Towns & Villages |
S' Argamassa |
 
This relatively recent new development of S'Argamassa lies halfway between Santa Eulalia and Es Canar. Very much a coastline development, it has sprung up and flourished with the advent of tourism to become a permanent feature of the east coast. The surrounding area boasts numerous good restaurants, several beautiful beaches, with the full range of water sports facilities, and a number of hotels all taking advantage of this excellent location.  |
Sa Canal |
 This little development at the southernmost tip of the island owes its existence to that white gold known as salt. To find it one must cross the salt flats, which were the basis of the islands' economy for many centuries, prior to tourism. This industry still flourishes and to reach Sa Canal one must pass the extraordinary salt mountain that is built and then gradually dismantled each year, following the salt harvest. The function of the village was to load salt onto ships for onward transmission to northern Europe, prior to the invention of the refrigerator. Nowadays they spread our white gold on the roads when they expect frost or snow? Therefore, the distinguishing feature of the village is a long conveyor belt that reaches way out to sea. The plus side of living here is that one of the finest beaches on the island - Las Salinas - is only a stone's throw away. |
San Agustin |
 This tiny village lies quietly slumbering alongside the road between San Jose and San Antonio. Set in a landscape of olive, almond and carob trees are numerous little fincas spreading out into the surronding countryside, from the central church. An ancient defence tower and a tobacconist completes the village centre, since the only bar in town recently shut down... |
San Antonio |
The second largest town on the island since the ascendence of tourism. Originally called Port Magnus by the Romans, it's full title is Sant Antoni de Portmany (or San Antonio Abad). Why have one name when you can use two? The older part of the town runs from the 16th Century church down to the port as this was originally a fishing village. This is the area known nowadays as the West End and fishermen are scarce. There are, however, more British people to be found on the streets here throughout the summer than in Blackpool. Rumour has it that many of them drink too much, unused to the combination of cheap Spanish beer and 22 hour a day licensing laws. |
San Carlos |
 This busy little village found international renown as a haven for artists even before the arrival of tourism. It is the local shopping centre and meeting point for the whole north-eastern corner of the island, when the beach resorts from Cala San Vicente down the coast to Santa Eulalia shut up shop for the winter. One of the most famous bars on the island resides here opposite the church - Anita's Bar - one of the original hippy bars on the island. It is still home to the letterboxes of many of those who dwell in the many fincas that adorn the surrounding countryside. For this reason, in the long years before any other telephones arrived in the village, people would spend long hours collecting their mail, whilst greeting and exchanging news with their distant neighbours over a home-made hierbas? On the opposite side of the village church to the legendary Anita's Bar a new section of village has appeared and, over the last decade, matured to the extent that the tiny village of old has faded into a distant memory. Nonetheless it took some time before entrepreneurs ventured into the shop units beneath the duplex apartments of which the new development consists. |
San Francisco |
 San Francisco is basically small, consisting of a church, a restaurant, a bar and a supermarket some way down the road.... ..... much like many of the other little villages around the islands! However, the church is currently being massively renovated to house a visitor's centre too, which might explain this odd character's recent appearance... If you're on your way to the beaches of Salinas or Es Cavellet without a huge budget we recommend stopping off at the nearby supermarket to get yourself a very good cheap bocadillo (sandwich) and cold drinks... |
San Jordi |
San Jordi has suffered more than most over recent years, with the growing volume of traffic from the nearby airport heading for Ibiza town. But salvation arrived in 2007 in the form of a new motorway, which bypasses this ancient village. Unusual for its 15th Century church crowned with battlements, from which the beleaguered villagers defended their women and property. Nowadays it is renowned for its Saturday morning flea market at the local horse-trotting stadium. |
San Jose |
 San Jose is the capital of the largest municipality on the island, covering the entire south-western corner from Ibiza town all the way round to San Antonio. Despite this it is little more than a village, surrounding its 15th Century fortress church, perched on the side of the island's highest mountain. The church took 300 years to build and little other construction appears to have been attempted since, unlike many other parts of the island. Consequently, the village remains largely unspoilt, as does the mountainous countryside of the entire municipality. |
San Juan |
 San Juan is the capital village of the municipality of the same name, which covers the entire northern slice of the island, San Juan is a sleepy little village with a pace of life to die for? It lies at the head of a beautiful wooded valley surrounded by a mountain range that mirrors that of its opposite southern sister municipality of San Jose. Possibly the most chilled out village on the island, it is best summarized by the visit of the local fish van on Friday mornings. Upon arrival the driver leaps out of his van slowly, throws open the back door, reaches for his conch and blows it like a horn. This accomplished he relaxes and waits while the villagers slowly wend their way to the van to inspect his wares. The fish are fresh even in the height of summer. |
San Lorenzo |
An ancient Moorish settlement between Santa Eulalia and Santa Gertrudis dominated by its imposing church and a few surrounding watch towers. There are a few houses here, but a bar and restaurant serve as the best excuses to stop - as does the rather lovely picnic and barbecue area above the hamlet. This unusual arrangement is popular with locals as a spot where you can turn up with your own food and drink, and find everything else laid on by the local authorities. We're talking everything from ready built barbecues to dry wood and covered eating areas replete with rustic tables and benches. You won't believe the amenities until you stumble across this unique facility. |
San Mateo |
