CHURCH OF SAN ANTONIO ABAD

PARISH OF SANT ANTONI DE PORTMANY

Last August 24th , San Bartolome's festivity, copatrón of Portmany's Sant Antoni, inaugurated the new major altar of the church. It is not an inauguration anyone, but a restoration of the same altar that was at the beginning of 20th century in this church and that thanks to a linen of the year 1913 it could have recovered as is it was. This major altar stayed with free chunks distributed in the whole church maybe immediately after that in 1.936 in the civil war, some tried to burn the church sew that was avoided by the intervention of the mayor of this epoch. Today thanks to the current parson we have recovered a part of history of this locality. At the new altar near to San Antonio titular of the parish, we find Saint Vincents Ferrer´s image, at one side Saint Joseph and Maria Magdalena (The Magdalena is an image that repeats itself very much in this church and it was a festivity that was celebrated in a solemn way in this locality) and to another side Saint John and Saint Peters are (who into this altar changes the keys into the cross).

The church of San Antonio constructed itself in the 14th century as church and fortress. It was a refuge of all the inhabitants in the cases of pirate attacks and other threats. Sample of this is the attached tower, which is the only one tower of defense squared in the island and the lack of windows in the former fortress. In the tower two cannons existed to muffle the foreign threats, the doors of the fortress were of iron in order that they could not burn and if the enemy was approaching very much the inhabitants were throwing boiling oil to the enemy from the belfry.

Today already calmer than those days, the use of this building is of religious worship. Proof of it is that as any good from Ibiza church it has a Calvary, set of three crosses that exists in all the churches of the island.

As all the churches from Ibiza it has it´s "porxo" or porch, though not in the principal entry but in the one that leads to the sacristy.

The church of San Antonio is an authentic museum. Of incalculable value it is this angel of white marble that holds a washbowl where the holy water is, and that curiously also appears in the before mentioned linen of 1.913.



The most ancient image is this of Saint Agnes. An image worth being in any museum of ancient works. I ask myself if it will not be the famous image of the ship in danger that arrived at Sant Antoni's port on August 24th and that they made like the crew members promised during the danger that in the church of the port where they should come healthy and safe, and that it gave place to the origin of San Bartolomé's festivity.

This altarpiece was in the major altar before the "new" recently inaugurated altar. A great linen with the figures of Saint John, Saint Anthony and Maria Magdalena (as i said before an image that repeats herself very much in this church).

A great picture of San Francisco Javier is placed in the back part of the temple. Close to the windows that represent the patrons of the villa. A picture of big dimensions and with very much historical value. This church is like a museum of big pictures and some sculptures.

The Patron is the hermit San Antonio Abad, who was a hermit in Egypt. He is represented by a pork on his feet and in this image (we do not see it for being on his feet) the pork is black. A curiosity since in Ibiza and specially in Formentera some decades ago the porks that were growing up were black. Below we see a window in the backside part of the temple.

SANT BARTOMEU 2009

HOLIDAY IN HONOUR TO SANTA AGNES IN SANT ANTONI DE

PORTMANY ON SAINT BARTHOLOME´S DAY

This way it would be the name of these holidays(parties) that according to the tradition maaany years ago, maybe hundreds of them a ship in a strong tempest was furrowing for the Mediterranean. On board of this ship the sailors had a picture (other sources talk about an image) of Saint Agnes on board and they promised that they would deliver it in the port where they were arriving safe. On August 24 (I do not know if anyone knows the year) they came to Portmany's Port, where they did delivery the picture (or image) of Saint Agnes. From this date and reminding this event on this day the holidays were celebrated in honor to Saint Agnes (not to confuse with the neighboringvillage of Santa Agnés that though it would treat itself of same Saint, the date of celebration in the neighboring village is the January 21th). There are historical chronicles that talks about holiday(party) to which meet people of the whole island, were celebrated in the " Santa Agne´s Cave" at few kilometres of the town, there there was a great lake where it was the point of meeting. The part of the cave with the lake seems to be that was ruined and the holiday stayed a bit in the oblivion. Nowadays they are known popularly like festes of Sant Bartomeu, not knowing the origin as why of the holiday. It seems that thanks to a very famous Priest in the Town called Bartomeu, the "fiesta" re-threw again this festivity.
Nowadays the biggest point of this festivity are the spectaculars fireworks at midnight of the August 24th. People all over the island are concentrated here to see them.

