CHURCH OF SANT MATEU

SANT MATEU D´AUBARCA CHURCH

Following the aesthetic canons regarding the rural Ibiza churches, this church Sant Mateu is the strictly enforced. White walls. Although being built in the eighteenth century its use was only religious and not defensive as those of Sant Antoni, Sant Miquel, Sant Jordi and Santa Eulalia that were built much earlier and its use was defensive. A sample of its white walls is the picture above, in which case, you can see that is one of the few churches that has retained its traditional pulpit (already disappeared in many others), and which is now fully disused.

At the center of the altar, the image of Saint Matthew which is held every September 21st. On either side an image of the Virgin Mary and St. Michael. The altar has blue and gold touches. The original was destroyed and probably burned in the civil war of 1936 like many others on the island.

At the back side of the church and contrasts with the pure white walls of this little temple is a small colorful stained glass of St. Matthew, who according to the tradition was evangelist and apostle and before that tax collector, a task that has little to do with the two others. Its iconography is represented by the figure of a winged man.En

Once back to outside we see again the importance of the whitewashed walls, contrasting with black crosses, the Way of the Cross (known as via crucis) and the Calvary (set of three crosses together that exists in all rural churches of Ibiza) which are located on the porch of this church. This porch already belongs to the nineteenth century, and was vital to guard visitors and mass assistants against the bad weather before and after church services, also was an important meeting point for the population as the houses were at very far distance from one each other. This church is a small temple not for its importance but for its simplicity and beauty it is worth pausing a moment and enjoy those whitewashed walls, that one day gave the island the nickname of White Island, in addition to being located surrounded by pine trees, vines, carob trees and a large area of ​​crops typical of the island and of great natural beauty. Not forgetting the wine festival now held early in the month of December due San Mateo is one of the largest producers of both vine and wine of the island.

ES AMUNTS AND TORRES D´EN LLUC

DEFENSIVE TOWERS LOST IN TIME AND NORTHERN CLIFFS

Further the previous entry (the next in this blog) regarding the tour on January 2 in the north of the island, we saw the rural Ibiza and the magnificent countryside of this island of Aubarca and Corona area. Today we look towards the sea and other impressive places we saw that day... the cliffs.

This area called "Es Amunts" (The highs) extends from Cala Salada at the west of the island to Cala de Sant Vicent at the northeast, provides a visual spectacle full of nature. Es Amunts area is not only limited to the coastal zone but also a very important part of the whole mountain area north of the island, where there are numerous valleys and streams.

One of the most characteristic sites in this area are the islets called Ses Margalides. Today we were further north and could only see one leg of those rocks with the fall of the cliff in front of us.Una de las estampas más características de esta zona es la de los islotes Ses Margalides.

SES TORRES D´EN LLUC

Although the name of "Torres d'en lluc" is concerning to some archeological remains that appears to be an ancient wall, among the fishermen is customary to refer with that name that peninsula towers rocks that abruptly appear in front of us and that can be mistaken as small islands, although its real name is Punta de ses torretes. The real Torres d'en lluc towers are other towers that are very different but very close...

The real towers d'en Lluc are lost back in time. So much that even the experts are unable to locate them back in the time. A former defensive fortification that today we can only see their remains and is considered the oldest existing building on the island. Its defensive function is also difficult to determine, although it must deal with the remnants of a larger construction including walls and towers. A historical mystery to solve and may never find the answers.

Should be note that all this entire area "Es Amunts" (The Highs) is located at least 100 meters high and in some areas reaches 400 meters, very important for this island.

The last image already belongs to another area of Es Amunts and belongs to the area of Aubarca (San Mateo d´Aubarca) viewed from the way to go to the torres den lluc. But that area is another story and another day we will talk about it...

CALA AUBARCA

CALA AUBARCA IN SANT MATEU

Located on the cliffs of "Es Amunts" in the village of Sant Mateu d'Aubarca get the nickname of this spectacular bay, this bay (no beach) is an ideal place to pass the rigorous summer heat and down to the morning to enjoy the calm sea and its deafening silence.

The water here is just spectacularly clear and transparent, diving or snorkeling is ideal in these waters, and a spectacular background of rocks and stones in the form of spectacular cliffs that drop dramatically to the Mediterranean.

The area is not too difficult but not easy to access, not at all suitable for people who do not like to walk a big distance and are looking for a beach full of bars, music or shower services. There's nothing here of that.

This was my very first visit to this place, thanks to Jordi Gavalda he is a Catalonian blogger but with Ibicencan heart. I hope to repeat often the visit to this place so it is a place to forget the outside world. Now I only awaiting for the splash and when I'm about to throw myself into the sea...oh no!!!...

Not everything can be perfect, and this year so there was a proliferation of jellyfish few of them were waiting us.... but no matter, we must not get frightened, so jump into the water is a matter of not thinking a lot...

For Jordi (who knows what pain bites of these bugs) are another reason to be photographed. In the picture above we see him taking pictures underwater. Soon exclusive photos of these will be forthcoming in his blog "imatges d´Eivissa".

As he left me his underwater camera, I went swimming in that area, so I was also temptated to enjoy the water inside these transparent waters and I borrowed the camera. A truly amazing seascape.

Cala Aubarca has great ecological and marine value. Infinities of Pines surround the place and sometimes they appear in some strange places.

Some caves are visible from the water, and transparency of these waters are acquiring something unreal colors.

This cove is a symphony of stone rocks, which make this place unique.

Of course I can not stop talking about the terrible fire that was declared at Ibiza Benirrás Area, as also belonging to the area Cala Aubarca "Es Amunts. Many acres have been razed and changed the green forests of the northern island of twisted black wood trees.
For now we hope to continue enjoying the green pines give this place a long time.

Although Ibiza is famous for the beaches, Ibiza also has a magnificent cliffs especially at the north side of the Island.

This Cliffs are known as "Es amunts", just something like the "highlands" of Ibiza.

It´s quite amazing to see the local flora of the this sites.

Thanks to Joan Costa (he knows very well the island) I could come to this place, it belongs to Sant Mateu d´Eubarca, and this is the view to the Cala Eubarca.

OLD IBIZA

Some days ago, I had in my hands a very interesting book of old pictures of Ibiza. When I see books like those, I wished to be on those days of the old and real Ibiza. Of course those days have gone, but looking carefully some of those pictures, I reminded some pictures i took on the Saint Mathew´s day, in the small village of Sant Mateu, at the north of the island, where the "colla d´Eubarca" gave a special old atmosphere to that day. I thought that if i do a small work with those pictures, they could be like those old pictures of the book. So I tried and here are the results. May be they look like the pictures book, with those photos made on the 60´s or 70´s but they were taken just three monthes ago....