Ibiza Town (or Eivissa) is an good alternative to the dance clubs and discos that have made Ibiza so famous. The capital has an historic old sector, complete with art museums, boutiques, a fine cathedral and some quite interesting archaeological relics.
The
Ibiza City Walls surrounding the old quarter of Ibiza Town, Dalt Vila, were constructed during the early 16th century to help protect the Ibiza from assault by the Ottoman armies. There are 5 old gates built within the walls, the most important being the Portal de ses Taules which accessed accessed through a drawbridge. At the summit of Dalt Vila is the Eivissa Castle which has in recent times undergone a large amount of renovation and work. Many of the fine buildings within the castle proper, are dated from the 18th century, although the primary tower, the Torre d Homenatge is more ancient. Just below the castle walls are the extensive gardens of the Parque Reina Sofia, which are quite often used for different types of concerts.
Inside the Dalt Vila, which actually means the "high town" due to its high situation, is the beautiful 13th century Gothic style cathedral of Nuestra Senora de las Nieves. Constructed on the old site of a former Muslim mosque, the cathedral is most notable for its splendid altar piece. There is a museum inside the cathedral vestry which displays some important religious artifacts. Outside of the old town walls is another fine old church, the Eglesia de Santo Domingo, constucted during the late 16th century with marvelous Baroque style features.
Just opposite the cathedral is the interesting
Archaeology Museum which follows the history of Ibiza and nearby Formentera island, from prehistory through to the early Christian conquest in the mid 13th century. The museum also has a very impressive collection of relics from the Carthaginian era. Again within the Dalt Vila, (which is a UNESCO World Heritage site) is the modern art museum which was opened in 1971, the museum contains a good selection of avant-garde works, including quality paintings and sculptures. Some of the displays are actually housed within the old Gunpowder magazine beneath the town walls.
Another very important archaeological site found in Ibiza Town is the old Phoenician burial site of Puig del Molins which dates back to the 7th century BC and was supposedly in use right up until the arrival of the Romans. The deceased were often intered along with their prized possessions plus offerings to their gods, including gold and silver coins, jewelry, amulets and other precious relics have all been excavated here.
Central between the port district and Dalt Vila are the areas of Sa Penya and La Marina, which are considered the best places to visit if you want to eat out, indulge in some shopping or just enjoy a night out. Two of the most well known dance clubs are the famous
Pacha and
El Divino, and do not forget the Rock Bar, Zoo Bar and Base Bar which are the pick of the earlier bars. There are excellent beaches within walking distance of Ibiza Town, probably the most popular is the Playa D’en Bossa, just about one mile from the town centre, where there are couple of famous discos, Bora Bora and Space, alongside the it.
Ibiza Town is not far (5 miles) from the international airport and there is a fairly regular bus service from there, although local taxis are usually more convenient with an arm full of luggage.
