THE LADY OF IBIZA

LA DAMA DE IBIZA.... The Ibiza´s Lady...

In Madrid

Although in Ibiza there is an Archaeological Museum located in Puig des Molins, some of the pieces found in the same Puig des Molins and some other arqueological sites of Ibiza, are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Madrid. Among them is this figure of terracotta that is considered the representation of the goddess Tanit, that is about 50cm of height and dated of approximately of the III century a.c. The goddess Tanit who was like the protection of Carthage, was also the protection of Ebusus (Ibiza) the city founded by the Carthaginians and also was in charge of guarding the island of Ibiza. Tanit was the goddess of life, fertility, love, death, harvest, prosperity and the moon. This Lady of Ibiza, is one of the most important pieces of the Archaeological Museum of Madrid, and is very close to other great "ladies" of Hispanic geography, such as the lady of Elche or Baza among others.

But from the Pitiusas islands and perhaps more specifically from Ibiza, not only the Madrileño Museum owns its Lady of Ibiza, but more pieces found in the island, but of course, the most exceptional is this lady, who is an exceptional image of Terracotta by its profuse decoration of its clothes and by the jewels in its relief that adorns the bust and the head, also has a cavity in its back that perhaps could have served like reliquary or to deposit offerings. This statue was found on a tomb as a part of an offering, thats make think that the person buried there, could have been very important.

Unlike most of the works presented here in Madrid found in Puig des Molins of Ibiza, this one (pictured above) it has the origin at the Punic Sanctuary of Es Cuieram in Sant Vicent de Sa Cala at the north of the island, where there is a sanctuary cave in honor to the Goddess Tanit . In this case there is nothing that represents this figure and it is a debate among the experts if they are simple sculptures that represent orantes or representations of some deity of the Phoenician-punico pantheon or Greek.

This figure of clay was also found in the Puig des Molins,  somewhat more deteriorated than some others that are exposed. It is considered that it has in its style much of the Hellenistic aesthetic due to the great movement of clothes and its style. It follows the models of the time of Sicily or Carthage.

Another of the pieces that can be found in this museum is this one that represents a female figure also made in terracotta, which could represent decedent or deity. It could have been done between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. It also comes from an excavation in the area of Puig des Molins.

Also the Archaeological Museum of Madrid shows a collection of decorative objects, decorated and painted ostrich eggs, vases, masks, busts, bracelets, amulets, etc., found in different excavations in the archaeological zones of Ibiza and they can be seen in the exhibition. Ibiza is well present in this museum.

FIESTAS IN EL PILAR DE LA MOLA

FEAST DAY IN EL PILAR  (LA MOLA) FORMENTERA

On October 12th, the small town of La Mola del Pilar in Formentera celebrated his big day, the day of its patron and therefore people dressed in gala costumes. Although these days have been rainy, the sky during this celebration wore an intense blue color highlighting more the festivity.

The festivities of each parish in the islands of Ibiza and Formentera are familiars, and some of them have some traditional features, in this case to be the Patroness of the village of La Mola is also the Patroness of the Civil Guard who also celebrate their big day, and they are those who take charge of the image in the procession.

The little and white temple remains very small to accommodate the people and tourists who join the celebration. The folks take the images that will participate in the procession through a side door of the church.

The procession starts from the church by the main road and later by the back quiet roads of the population, that pass between centenarian stone walls and fields of Formentera.

The touch of color puts the folk group with its bright colors that  accompany the procession dressed in their finery.

In this festival no shortage of bright colors of the costumes of Formentera that although equal to those of Ibiza have some small difference.

Once the procession ends begin the typical traditional dances that fill with their movements give even more color to this tiny town.

The dances are the same as Ibizans are two islands that unlike the rest of the Balearics have kept the dance, costumes and oldest instruments in the archipelago. As a curiosity the footwear in the traditional costumes of Formentera is usually not like that of Ibiza in the case of women and unlike her sister island, they usually carry different shoes.

Tourists are impressed by the notes of color in traditional costumes, music and dance, and when the dance end, everyone is invited to "oreilletes",  a typical dessert of the island, that maybe has its origins in north Africa, as the Arab heritage is constant in the culture of Ibiza and Formentera. In fact Formentera is the Balearic island closest to the African continent.

Next year on October 12th, same time, same place. 

In the La Mola del Pilar of Formentera, folks will wear their best clothes for their traditional festivities again.

DOORS OF HEAVEN IN IBIZA

LAS PUERTAS DEL CIELO

 Y

 LAS ISLAS MARGARITAS

Ses Margalides islands are small islets that are right in front of "Ses Balandres" a precipitous area in the northeastern part of the island, where there are stunning rock formations of great beauty.

