dalt Vila
Dalt Vila and the necropolis on Puig des Molins have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since December 1999.
The Impressive Upper Town of Ibiza - Dalt Vila, the historic upper town of Ibiza, is completely surrounded by an impressive city wall. Here, citizens built their magnificent town palaces at a secure height. The Moors already fortified the upper town with a defensive wall and 30 watchtowers, dividing the city into four sections. Intruders had to overcome these one by one to reach the palace and mosque at the top of the hill. Some remains of these Moorish fortifications are still well preserved today and are partly still inhabited, as visible at Plaza de Vila.
The present fortress wall of Dalt Vila dates back to the 16th century and was designed by the Italian architects Giovanni Battista Calvi and Jacobo Paleazo Fratín to withstand the artillery demands. The seven impressive bastions, including the Baluard de Sant Joan, which protects the city gates to the harbor, and the Baluard de Santa Llúcia, known for the annual jazz festival, IMS Ibiza, and the Light Festival, made the fortress nearly impregnable. A walk along the impressive wall offers breathtaking views of the lower town, the harbor, the surrounding landscape, and the sea, which stretches all the way to Formentera.
From the marina, you enter the upper town through the Portal de ses Taules. The main entrance, formerly known as Puerta del Mar. Across from the old market Es Mercat Vell, a ramp with a drawbridge begins, evoking a medieval atmosphere. The headless statues that flank the entrance are replicas of Roman originals, which are displayed in the museum near the cathedral.
Directly behind the large city gate is the old armory with its impressive colonnade. And now we stand on the Plaza de Vila, surrounded by boutiques, art galleries, bars, and restaurants. At the end of the square, a short street leads to the right, first steeply uphill and then steeply downhill to the second, northern city gate, Puerta del Palomar, the only one through which you can drive with a car. However, this is only permitted for the residents of Dalt Vila. On the top right, practically above the armory, is the Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu d'Art Contemporani), which is always worth a visit.
Straight ahead, beyond the Plaza de Vila, the narrow Carrer de Santa Creu leads to the smaller Plaza del Sol and the third and final city gate, Portal Nou, whose tunnel-like passage gives a sense of how thick the city walls are. Outside the wall, next to Portal Nou, is the Plaza de Reina Sofía, where many open-air concerts take place in the summer, especially in August. From here, it's just a short walk to the necropolis on the hill of Puig des Molins, where Carthaginians and later Romans buried their dead in underground tombs. The museum at Vía Romana is unfortunately still closed for renovations, but some graves on the site can still be visited. The necropolis, where around 4,000 tomb chambers are believed to be, is considered one of the most important testimonies of Phoenician culture in the world. ....
.... From the Plaza del Sol, a wide staircase leads further up. At the top of the city wall, you can reach the cathedral. However, many paths lead to the hilltop, and we want to explore more sights of Dalt Vila. If you turn left after the armory and turn your back on Plaza de Vila, you will reach the baroque Church of Santo Domingo from the 17th century via Carrer Sa Carrossa. It is part of the former Dominican convent, which has housed the town hall of Ibiza since 1838. The main entrance is on Plaza España, where the monument to the Catalan military leader Guillerm de Montgrí stands, who defeated the Moors.
A legend tells how he managed this feat. This has to do with the small Capella de Sant Ciriac, which we reach by walking further uphill through the streets Pere Tur and Joan Román, passing the Old Seminary, which now houses luxury apartments. Under the statue of Saint Cyriacus (right at the beginning of the street of the same name, after an ice cream stand), you can see the upper edge of a wall opening. There, in ancient times, a secret tunnel through the Arab city wall is said to have existed, known only to the Emir's family. In August 1235, Guillerm de Montgrí camped with his army, disheartened, in Es Soto before the city walls, which he could not breach despite repeated attacks. However, the Emir had taken his brother's favorite wife. To take revenge, the brother opened the secret gate to the Christians. Be careful with love, especially in times of war.
A final steep ascent through Carrer Major is still to be conquered, then you stand in the square in front of the cathedral. It was built between the 14th and 16th centuries in the simple style of Catalan Gothic on the foundations of the mosque and was dedicated to Saint Mary of the Snows (Santa María de las Nieves), because this Marian feast day (August 5) was closest to the day of the conquest (August 8). Both days are celebrated particularly lavishly in Ibiza. To the left of the cathedral, in the buildings of the former administrative body Universitat and two adjoining chapels, the Archaeological Museum is housed. To the right of the cathedral stands the castle, Es Castell, which gives a somewhat dilapidated impression due to the constant lack of funds for restoration.
A new purpose has now been found for the former residence of the royal governor: Es Castell has been incorporated into the state-run Parador chain, which establishes luxury hotels in historical buildings. The restoration has already begun. From the bastions and the city wall behind the cathedral, you have a fantastic view over the sea. A tunnel leads through the city wall to Es Soto, where a parking lot for tourist buses has been set up, as well as parking for the cars of visitors who avoid the somewhat strenuous climb through the old town.
