Culture & history Ibiza

With a culture and history dating back 3,000 years, Ibiza has a wealth of cultural and historical treasures to offer visitors.

Cave paintings, early graves, and some tools from the Bronze Age are among the earliest evidence of settlements on the island before the Carthaginians discovered Ibiza in 654 BC.

Ibiza was used by the Carthaginians as a burial ground and they developed Ibiza Town into a trading centre with its biggest export being the salt that was produced in Las Salinas; the same salt fields that are still in use today. The ‘white gold’ was then shipped from the town’s busy harbour and traded at other European destinations.

Later, Ibiza was conquered by the Romans during the Punic Wars in the 2nd century BC; however, it merely became a confederation, not part of the Empire. Evidence of the Roman period can still be seen today in the Dalt Vila (old town) in the form of the impressive Roman gates that guard its entrance. Santa Eulalia also boasts a recently restored Roman bridge.

Little is known about the period between the 5th and 9th centuries until the Byzantines arrived. During the period of Byzantine rule, Ibiza enjoyed a good level of independence from the administration in Constantinople. The underground chapel at Santa Ines is a reminder from this period.

During the 9th century the Arabs arrived. The cultural and architectural influence of this period, which lasted over 500 years, can still be felt strongly in the Ibiza of today. The Arabs built a large mosque on the hill in Ibiza Town and they fortified the town’s walls to make the town impenetrable to further invasions.

Despite its impressive fortifications and reputation as being unconquerable, the island was conquered by the Catalans in 1235. The mosque was torn down and the present day cathedral was constructed in what was the beginning of the Christianisation of the island. Churches from this period can be seen in Santa Eulalia, San Antonio, San Miguel and Sant Jordi. The rest of the island’s churches were mostly built in the 18th century.

During Catalan rule, the island suffered constant plundering from pirates who invaded and terrorized the island’s inhabitants. To increase protection from these ongoing invasions, the fortified walls of Ibiza Town were complete in the 16th century and later pirate watchtowers, some of which can still be seen today, were added around the coast.

Nowadays, Ibiza has a lively culture that has developed a reputation as one of the party capitals of the world. Despite the ever changing culture on the island, Ibiza has managed to retain many of the traditions and influences from its colourful past.