Ibiza Town

Located in the south of this Balearic island, Ibiza’s capital has a very special charm arising from its long history which dates right back to the Phoenicians. The island was traversed by numerous peoples (the Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Christians, etc.), and has, since 1999, been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And this fusion of cultures certainly lies behind the open, cosmopolitan outlook of modern-day Ibiza.

So what are the great attractions of Dalt Vila? There are so many, it is almost impossible to name them all. The best way to start is with a relaxed stroll through the labyrinth of white, cobbled streets, because to walk this town is literally to take a walk through history.

Dalt Vila (“the high town”) is bounded by Renaissance walls built on the orders of Philip II of Spain. The walls form a heptagonal shape, and within them lie treasures such as the Cathedral of Santa María de las Nieves; the Town Hall, located in a former Dominican monastery; the Museu d’Art Contemporani d’Eivissa, and the castle and its ramparts which protected the town from frequent attacks by corsairs and pirates. Some claim that this is the best preserved fortification in the Mediterranean.

Ibiza Town’s historic quarter houses many other attractions, including the Puget Museum, which allows us to glimpse what rural life in Ibiza was like a century ago; the Archaeological Museum, which gives us an insight into the island’s past; and the convent of Sant Cristóbal [Saint Christopher], where visitors can buy confectionery made by the cloistered nuns.

Every year since 1999, the year in which it was declared a World Heritage Site, in the second weekend of May, Dalt Vila has organised a medieval fair, a dazzling spectacle of colour and celebration. Hordes of minstrels, craftsmen and women, spice sellers, dancers, knights, princesses, snake charmers and the like take over the white island to celebrate a festival attended by over 100,000 people.

But perhaps the most amazing spectacle that can be enjoyed from Dalt Vila is the sunset. In any case, and whatever the time of day, visitors can marvel at the breathtaking scenery afforded by this white vantage point, with views of the sea and the marina, and they can breathe in the aromas of its picturesque streets.

Ibiza Town is more than just a cradle of history, as the island’s capital offers a full programme of activities designed for young people, ranging from the Ibiza Dance Platform event, which takes place every year during the first week in July, to the great urban rhythm and dance choreographies, and the Bloop International Art Festival, a proactive urban art event held over three weeks in mid August.

Another Ibiza occasion that makes a big impression on visitors is the Encuentro de Embarcaciones Tradicionales[Traditional Boat Event], which aims to restore traditional vessels, including the typical llaüts that were used for trawl fishing until engine powered boats made them virtually obsolete. But the calendar of activities is far richer than that.

Another essential visit is to Ibiza Town’s marina, known as Marina Ibiza, which combines an exclusive entertainment and restaurant offer with the functionality and elegance of its facilities. The marina lies at the foot of Dalt Vila, and its proximity to the capital adds a certain buzz to its atmosphere, as large numbers of visitors descend on the marina to see the docks where up to 1,400 yachts and pleasure boats berth. And when night falls in this area, it’s time for clubbing and entertainment, for it is here, at Botafoc Ibiza, to be precise, where the island’s smartest and most exclusive discos and clubs are to be found. And so it goes on until dawn.