| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
Ibiza (ee- bee -thah) was once a virtually unknown and unvisited island; Majorca, its bigger neighbor, got all the business. But in the 1950s, Ibiza's art colony began to thrive, and in the 1960s it became the European resort most favored by the flower children. A New York art student once wrote, "Even those who come to Ibiza for the 'wrong' reason (to work!) eventually are seduced by the island's easy life. Little chores like picking up the mail from the post office stretch into daylong missions." Today, Ibiza is overrun by middle-class package-tour visitors, mainly from England, France, Germany, and Scandinavia. It has become a major mecca for gay travelers as well, making Ibiza a wild combination of chic and middle-class. At 585 sq. km (225 sq. miles), it is the third largest of the Balearic Islands. Physically, Ibiza has a jagged coastline, some fine beaches, whitewashed houses, secluded bays, cliffs, and a hilly terrain dotted with fig and olive trees. Warmer than Majorca, it's a better choice for a winter vacation, but it can be sweltering in July and August. Thousands of tourists descend on the island in summer, greatly taxing the island's limited water supply. Ciudad de Ibiza boasts Playa Talamanca in the north and Ses Figueretes and Playa d'en Bossa in the south, two outstanding white sandy beaches. Las Salinas, in the south, near the old salt flats, offers excellent sands. Playa Cavallet and Aigües Blanques attract the nude sunbathers. Other good beaches i
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | Ibiza's history dates back to the Phoenicians (around the 7th century BC), although there is evidence of earlier human occupation. It was the Phoenicians who began to build settlements and to communicate with the outside world. The excellent location of Ibiza in the Mediterranean made communications easy, allowing it to trade with the whole of the Mediterranean region. Ibiza city was founded, under the name of IBSM (Ibosim), in 654 BC. The Carthaginians took over from the Phoenicians, and the island became a real trading post, where money was minted and various industries were established. After the fall of Carthage, Ibiza became close to Rome, and in the 1st century AD the island became a Roman municipality. Ibiza did not have a peaceful history, however. It was ideally placed for controlling Mediterranean routes, which actually resulted in lack of peace. The island suffered successive invasions, from the Vandals, Byzantines and Arabs. The Arabs were the people who made the most impact, and their heritage is reflected in place names and farming methods, as well as the ruins of Ibiza Castle. Ibiza suffered another historical catastrophe in 1235. King James I, known as 'The Conqueror', consented an attack on the island to take it from the Arabs. The Christian expedition was led by Guillem de Montgrí (whose monument stands next to Ibiza Town Hall), the Archbishop of Tarragona, and the noblemen Nunó Sanç and Peter of Portugal. They won the attack, and divided the isl
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting there : By Air : The small airport of Ibiza ( http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?pagename=Home ) lies at the southern point of the Island, 7km southeast of the bustling town of Ibiza. After exiting your plane, a shuttle bus will take you to the only terminal the airport has, where you will find customs, baggage pick up and taxi service a breeze. Airlines include: Aigle Azur ( http:// www.aigleazur.net/ ) Air Algerie ( http:// www.airalgerie.dz/ ) Air Atlanta-Icelandic ( http:// www.atlanta.is/ ) Air Berlin ( +45 30 41 47 75 10 / http://www.airberlin.com ) Air Europa ( http://www.air-europa.com/ ) Air Nostrum ( http:// www.airnostrum.es/ ) Air Slovakia ( http://www.airslovakia.sk/ ) Astraeus ( http://www.flyastraeus.com/ ) Austrian Airlines ( http://www.aua.com/ ) Belair Airlines ( http://www.belair-airlines.com/ ) Blue Panorama Airlines ( http://www.blue-panorama.com/ ) Britannia Airways ( http://www.britanniaairways.se/ ) British Midland ( http://www.flybmi.com/ ) Central Wings ( +48 22 558 00 45 / http://www.centralwings.com ) Cirrus Airlines ( http://www.cirrus-world.de/ ) Condor ( +1 800 524 6975 / http://www7.condor.com ) CSA Czech Airlines ( http://www.czechairlines.com/ ) Deutsche BA ( http://www.flydba.com/ ) Easy Jet ( +33 8 25 08 25 08 / http://www.easyjet.com/ ) Edelweiss Air ( http://www.edelweissair.ch/ )
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Ibiza's charm comes from its beautiful beaches, hidden coves and mild climate, right? Well, that depends on your point of view; many would claim it is the entertainment, often extreme and hugely diverse, that draws them to the island. In fact, the main reason Ibiza has become a place of pilgrimage for thousands of people each year is its amazing nightlife. Summer after summer, in the islands three most important discos ( Privilege , Amnesia and Space ) musical tendencies that will later be exported to the rest of the world are created. Now, electronic is just another industry here. Every season, dozens of CDs are brought out, claiming to be "Ibiza sounds" and that can easily be found in any music shop in the world with a decent techno selection. Every summer night, these temples of modernity fill with clubbers, anxious to have a great time dancing the night away, and then spending several days recovering. Some parties are more intense and extreme than others, such as " Manumission ", which takes place every Monday in summertime, at Privilige. Charter flights arrive from the UK, bringing 50 people straight to this club. Once the party's over, the plane returns what's left of the shattered party-goers home. Spending a few days on the island without at least going in to one of these clubs would be a sin. Even if you're not into clubbing, though, it's hard to be bored here. Without a doubt, one of the island's other fortés is sport. Body worship is the order of the
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