 The beautiful, unspoilt San Mateo valley is in the far north of the island. Physically the valley is very similar to the crown valley of Sant Agnes, but without the multitude of almond trees. Instead it is largely cultivated, although sparsely populated with just the occasional finca dotted around the forest of the surrounding hills. For this reason each finca has a fabulous view over the valley, although this is more likely to be to afford an early view of approaching unexpected visitors in days gone by, than for aesthetic reasons. The valley is breathtakingly peaceful with barely a sound in the air but birdsong and snatches of distant conversation. In the patchwork of fields spread across the flat base of the valley one can make out a scattered handful of local farmers bent double tending their crops. No labour saving machinery here to spoil the almost perfect silence. Apart from the tiny hamlet of San Mateo the only noteworthy public venue is the Es Trull Restaurant, which sits at the northern end of the valley. One of the very few restaurants in this area open for business throughout the winter.... |
San Miguel |
 A sleepy little village in the north of the island that has sprung up around an 18th Century fortified church. This stands atop the highest mountain in the area, offering spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Most of this countryside ends abruptly at the towering cliffs of the north coast, where it borders the sea. However, these weren't always enough to deter determined pirates. Consequently, the church doubled as both a fortress and social centre for the local farming population - for whom this was the centre of the universe. Or, at least, the place you would meet your future wife some lucky day ? |
San Rafael |
 At the heart of the island, atop the hill between Ibiza and San Antonio, this was traditionally the place to pause for breath, having scaled the hill from either town, before the leisurely descent to the other. One can almost picture the mules blowing hard outside that little bar at the entrance to the village, whilst their owners relaxed in the shade with a little light refreshment. Locals had been avoiding the village like the plague for most of 2006 and early 2007, as the construction of an underground tunnel had temporarily driven all traffic through the village. However, now the project has been completed the village should quickly return to the way the mules preferred it? |
San Vicente |
 There really isn't much here nowadays other than a church and, rather surprisingly, a post office. |
Santa Eulalia |
 Santa Eulalia is possibly the finest town in the world in which to live? A brave and sweeping statement of the sort that you might expect from people who weren't very well traveled and happened to live there anyway, but the evidence is compelling:
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Santa Gertrudis |
 This little village in the centre of the island is about as far from the sea as you can be. It always brings to mind the "Champs Elysee" of Paris by virtue of its "cafe society" main street, with tables full of diners overflowing into the road outside the "cheek and jowl" cafes. There wasn't much else to the village until recently, but now it's rapidly growing as the price of houses "with a sea view" have rocketed out of most people's reach. With the nearest beaches only ten minutes away, and the furthest half an hour, it remains a village that is neither dependent upon, nor swamped with tourists, even during the peak season. It is sufficiently civilized that whenever locals have to cross the island, they inevitably detour through Santa Gertrudis for a coffee, to break their short journey? |
Santa Ines |
This isolated village in the north of the island is one of the most unspoilt to be found. It's isolation ensures this, and that's the way the locals like it. However, over recent decades they have become accustomed to the occasional flurry of tourists passing through, when the Cultural Road Train (locally referred to as the 'wally wagon') pays a visit. The other annual flurry of activity is the pilgrimage in February when the almond blossom can be enjoyed by the light of the full moon. The tourists on this occasion, however, are the island's residents as it's far too early for the tourist hordes. The village is basically a service centre to the many homes that decorate the surrounding crown of hills, which give the village it's name. Opposite the ancient village church stands the "Bar Tienda Can Cosmi", which is the oldest establishment in the village. It has been run by the same family for over sixty years providing the locals with their groceries, woven straw hats and baskets and, of course, liquid refreshment before the journey back to their fincas, laden with shopping. On the other side of the junction you'll find "La Palmera", which is the other bar in town and has been since the early 70's. It's an unusual arrangement with a garden terrace arranged over different levels and tiny chairs to remind us all that, historically, the Ibicencos are tiny people. The decor hasn't changed much since the 70's and the food - well they specialize in Ibicenco dishes and are open all year round. Next door to this is the only other shop in town, "Cas Cabater", which is a leather craftsman's workshop. The smell of leather wafting through the door is too much for most people's curiosity and invites them in to watch the craftsman at work surrounded by shoes, belts and brilliantly coloured handbags and wallets. |
Siesta |
 This little village is almost joined to its big sister town of Santa Eulalia, but is separated from it by the only river in the entire Balearics. The river is only a few hundred metres long, but is crossed by an unusual suspension bridge near to where it meets the sea. Unlike Santa Eulalia, Siesta is built on the side of the nearest mountain overlooking the Bay of Santa Eulalia and the sunrise, but separating both from the next bay of Cala Llonga - a long and strenuous, but beautiful coastal walk away. Predominantly a seasonal resort it has, nonetheless, some fine restaurants and is only a few minutes walk along the beach away from the heart of the cosmopolitan town of Santa Eulalia. |
Talamanca |
 Talamanca is the development at the far end of the beach of the same name, on the opposite side of the Ses Feixes marshland to Ibiza Town. As such it serves as a mini-commuter belt for those who want to live in the country, but still get to work with minimal travel experiences. What life there is revolves around the beach, which restricts the action to the summer. But it's only a five minute drive to town, so who cares? |
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