WORSHIPS AND FORTRESS ON THE PAST

FORTRESS IN THE CHURCH OF SANT ANTONI DE PORTMANY

I have already spoken before that the oldest churches of the island were originally built as temples but mainly as robust and strong fortresses, where people from the village and surrounding areas came not only for attending the holy mass but also was the place they were gathering in case of threat for moorish invasions.

Invasions came by sea, and here at the Portmany port (Portmany was the name of this bay after the conquest of the Kingdom of Aragon, and comes from its former Roman name "Portus Magnus") was an important target of those invasions of the Turkish and Arab pirates, where the invaders were attacking with mercilessly the farms, villages and especially to their inhabitants that made them their slaves. That´s why were so crucial that the church as main building had to be well defended, so that´s why its square and strong tower (the only square shaped defence tower of the island) had to hold powerful guns, as cannons that protected the population, from the barbarians incursions. 

Undoubtedly this tower located at one side of the church building is looks as that of any other castle. And this was where the population was feeling much safer on attacks. This tower dates from the sixteenth century and from there by sounding a sea conch shell, warned the population of the imminent danger of the incursions that was about to stalk people, making to everyone was running to take refuge here.

The guns had a range of about 4 kilometers, far enough to protect the harbor and able to sink any invader ship. Still at this temple we can see a moat between the bell tower down to the front door of the temple, where the population received the invaders by pouring through it, large amounts of boiling oil when they were trying to go into the temple. and of course helping this way to repel the attempted entry. Anyway the doors were made of iron, in order to prevent be burned and thus destroyed. Today the guns have not anymore the wide visibility that they had then, now great buildings surround this temple, as this town now is an important tourist resort and makes the church to be a real miniature.

Slowly, as the threat of invasions were diminishing, the temple left his defensive character to become gradually in religious and worship temple.

And then after the main steeples were built, in Sant Antoni Abad the bell tower has two bells named after Angela and Mary, the first because it was used to play the Angelus hours, meanwhile the other used to call the Mary prayer during late in the afternoon.
 For this reason in the ancient worship temples of Ibiza most of them that exercised that function do not have windows and if thick white walls (except for the tower is made of stone and was never painted white).

URBAN ART IN SAN ANTONIO

URBAN ART IN SANT ANTONI DE PORTMANY

I must say that I'm not in favor of vulgar graffiti that I think normally disgrace walls and street furniture, but I must recognize that some ones are great art that we can enjoy meanwhile we walk around the town. Let´s have a look to some of them...

I must admit that I do not know who has been the idea, but I think it's great, you may not like all these murals there, but it gives it another go to some buildings and especially to their sidewalls.

One of these building with murals is the outside walls of the football field of the village, we must recognize that the two murals on their walls, give it another appearance to the building and by the way very original. Certainly one of the murals has nothing to do with another at the other side. One seems more cold due the black and white contrast meanwhile the other is full color, and a bit more "comic look"

Quite shocking this face of golden iguana with her watch, ring and chain which is eating grapes on a very lavish look. Certainly does not lack originality.
 
On a school wall, we can see a drawing on a very "science fiction" style. It´s composed of several drawings in a  somewhat futuristic way...

If we take a closer look we are provided with further details that we have not seen before far at distance. So a closer look to the body of the lady, reveal a field with a sky with a staircase where several people are climbing to try to reach the heart of this woman.

And though the goal has nothing to do with the mural, it seems that here is done on purpose to match with the drawing , it is obvious that the goal has nothing to do with the wall, or  with the small details of the bottom of the wall.

These drawings, draw attention in the streets where they are, and definitely not go unnoticed thanks to the color of some of them, Although others are more monochromatic style. But certainly not those, located above nor below these lines.

On a side of a building we can see a large squid in a fishbowl, where it seems there is not enough space to fit comfortably.

At a closer look, we notice the details of their tentacles and the kind of colorful that calling us much attention.

Another one is a silhouette, like this one located in a parking, among the parked cars the mythological horse "Pegasus" starts flying with its powerful wings ....
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Or as this one in another side of another building depicting a large water drop shared by different levels,  in each level, the different stories are developing.

The interpretation in some of these drawings is completely free, and may vary from a person to person but obviously here we can see from some soldiers running into battle in a level, and a number of factories in a complex in other, or a couple watching the news in a large room, or people purchasing, it is curious as shopping carts are empty.
In the image below we see a piece of mural, the same mural  which we began this post and is a detail of details, so closer we get more details we can see ....
Great idea of these murals and its impact on the village.

SAN ANTONIO FROM THE AIR

SANT ANTONI FROM THE TOP

The resort of San Antonio has a new attraction. This time we can go high and is perhaps the best places on the island where it could be located due to the impressive views onto the bay. On one hand we see the area of the countryside on the other, the big show ... The spectacular San Antonio´s bay, its beaches, harbor, boats and the far distance little islets called "ponent islets".

Both day and night, it's a good idea to take the around fifteen minutes flight to heaven, and have a privileged view and enjoy of the silence of the great heights with these spectacular views.

Suitable for everyone older and young it will not be indifferent, to see a piece of island from the air. And even best, if there´s the sunset. That famous sunset so loud somewhere nearby, has nothing to do with this one, so privileged because of the height that separates us from the earth ... then comes the time to go down and the back to reality, but for a while we left, not only our imaginations fly but ourselves too.