In some areas there are totally vertical rock walls falling into the sea. Here the huge amounts of rock combined with numerous pine trees that exist in this area makes of this place a real green lung of this island.

Inside the big island of Ses Margalides exists a huge hole where some ships can pass through it. As a curiousity In these islets inhabit lizards of black color. Of course is not easy to get into this islets due to the islets formation, easy to see on these pictures.

This place is visited by tourists drawn by the beauty of this place, so they come to enjoy this area and its views. The Sunsets are of the most beautiful on the island.

Ses Portes del Cel, along with "Es Castellar" have a form of semicircle that make the place an exceptional site.

There are several paths that lead us to the cliffs bottoms, but we must be very careful in some sections due to its difficulty.

And as indicated earlier, the sunsets in this place, a magical color and atmosphere of quiteness is created.

Any time (except at night) is a good time to visit this place where the green of the pines and the blue sea mixed with the color of the rock that is omnipresent in this site.

SA PENYA ESBERRADA

THE CRACKED CRAG

The fact is that this place is very nice, and it is known locally as "sa penya esbarrada" something like the cracked boulder,and its a landmark for the local people. So here is this famous rock, about to fall in the future. But this name it also refers to the remains of an ancient Muslim house that is very close to this rock and took the name of the cliff.

This rock is easily visible from the area called "Ses Portes del Cel" or the gates of heaven, and the view of the spectacular cliffs is just fantastic. The sunsets from this location are beautiful.

Of course, this natural and espectacular balcony overlooking the Mediterranean should be a place to enjoy, and not to call bad experiences and so you must respect the place and be careful when approaching the edge of the cliff. As for the views from this place as in the previous post, you can see the Margalides (Margaritas) islands and according to the thesis that Christopher Columbus was Ibizan is said to Margarita Island in Venezuela took the name these islets.

IBIZA UNDERWATER

SURROUNDED BY FISHES

Despite the crowds in Ibiza during peak season which coincides with the hottest days, there are still places where the sea is very transparent, and where life within its waters is exuberant.

To avoid the high temperatures is not easy, but a dip into the Mediterranean waters can help a lot. But if we do so, provided with a glass mask we will discover the universe that appears infront of us under the waters.

Dozens of silverfish come around us, and also we see all on a blue background that makes for a moment we forget all that is out of this live sea.

Fast movements combined with swimming serene of these fish, if we do not move or offer them some bread, that are circling slowly around us and staying with us for a while.

If snorkeled some more background we can see the same fishes, but with another fund, the impressive background offered by meadows Posidonia, that far from being an alga as often is confused, actually is a marine plant that oxygenates the sea and It produces blue colors only comparable to those in the Caribbean. Let us not forget that the award of "World Heritage" managed in 1,999 had much to do with the conservation of these prairies of Posidonia.

MILLS IN SA MIRANDA

WIND MILLS  OF SA MIRANDA IN FORMENTERA

Giants memories of the past, when Formentera was hungry and in these mills that transformed the wheat into bread, thus they were essential in the daily life of this small island.

This "venda of Miranda" (venda, means something like neighborhood) is located on the same side of the capital of the smaller island of the "Pitiusas islands", and its main square is easy to find the street called Sa Miranda or Molins de sa Miranda. At that point is where we can find these gigants stone mills (6 are the antlers of wheat mills in Baleares, like those in Malta, which were identical in design to the Balearic Islands). This area although it seems a great plain, is actually the top of a small hill where with certain intensity blew the wind, reason why there are several of them at this very point. As we see in the picture above, today are relatively surrounded by lampposts and telephone, the result of technological breakthroughs that these mills have seen over the time.

In 1,990 these mills were declared of cultural interest, in the nineteenth century were seven throughout the island, only three remain today with the entire structure including the six blades per mill. These two mills have their names as locals know them by their proper names: Moli d'en Jeroni and Moli d'en Mateu. Although I have previously referred to the nineteenth century as a golden age, some of these mills were already in the eighteenth century, but unfortunately from the 50s of XXth century were falling into disuse.

As clearly seen in  one of them, is privately owned and is within the grounds of a private house, but that does not stop us to see its top, while the other one can be fully seen.
These mills are situated at an altitude of 60 meters above sea level, although not seem high altitude, for Formentera which is a very flat island is enough that they might come the winds to blow and make them work, while the people awaited for the results , I mean from his wheat to subsequently get the bread.

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).