Here you are some views of this fireworks this year.
The bay was under the fireworks colours from the performance. And now we must wait untill next year to see the next ones.

SA FIGUERA BORDA

SA FIGUERA BORDA

Sa figuera borda is the name of a bush and also is the name of this such especial place at the Ibiza coast. It´s like a big cave where it´s opened at the east and the west side. Looking to the east we can enjoy a big hill infront of us, and at the west the magnificent rock of s´espartar island.

Taking advantage of this "cave" the former fishermen installed here some fishermen's sheds, some of them looking in the eastern part as we see below and others as above look directly at the island that is located in the west side.

In both side sheds have a very simple access to the sea, maybe to arrive here is not so simple and let's have to do it for stairs slightly difficult to find and of going down

This is also a good place to have a bath, may be the access to the sea is a bit complicate. Some boats like to anchorage around this place.
Also there exists some walk paths but it´s not recommended for people who have no experience.

This is a beautiful place to see nice sunsets.

SANTA GERTRUDIS DE FRUITERA - THE ISLAND´S CENTER

THE MIDDLE AND CENTER OF THE ISLAND

SANTA GERTRUDIS

Santa Gertrudis is a Village that could create a very special atmosphere between the new things and the real Ibiza. It´s like a own style to do things. Althought Sant Rafel unhabitants says that they are the real center of the island, it is sure that is Santa Gertrudis where we can say that is the center of the island.
The "cool" atmosphere and the quiteness of the streets with a lot of restaurants and bars offering the famous "bocatas" (sandwiches and rolls) are making of this place the real meeting point for the local people and as well for tourists.
Some of the stores in this place has no changed for a long time.

Some of the most famous bars of the village are a real picture gallery and thus they are full of big pictures on their walls that we can enjoy meanwhile eating our rolls.

Some stores are decorated with an Asian atmosphere, casual style.

Art galerys are around in big number, as well as the good restaurants and also the room auctions are very popular in this village.

Althought exists modern houses, there are a big number of old houses with their own details, as for instance the windows.

Gatzara's well is to few distance of Santa Gertrudis, it is said that this one is the real point that marks the real center of the island.

WALKING AROUND "CORONA"

Walking around SANTA AGNÈS

During these hot days, another way to relax is walking around the countryside of Ibiza. Santa gnés de Corona is a really small village at the northwest side of Ibiza. The grasshoppers will entertain our way with their hissed(creaked) singings, and will accompany us while we enjoy the beauty and sobriety of the nature.

This well (over) is a specimen that the Arabs constructed during their on the island. The form is very curious, very near of it we can see as the snails "hibernan" up to the following rains.

The houses whitewashed on the one hand and others of stone accompany us in the way, some of these small houses of stone are nowadays corrals.

In some houses they inhabit at liberty the doves that are in the habit of remaining about their houses. Although they are often flying around the house always they back again to the house.

Centenary olive trees with involved trunks are another of the attraction of the way.

The grapevines also adorn the typical walls of Ibiza with their greenery offering an authentic contrast. And if we get tired for the way always there is some fig tree offering shade.

At the end we are comming back to the same initial departure point. The white church of Santa Agnès de Corona.

FESTES DE LA TERRA - CATEDRAL DE IBIZA

IBIZA´S CATHEDRAL

The Cathedral of Ibiza is under the advocation of Our Lady of Snows (which is difficult to understad due the few times that snows in the Island) but we can find an explanation with the history. the August 8th of 1235 the troops of Guillem de Montgrí, arrived to Ibiza with an expedition of behalf Jaime I the Conqueror. With them they brought a new religion to this Island, the Cristianity. They want to have the Virgin as the Patroness of Ibiza, but they had to find the nearest advocation by the calendar so that was the 5th of august with Our Lady of Snows.

The Cathedral is located at the very top of the dalt vila´s hill. From there we can enjoy a awesome view of the city and a part of the Island.

At the beggining the Cathedral was built in gothic style, but after many reforms the style is a bit difficult to say. Anyway and still today we can see some details of the old gothic as the one in the picture below.
Inside the temple we can see white walls as near all churches in Ibiza.
In the picture below we can see an image of Saint Ciriaco, which it doen´t exist to much devotion. He is in fact the Saint Patron of Ibiza. The festivity of this Saint coincides with the big fiesta day of the "Festes de la terra" which is the 8th of August. This is really the historical day of the Reconquest of the Island by the Aragon kingdom. Every August 8th a Te Deum is celebrating in to the Cathedral.