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Ibiza or the white island, as it is known, is part of the Balearic Islands situated
off the east coast of Spain. At only 541km2 and 41 km long the island is renowned
for its club culture but anyone who has ventured away from the disco areas will
know there is far more to this small part of paradise than this. With 210km of coastline
Ibiza offers miles of golden sandy beaches and countless secluded rocky coves with
some of the cleanest crystal clear blue waters anywhere in the Mediterranean. Venturing
further inland visitors are often amazed by the small island villages which have
managed to retain their traditional Spanish identity despite the rise of tourism
which has become the islands main industry.
The island is divided into 5 municipalities Sant Antoni De Portmany, Ibiza, Santa
Eulalia del Rio, Sant Josep de Talaia and Sant Juan de Labritja each with a personality
of it’s own which make for very different holiday destinations.
At the centre of Sant Antoni is San Antonio, the heart of Ibiza’s club culture,
a place where, at the height of the season literally anything goes and the 24 hr
fiesta becomes a way of life. Not for the faint hearted it is a popular destination
for clubbers from all over the world and houses the famous Amnesia, Es Paradis,Eden
and Privelege nightclubs .
Ibiza town itself although playing host to its fair share of clubbers being the
home of Pacha and El Divino has a strong cultural side to the city with the ancient
quarter the Dalt Vila at it’s heart .It also attracts the jet set visitors particularly
around the Marina area where many of the rich and famous choose to pass lazy days
at some of the myriad of chic café bars and restaurants to be found there. Also,
for those in need of a little retail therapy, there is an abundance of both local
and exclusive shops .Also in this municipality is the resort of Playa den Bossa
home to the world famous Space nightclub but also a family orientated resort by
day. Another magnet for the wealthy is the nearby resort of Talamanca with its golden
sands and wide variety of beach bars and restaurants.
In the municipality of Santa Eulalia lies the town of the same name. With its beautiful
harbor and beaches it is a favorite destination for families and those looking for
a peaceful beach holiday with good restaurant and shopping facilities. On the east
coast there are many smaller coves and beaches to be found each with a unique identity
and atmosphere and the two larger family orientated resorts of Cala Llonga and Es
Canar. The village of San Carlos to the north of Santa Eulalia home to the famous
Anitas Bar retains a lot of the character which made Ibiza a haven for artisans
and hippies in the 1960’s and is still an artistic retreat today.
San Josep is the least inhabited municipality on the island and attracts many visitors
to its famous salt flats at Ses Salinas and its beautiful west coast resorts, some
of the most picturesque on the island. Also home to the highest mountain on Ibiza
the countryside around provides some fabulous scenery and the striking island of
Es Vedra some of the most awe inspiring coastal views the island has to offer.
The municipality of San Joan is probably the most traditional part of the island
with many small villages and sleepy resorts for the more laid back holiday maker
to enjoy .Countryside which offers a peace, tranquility and traditional charm unique
to the area gives the opportunity to sit back and appreciate the true contrasts
that Ibiza offers. The north coastal resort of Portinatx is arguably the most picturesque
of the island and is the perfect resort for a family holiday with its extremely
shallow clear waters and clean sandy beaches
Ibiza is an island of contradictions in many ways, offering the brash extravagance
of the discos, clubs and bars on the one hand and yet a stones throw away offering
areas of un-spoilt peace, tranquility and traditional Spanish life .It is perhaps
this contradiction that attracts such varied visitors to the island making it a
melting pot for people from every imaginable walk of life who manage to exist happily
together either as holidaymakers or as some of the islands many foreign residents.
It is indeed a magical and somewhat mysterious island, with many of those who have
settled here saying that they came here once and felt an inexplicable pull to return
and make Ibiza their home.
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