Ibiza is a clubber’s paradise that is known for its fabulous party scene and night life but here are some facts about Ibiza that you are probably not aware of:
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Ibiza was originally called Ibossim
A group of Phoenician settlers who founded Ibiza in 654 BC called the island ‘Ibozzim’ in honour of Bes, the guardian god of dance, music, safety, female adornment, and cosmetics.
Bes, Guardian of dance in Ibiza
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The local name of Ibiza is “Eivissa”
Ibiza is the Spanish name of the city which is correctly pronounced as I-bith-a but the Catalan name of the city is Eivissa. Some of the signs write Eivissa instead of Ibiza.
Have a listen…
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Ibiza is smaller than the Isle of Man
Ibiza is only 571 square kilometres which is smaller than the Isle of Man by 1 square kilometre.
Comparason in sizes between Ibiza and the Isle of man.
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Ibiza has its own language
Ibiza is part of the Balearic Islands. All of the Balearic Islands use Spanish and Catalan as their official language but the official language in Ibiza is Eivissenc. It is also the language used in Formentera and S’espalmador which make up the Pityusic Islands.
Ibiza has it’s own native language known as Eivissenc.
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Ibiza isn’t an island
Ibiza is not an island but an ancient mountain top.
Ibiza is nestled on the Balearic mountain range. 5 million years ago, the Mediterranean basin was flooded during the Zanclean flood allowing the Atlantic Ocean to pour in through what is now the Straits of Gibraltar which created the Mediterranean Sea or Med – Assio Ibiza and left the mountain tops which are now known as the Balearic Islands.
You can clearly see the mountain range here…
An image of Ibiza as a mountain range.
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Ibiza attracts almost 6 million tourists each year
Ibiza welcomes around 6 million tourists a year accommodated in 57,000 flights a year.
A graph indicating the amount of arrivals to Ibiza by the millions.
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Ibiza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ibiza is known for being and having biodiversity, culture, architecture, sea life, and coastline.
Ibiza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its biodiversity, culture, architecture, sea life, and coastline. It has an outstanding natural beauty, a rich heritage and culture, pristine beaches, and remarkable landmarks such as Ibiza Old Town also known as Dalt Vila, the burial grounds of Puig des Molins, the Posidonia of Ses Salines Natural Park, and sa Caleta which served as the settlement for Phoenicians.
Ibiza has a lot of heritage sites dating back to the different settlers who inhabited and tried to claim the island over the centuries.
You can find hiking trails, hidden beaches, and scenic drives in Ibiza.
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You can walk the entire coastline of Ibiza over 11 days
Toby Clarke is the founder of Walking Ibiza that offers tours around the island. He walked the entire coastline of Ibiza in 11 days with just €1 and his dog Cosmo. He is now offering walking tours around the island that features hidden ancient ruins, a five million year old stone bridge, and crystal clear coves than can only be accessed on foot.
The coastline can be walked in 11 days with a guide known as Toby Clarke.
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Experience a mysterious magnetic attraction in Ibiza
Es Vedra is a mystical isle off the coast of Ibiza which is the most famous spot in Ibiza’s landscape. It is a 400 metre uninhabited limestone amidst the Mediterranean Sea that emits a mysterious glow.
It is believed to be the tip of the sunken city of Atlantis, a UFO sighting hotspot, and the home of the wailing sea nymphs and sirens who tried to lure Ulysses in Homer’s The Odyssey.
Es Vedra is said to be the third most magnetic place on Earth after the Bermuda Triangle and the North Pole. Have a great view of Es Vedra at the lookout point of Torre des Savinar or hire a boat to see it up close.
Es vedra is known for mysterious magnetic attraction in Ibiza
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Ibiza is surrounded by water but doesn’t have fresh water
Drinking water is really expensive in Ibiza which costs around €9 for a small bottle.
It’s the price of gold!
The reason for this is that Santa Eulalia Riu, the only river in Ibiza, dried up in the late seventies and so the supply of fresh water on the island is hidden in deep natural underground reservoirs.
This makes fresh water a commodity.
Water is as expensive as gold in Ibiza, 9 euros a bottle.
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Ibiza is “The Entertainment Island of the World”
Ibiza was given this title by the Guinness Book of World Records in the 1990s because of its party status.
