Formentera Island
Although Formentera Island is known as a world class holiday destination for its magnificent beaches, there are also some sights inland that visitors to the island should not miss.
Formentera Island ’s capital is Sant Francesc Xavier , a sleepy town situated in the west of the island southeast of La Savina. The old central square is home to the 18 th century Church of Sant Francesc Xavier , once fortified against attack by pirates. Also worth visiting is the Ethnological Museum , which has regular exhibitions and permanent displays of ancient historical artefacts, as well as folk costumes and traditional musical instruments. The hall of culture and a number of other exhibition halls are home to art exhibitions and concerts, while there is a daily street market from 10:00 to 14:00 .
Just to the east lies the town of Sant Ferran, the second largest town on Formentera Island in terms of population, and traditionally known for its concentration of artists and hippies who began settling on the island in the 1960s. The town is a great place for people watching and is well known for its tapas bars, with the most famous bar being Fonda Pepe. During the summer evenings the streets can get quite crowded.
The eastern side of Formentera Island is home to Sa Talaiassa, the highest point on the island at 630 feet, with sweeping vistas of the coastline below in all directions. Nearby in the town of El Pilar de La Mola you can find the beautiful church of Iglesia del Pilar and the Sunday afternoon hippy market offering souvenirs, artwork, live music and a generally lively and fun atmosphere. Just over a mile further along the main road will bring you to Faro de La Mola, made famous by Jules Verne’s novel ‘Hector Servadac’ and now home to a monument dedicated to the author. Striking cliff top views are the order of the day here, as well as the views from Es cap de Barbaria lighthouse at the opposite end of Formentera Island , where the sunsets are unforgettable.
Archaeological remains on Formentera Island date back to the megalithic period and include the tomb of Ca Na Costa near Es Pujols and the settlement at Es Cap de Barbaria. Ancient freshwater tanks accompanied by whitewashed chapels are spread throughout the island, while an unfinished building dating back to the 5 th century and called the Castellum de Can Blai is an interesting sight. Five 18 th century towers which were once used as lookout posts ring the island.
Formentera Island ’s interior is characterised by traditional farming land with goats, windmills, isolated houses, low stone walls and fig trees. Local farming villages can be an interesting stop, while much of the interior is now made up of wild rosemary, which forms a perfect habitat for the Ibiza wall lizards, coloured bright green and numbering in their thousands. The saltwater lakes of Estany Pudent and Estany des Peix along with the wetlands of Las Salinas Nature Reserve are popular bird watching locations and an important point of transit for several species of migratory birds.
