Offering unwavering appeal to guests young and old, Ibiza and neighbouring Formentera have lots to offer
By
Guest |
This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2016 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
Ibiza is one of the most famous destinations in the world, and Ibiza’s port is undoubtedly one of the most attractive ports of the Mediterranean thanks to its leisure and gastronomic offer. At this port, the proverb ‘to be like night and day’ takes on new meaning, and this is undoubtedly one of its hallmarks.
With its warm sunlight, the visitor will discover the authentic Ibiza, whose rich heritage earned it the recognition of Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1999. This heritage is represented by Dalt Vila, the old city that crowns the port and whose streets invite the traveller to wander without hurries.
Ibiza’s appeal is only growing stronger. In 2016, calls will increase by more than 28%. And, at the beginning of the summer, the Balearic Islands Port Authority will have finished the extension of the south jetty of Botafoc, which will receive ships of up to 330m in length. €3.7 million will have been invested
by then in order to improve safety and effectiveness.
As well as these modern additions, inland Ibiza boasts a wealth of tradition: white peasant houses with small windows that protect from the heat, like those in Santa Inés de Corona or San Miguel de Balanzat; small natural ports like Porroig or Cala Salada; and hippy markets like the night market Las Dalias.
Gastronomy is also one of the attractions of Ibiza. Residents and tourists alike share dishes such as the cheese and anisette cake (flaó), marinière rice dishes, the bollit de peix or the herb liquors. Meanwhile, traditional cuisine is reinvented in the first-class restaurants, balancing out the excesses of Heart of the Adria brothers and the Cirque du Soleil and of Paco Roncero’s Sublimotion.
Ibiza is also the main connection with Formentera, the smallest of the Balearic Islands. A turquoise island of beaches of fine sand, with beach clubs for sunbathing, routes for trekking or cycling and lighthouses that are open to an immense Mediterranean.
These two islands open up two different worlds that together can make a trip unforgettable.