Spain Property Guide Summer 2021

By Michel Cruz
culture also touched by traders from Greece and Rome, which
would later come to rule the territory under the name of Ebusus.
A popular attraction are the remains of a Phoenician
settlement at Sa Caleta, one of the finest examples of its kind,
while a small cluster of islands on the east coast draws scores
of visitors for a variety of reasons. Famed as the spot with the
third most powerful magnetic energy in the world, the islands
of Es Vedra and Es Vedranell certainly exert an irresistible pull on
hippies, travellers and those who can drag themselves away
from the clubs for a little cosmic introspection. But Es Vedra also
holds a mythical place in ancient history, alternatively cited as
the Island of Sirens in the Homeric epics, the holy island of the
Phoenician goddess Tanit and the birthplace of the Carthaginian
general Hannibal.
It is said that sacrifices were performed here by ancient
cults, whilst others say it is the tip of the sunken civilisation of
Atlantis, thus explaining why it is such a popular landing spot for
intergalactic travellers. The hippies who tell you this will also say
they’ve seen UFOs shooting over here, but maybe that’s down to
the kind of ‘tobacco’ they smoke. Either way, it’s a wonderfully
mysterious spot in which to indulge in wild theories and feel the
otherworldly atmosphere as you – per tradition – make a wish the
moment the island comes into view.
Later invaders, such as Germanic Vandals and Hellenic
Byzantines would pass through Ibiza too, as would the Moors,
before the territory passed to the Kingdom of Aragon in 1235,
paving the way for inclusion into the unified Spanish state.
Perhaps of greater influence even than all these invaders and
conquerors were the pirates that infested these islands for so
many centuries, plundering, murdering, raping and dragging
entire populations off to be sold as slaves in their dens. From the
earliest days to the medieval incursions by Vikings, Normans and
Crusaders, the people of the Pine Islands suffered relentlessly.
No more so, though, than during the centuries of raids by the
Barbary Corsairs, whose enslavement of tens of thousands of
islanders ended only when France conquered Algeria in 1830.
Until then, most of the beautiful seaside that now draws so
many people was devoid of population, made uninhabitable
by fear. The seaside villages we see today date in the main from
the 19th century, before which you needed an impregnable
fortress to retire to when the raids came. The town of Ibiza is a
fine example of this. Though it now houses almost half the island’s
125,000 people, it was for long little more than a small port
protected by the Almudaina Castle. This large walled fortress,
which stands at the top of the picturesque Dalt Vila (Old Town),
provided the protection that made life here possible, but from
the mid-19th century onwards Ibiza’s capital developed quickly,
a process that was further boosted by the rise of the tourist
industry from the 1950s on.
A SENSORY EXPERIENCE
The old walled town is so pretty that the entire area has
been declared a world heritage site by Unesco, complete
with castle, churches and the quaint houses and little plazas.
Here you will almost stumble over the history of the island, or
simply drink in the atmosphere, while on the other side of the
bay luxury yachts lie in the trendy marina fronted by luxury
boutiques, eateries and lounge bars. Much of the nightlife
continues to be concentrated around calle Barcelona, while
the town is also home to some of the most popular clubs,
among them the famous Café del Mar, where revellers come
to chillout and watch the sun set.
They are just some of the more than 40 clubs and trendy
bars that dominate the summer clubbing scene, and though
the island has tried to become more upmarket the popularity
of nightlife tourism shows no signs of diminishing. New hotels,
however, have all been five-star in recent years, and the overall
trend has been towards smaller scale and greater character.
The result has been that Ibiza has been tapping into the cool
chic scene that is so strongly associated with it, catering in the
process not only to young revellers and cultural tourists but also
the well-heeled visitor wishing to remain young at heart.
What Ibiza offers visitors is therefore becoming increasingly
diverse in nature, but always based around a strong sensory
experience – from the release offered by the clubs to the
relaxing, almost spiritual atmosphere to be found along the
pretty little coves and secluded beaches. Where the package
vacationers follow the well-beaten path to the 18 kilometres
of large sandy beaches such as those at Calls Bassa and
La Salinas, those occupying the private villas and low-slung
boutique hotels will seek out secluded spots far away from
the madding crowds. Lying ensconced within small pinecovered
estates, the private lodges they stay at offer peace
and anonymity in what is a typical Ibiza mix of laid-back hippy
style complete with Thai or Indian influences, yet suffused with
comfort, luxury and first-class service.
After all, a Richard Branson or Jean-Paul Gaulthier may
seek out hip venues where they can chill out and get closer
to nature, but they will not easily forsake the subtle pleasures
and comforts of life. As a result, the Ibiza chic venue is earthy,
designed in a way that appears to be random and informal
yet is actually demanding of creative energies, and provides
five-star services in an ambience that seems to want to decry
earthly luxury and opulence in favour of a more ethereal
way of being. Some will even feature yoga classes and
detox regimes amid the fragrance of flowers and incense,
while others are more starkly minimalist in their avant-garde
sophistication.
Either way, they combine with the shabby chic simplicity of
favoured seaside fish restaurants in pretty little coves or villages,
days spent lazing on secluded beaches, watching the sun
set on yachts and trekking into the rustic countryside – as well
as heading off to the most exclusive of the lounge bars and
clubs – to produce a style of Ibiza-branded experience that is
drawing more and more visitors to the dramatic beauty of this
coolest of Mediterranean islands.
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