Guinnes title: “The Entertainment Island of the World”
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The soil in Ibiza is coloured orange
Ibiza’s soil is orange in colour. Ibiza has a lot of pine trees. The orange colour of the soil is caused by the stain from the tannins in the pine needles that fall from the pine trees.
A clear example of orange coloured soil in Ibiza.
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The water around Ibiza is clear because of Neptune grass
The waters in Ibiza are crystal clear because of the seaweed Neptune grass that keeps the water sparkling, clean, pure, and untainted.
Enjoy the cristal clear waters of Ibiza because of Neptune grass.
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Ibiza experiences sunshine 10 hours a day for 300 days per year
It rarely rains in Ibiza especially during summer. Ibizza experiences a Mediterranean climate which has hot summers and mild winters.
Well balanced teperatures on the Island of Ibiza almost all through the year.
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Ibiza has been home to famous DJs and celebrities
Sid Vicious of Sex Pistols lived in Ibiza during his childhood. James Blunt owns a villa in the island. Solomun, Carl Cox, Orson Welles, and Pink Floyd are former residents of the island.
The rich and famous choosing Ibiza and calling it their new home.
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Ibiza has hidden beaches even during the peak of summer
Ibiza’s best known beaches are very much crowded during the summer so good luck in finding a spot to lay down your towel.
Don’t fret…
…because even at the height of summer, there are secluded coves that you can find just by walking along the far end of the beaches.
Tired of crowded beaches? Find a secluded one as there are plenty of hidden coves.
- Ibiza experiences an average temperature of more than 20ºC for more than 8 months of the year
Ibiza can be really hot especially during the summer when the temperatures could reach more than 30ºC.
The average temperature for the rest of the year is around 15 to 20ºC. Because of the Mediterranean climate, it doesn’t get too cold and windy during autumn and winter.
The temperature rarely or almost never drops below 0ºC.
Looking for sunshine? Look no further, Ibiza has it all.
- Ibiza has 57 beaches
The island is basically surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and has 57 different beaches that have different facilities and offer various water sports and activities.
Which watersport are you most into?
Do you feel like giving the jetski a go?..
Rent a jetski and take a cruise on cristal clear water along the sandy beaches of Ibiza.
- Pacha is the oldest club in Ibiza
Pacha is one of the world-famous clubs which apparently is the oldest club on the island that started in 1973.
Fantastic nightlife at the oldest club in Ibiza known as Pacha.
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Ibiza has its own beer
The beer of Ibiza is called ‘Islena – The Taste of Ibiza’. The beer is made from Ibizan barley but is bottled in Germany.
Would you like to “Taste Ibiza”? Well, have a sip of its local beer, Islena – The Taste of Ibiza.
- Ibiza has a delicacy called Sant Joan’s Weird Macaroni
Why was it named as such?
This delicacy is cooked in water with lemon, sugar, cinnamon, and milk giving it a rice-pudding like finish.
Feeling a bit peckish? Go ahead and have some Sant Joan’s Weird Macaroni.
- Ibiza produces fine wine
It’s an unknown fact that Ibiza produces wine. Ibiza is actually home to several small wineries.
Ibiza grows grapes such as mourverdre and ganache for red wine and Malvasia for white wine. The vineyards can be found in Buscatell, Sant Josep, and Sant Mateu.
The wines produced by Ibiza have an excellent quality according to wine connoisseurs.
Ibiza produces fine wine which is reconized world-wide.
- Ibiza is pushing for a high-end tourism
In 2007, the government of Ibiza required all new hotels to be built on a five star property to push for high-end tourism and to make Ibiza a glamorous destination.
High-end tourism in Ibiza seems to be the future and is highly encouraged by the state.
- Many establishments shut down for half the year
Ibiza’s economy relies heavily on tourism especially during its peak season in the summer.
Some of the resorts, hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs start to shut down in October. They begin to open around mid-April the next year.
High season is relied upon to ensure a steady economy on the island.
- Puig des Molins is home to Punic artefacts
The cemetery in Puig des Molins holds the world’s largest collection of these artefacts.
During the ancient times, people in Ibiza buried their dead in graves and included some objects and utensils that they believed would help them in their next life.
Punic artefacts were found in these graves.
Local graves on the island where artifacts where recovered.