TWILIGHT IN SANT ANTONI

AUTUMN TWILIGHT IN SANT ANTONI DE PORTMANY

This former fishing village has undergone a brutal metamorphosis in the last 40 years. But accustomed to extreme changes also, completely changes from summer to winter offering two completely different faces. Also its image, what was the big tourist attraction and the first arrival of a respectful and polite tourists to the island by Sant Antoni in the seventies, today is the shame in many aspects of the locals and in tourism since the model is actually the model not to follow for any destination wishing a good image for itself, and (that´s the worst) with the approval of some local politicians who look the other way this big problem.

Loud noises, screaming, and drunk tourists of a part of the visitors in this town in summer are now over, and give way to a complete calm in winter and now is hard to remember the bad image of this place (well deserved in other side) that has the people. And it's not for lack of means, as Sant Antoni could be (as it already was) the best destination in Ibiza. Proof of this is the bay that is by far the most beautiful on the island. Another is its port, which along with the town skyline as seen in these images could be an idyllic vacation spot for all audiences (as was, in the past). In any event, Sant Antoni´s sunsets are unique, perhaps even better in winter than in busy summer.

MILL IN SA PUNTA DES MOLI

MILL IN SA PUNTA

It is believed that the Arabs were who introduced windmills and water wheels and other those days mechanics systemshere on the island. As a child I visited Formentera on a day where I saw that there was something in Ibiza had passed into history, were the mills with blades. Many years after, probably at the initiative of a political culture, became the restoring of few remained standing mills. As a curiosity always amazed me that Ibiza and Formentera´s mills had six blades, two more than those showing in the books from La Mancha (Castille), where Don Quixote attacked those giants. Also those nice ones on pictures surrounded by tulips. The famous Dutch windmills.

The beauty of Ibiza ones had a more primitive, but rough looking. The Ibiza and Formentera mills are similar but not identical to the rest of the Balearic Islands, although in Menorca and Majorca are very similar to each other and have a home below the mill itself.

To talk about these mills in Ibiza, we must refer to the Puig des Molins in Ibiza Town. There are most mills (although only one restored with the blades), there is also one in Puig den Valls, near the city, Puig means mountain and was above the mountains where the wind blew over. But today the mill I propose is the one located in Sa Punta in Sant Antoni de Portmany that unlike the previous ones is located at the coast at the edge of the sea, and when the west wind blows I guess I was rolling and rolling. When was made nothing was around but today is blended into a tourist coast full of hotels and tourist attractions.

They were used to grind wheat and then make a good bread, very important in the island long ago. It seems that some mills in the island date from the thirteenth century and therefore I consider it an asset to be protected ...

SUNSET AT PORTMANY´S BAY

SUNSET IN SANT ANTONI DE PORTMANY

Sant Antoni de Portmany has become the mecca of the worshipers of decadent artificial sunsets. Maybe it's not the one I recommend to my friends, but must recognize that global impact has been following a number of renowned establishments that made them famous.
Due the big amount of emails I received asking to see these sunsets into my blog, here it comes....

Therefore an hour before the sun disappears into the horizon, people start to flutter in the area of these famous bars, and one can see sunlight as loose and as the breeze is becoming dormant. As background to the lengthy islet Conejera show the profile on the horizon.

Some of the spectators go directly to the terraces on the promenade along the bars where throught speakers it is possible to hear the chill out music, and that one with another attempt to attract the largest concentration of people possible, but there is another "alternative" in front terraces, those with plastic bags full of alcohol that will prefer to show the sunset from the rocks, few meters in front the terraces.... bottles, plastic bags of stores open 24 hours, and papers scattered on the rocks give way to the spectacle of hiding the greater light.

If we walk a bit further, we can find much quieter places where there are many fewer people, and where there is also a kind of photographic competition, as the sun goes down slowly.

Another high-flying alternative is to look more closely at the sun, pretending to do as Icarus. A very fresh way to enjoy the sunset.

At last the sun touched the Mediterranean, leaving a beautiful appearance on the horizon, just before disappear until the next morning.

And another not so beautiful image on the rocks where the daily ritual based on bottle or terrace with chill out is what prevails. Saying bye to the sun with a resounding applause.

For the most romantic, or those enemies of marketings, you know that I advise you to see a more peaceful sunset in many places along the west coast of Ibiza, with a silence and tranquility far removed from these shows that also (as seen in the images) have their public.

Furthermore, as a culmination to the hide of sunlight, a fire show starts. It's time to alternative performances, some very impressive and left more than a gasp from the tourists. Depends on the day and place some really worth to wait and see them.

KITESURF IN IBIZA

KITESURF- A winter in the island? why not?

Winter in Ibiza? Of Course!!!. Who says that Ibiza is boring during winter???, This is one of the Sports you can try in Ibiza during winter. When the strong winds arrive to the island, generally they come from the west, so This do that Sant Antoni´s Bay as perfect site to practice this sport.

So here you are this kiters, going so fast and enjoying themself with this activity. To start practice this sport, it´s recommended to do a course, due the dangerous situations that can be envolved, and is hardly necessary to know what to do just in case.

In this case, the wind came from the right end, it´s called "on shore" if the wind comes from off shore it can be dangerous to get out, so, the kiter can not easily come back to the shore.

This sport in Europe is quite new, but there´s acknowledgment that in China and Indonesia they practice something like this from many centuries ago.

So you know now. If you stay in Ibiza during a windy day, don´t doubt to go to the Sant Antoni´s harbour, you´ll enjoy flying on the sea, or at least to see it.