To enjoy the sights in peace and avoid getting lost in the maze of narrow old town streets, the tourist office (Oficina de Turismo - at the harbor opposite the obelisk) offers a city map with detailed explanations, also in German. It is advisable to check there for the opening hours of the museums and the cathedral, which often change.
Die Neustadt
It was not until 1898 that Ibiza Town expanded beyond the city wall of the old town districts, which ran from the Puerta del Palomar gate to the harbor. The Teatro Pereira (Carrer Conde Rosselló) was inaugurated, with red plush seats and variety performances, where women were forbidden to attend. Later, it was converted into a cinema, and a bit later, the Dutchman Jan Erik set up a jazz bar in the former expansive foyer, where the midnight live music attracted crowds. After several years of extensive restoration, the Teatro Pereira was completed in 2023 and will soon shine in its new splendor. In 1904, a monument was ceremoniously unveiled on a nearby free-standing poplar avenue in the presence of King Alfonso XII, honoring the Ibizan general Joaquín Vara de Rey i Rubió, who died in the Cuban War. The USA had declared war on Spain; with the defeat, Spain lost its last overseas colony. Between 1913 and 1935, houses in the Spanish colonial style were built around the avenue. Today, the square, known as Vara de Rey, is the center of the city. In the terrace cafés, news is exchanged, and many a business deal is initiated and completed. Especially the Montesol, the oldest hotel in the city, draws on its old charm. It is said that Caroline of Monaco, Orson Welles, and Pink Floyd have sat on its chairs.
The Paseo Juan Carlos I leads to the new sports harbor Marina Botafoch, where the most expensive yachts are docked. From here, where numerous restaurants, bars, and boutiques have settled, there is a fantastic view of the old town. In recent years, the Paseo has been extended to the centuries-old lighthouse, Far des Botafoch, and the new pier for cruise ships. The fact that the path passes over two islands, Illa Plana and Illa Grossa, is no longer apparent today. In Phoenician times, there was a Tanit temple on Illa Plana, and in the Middle Ages, it served as a quarantine station during times of plague.
Around the harbor
A walk along the harbor quay offers the chance to admire ships of all sizes, from small Ibizan fishing boats, the Llaüds, to ocean-going super yachts equipped with the latest technology. The commercial and passenger ships from the mainland dock opposite the La Marina district, directly at the new harbor pier next to the Botafoch lighthouse, which greets from the opposite side of the harbor basin.
The ferry dock to Formentera is followed by the Ibiza Nueva marina with the Club Náutico, established in 1925. Small boats, mostly owned by Ibizan locals, bob on the water. After a short, somewhat tedious stretch where cargo containers are loaded, we reach Paseo Juan Carlos I. In the 1980s, the casino was established here, followed by a whole range of pubs and bars that became famous in Ibiza’s nightlife, such as El Divino, Keeper, etc. At the casino, located at the 5-star Gran Hotel, slot machines, roulette, and blackjack await players looking to try their luck. On the parallel street behind, Avenida 8 de Agosto, is the famous nightclub Pacha, which opened in 1973.
The Paseo Juan Carlos I leads to the new sports harbor Marina Botafoch, where the most expensive yachts are docked. From here, where numerous restaurants, bars, and boutiques have settled, there is a fantastic view of the old town. In recent years, the Paseo has been extended to the centuries-old lighthouse Far des Botafoch and the new pier for cruise ships. The fact that the path passes over two islands, Illa Plana and Illa Grossa, is no longer visible today. In Phoenician times, there was a Tanit temple on Illa Plana, and in the Middle Ages, it served as a quarantine station during times of plague.
Ses Feixes
Beyond the streets that stretch around the harbor opposite the old town, a forest of reeds rises. There lies the wetland Ses Feixes. The Moors once drained the area with a complex system of canals to create vegetable gardens to supply the city's inhabitants. Each garden had its own free-standing entrance gate; some of these typical masonry gates, which resemble a square horseshoe, are still preserved. Today, ecologists, who would prefer to fully protect the area due to its historical significance and the large number of bird species that breed here, are in conflict with the landowners, for whom the property value of the expensive city plots is more important. A walk through the Feixes is most enjoyable in the area behind Avenida 8 de Agosto.
Talamanca
At the end of Avenida 8 de Agosto, you stand on the fine white sand in front of the Bar Flotante. On the back side of Illa Grossa, behind the harbor basin and just a few meters from Marina Botafoch, the lovely Talamanca Beach curves in a semicircle around the bay. The shallow water is very child-friendly. Although, like on almost all of the island's larger beaches, a whole tourist district with hotels, apartments, restaurants, and shops has developed here, it is still much quieter than in Ses Figueretes or Playa d'en Bossa. While most of Talamanca is already part of the Santa Eulalia municipality, due to its proximity to the city and accessibility (both a bus and a water taxi run to the center), we wanted to include the beach under Ibiza Town. Behind Talamanca rises Cap Martinet, where many celebrities settle in their villas during the summer.
