CHURCH OF SANT FRANCESC

CHURCH OF SAN FRANCISCO DE PAULA

Located within the "salinas" of Ibiza, this small parish is dedicated to St. Francis of Paula, and known as Church of Sant Francesc de s'Estany or Ses Salines. Its charm lies, not only in being in one of the most spectacular places on the island, but the simplicity of the small temple. The new altar was inaugurated this year, thanks to the efforts and enthusiasm of his pastor priest, that he performed it from old photographs that exist of the former ancient altarpiece. This new altar piece added some allegorical paintings on the life of St. Francis of Paula who is dedicated this parish church.

As architectural complay the fees of the Ibiza churches, should be white and simple but also it has the "honor" of being the smallest church on the island. Everything in here is small. Even paradoxically has his choir on the top floor, which are not all the churches of the island even being much bigger that have it.

Sometimes some details are small surprises, such as the font of holy water (pictured above) which is located right next to the narrow staircase that leads to the choir. when we look at the ceiling we will see the amount of wood beams on the rustic way of typical houses (at the countryside) of the island. This church was built in the early eighteenth century. Although it is believed that was built on a previously existing chapel on the fifteenth century to meet the religious needs of the salt men who work at the near salt mines, then became a church in the year 1785.

The people of this area are very proud of their small but beautiful church, most of the religious images have been donated by some of them, and inside there are enough images that have nothing to envy in size and in numbers to the other larger churches . One of the surprising things in this temple is a shield of Castile in its facade, the reason for that, is that after the Civil War the salt mines passed to belong to the crown rights due the conquest, and the crown was responsible for the religious purposes of this place, where lived of salt workers and residents of the neighboring orchards.

SA PLATJA DES RACÒ DE SES DONES (THE WOMEN CORNER´S BEACH)

SA COVA DE SES DONES OR "THE WOMEN CAVE"

Concealed and hidden, discreet and charming, and totally urban beach, but surrounded by nature. A small little beach hidden in Puig des Molins. It´s not a sandy beach, but rather in the form of small gravel pebbles.

The name of the beach is surprising, since called Reco de ses dones, (corner of women), Why?, well it seems in old times, Women and Men were swimming separately, and this was the beach just for Ladys. It´s also known under the name of "salt of s'ase" (donkey´s jump), I'm ignoring why.

When we approach the coastal road that borders the Puig des Molins, the views are fantastic, and the green "ses pitreres" a Mediterranean cactus which there are numerous examples in the area and all over Ibiza , mixed green color with the blue sea and the ocher color of the rock.

In the background we have the long and famous "Playa den Bossa", much more built and more crowded than this one. By the way I take the picture above (on the bottom also appear) to take the chance to talk about these cactus (pitreres), just before it died grows from within a large branch that seems goes towards heaven. On this trunk is where in old times the ibicencs obtained the "Pitra" with which they were formerly wore shoes for the inhabitants of the island. They are beautiful plants, and also had their uses.

The access to the beach, we can not say that is easy at all, not too dificult neither. Once we are on the beach, the few people who we can find on it sunbathing or in shade (as here we find both), find a relaxed atmosphere, and a natural environment as a cave, so it is also known as "Cova de ses dones" (women´s cave). Different names for this small but peaceful place, protected by the small islet infront, that protects the beach.

WATCHTOWER OF ES SAVINAR

THE PIRATE´S WATCHTOWER
(LA TORRE DEL PIRATA)

Immortalized in the famous novel written by Vicente Blasco Ibanez, this tower was the star buildings of the novel "los muertos mandan" "the dead command," set in rural Ibiza in the early twentieth century but also takes parts in the capital of Mallorca. The actual name of the tower is "des cap des Jueu" or "des Savinar".

It is located directly opposite the stunning islands of Es Vedra and Vedranell. Es vedrá reaches near the 400 meters high, and it´s said that has a great magnetic power. Definitely a special place, a mythical island where once the Father Palau, was a hermit there in his religious reflections. More recently is alleged to be the base of alien spacecraft. In any case with or without spacecrafts, these islets are very impressive.

This tower that once served as a watchtower against the enemies of the islands as the pirates, and from here the population was warned when the danger came near, to refuge and hide them in to the nearest defensive towers of the towns or to the fortresses churches. It enjoys a wide and impressive view because is located more than 200 meters in a stunning cliff in the Cap des des Jueu, quite close to the mythical "Atlantis" in one side and the cove of Cala D'hort in to the other. In 1753 the construction was completed and is now a place to be visited especially in the evenings where you stunning sunsets can be watched from here, also on days when visibility permits, the coast of the Iberian peninsula belong to the province of Alicante can be also easyly seen.

THE HOUSE OF LAVENDER PLANTS

 

WHITE AND LAVANDER COLORS

 

Walking through the countryside of Ibiza we may find amazing surprises for those who love lavender (allow me, to dedicate this post to a wonderful girl who loves these plants). This shrub grows wild only in the western Mediterranean and is a symbol for an area of ​​France (The Provence), where fields are covered all over with its lavender flowers of this lilac characteristic color of this plantation. Besides culinary uses also has its place in pharmacies devices, and also as medicinal plant as well as decorative.

 

But surprisingly also in Ibiza this plant is present in forests, and in many gardens or decorating in some roundabouts and public gardens. Also in this house is tastefully completely surrounded by lavender, and everywhere seem to have adapted well to the dry land, to the strong summer sun and to the damp winter of the island. Besides the lavender, the white walls of the rural house made a nice contrasting.

 

this house is in the rural north of the island. Its small size makes it a simple house and even increases their beauty. this house is located between forests, and with its white walls, green forests and lavender flowers make this place a beautiful and unique in Ibiza.

 

With its simple houses and buildings, the evergreen fields, make this island a unique island in winter and summer, perhaps in summer many people forget that the rural Ibiza interior also exists, to the detriment of the beaches and coasts which are full of people, that makes that we opted for the inside Ibiza for enjoy more the solitude of these beautiful spots.

DOCK WOODS IN FORMENTERA

 

VARADEROS IN FORMENTERA

 

Draws attention both: its fragility and its situation on most occasions, due they are located in where you least expect them. Isolated on the rocks with nothing around, there are these little docks where local fishermen retain on the land, their small boats.

 

Their fragility is striking, although the Mediterranean sea almost always is calm, severe storms sometimes arise in a short time and are very aggressive so tend to destroy everything in its path, as the more fragile things. Perhaps that fragility of these varaderos, does as the bamboo canes do with the wind, bend, but not break.

 

So at open air and over a rocky place, these small boats will wait for the owner to go back to sea in a fishing day, where the sailor hopes to provide a good basket of fish to home, and after enjoy dinner or lunch with family or friends.

 

These docks (in the pictures) are located very close to the beautiful white sand beach that is located on the northwest coast of the island of Formentera and known as "Cala Saona." A walk through reddish rocks lead us to this small bay where we will run into these fragile-looking wood, that seems improvised small docks and boats that are in absolute isolation and there, boats will expect their owners for sail together on the old "Mare Nostrum".

LA XANGA

 

LA XANGA (Las Salinas)

Located at the Natural Park area of Salinas, on the Southeastern side of Ibiza where there is a bay which the sea is usually calm. This bay of calm waters is known by the locals as "La Xanga".

At the both ends of this bay, there are a number of houses or docks for boats, where the locals will spend the days on holiday or Sundays. Although is not a sandy beach, is really appreciated for people who like to take a bath or spend a day at the coast surrounded by the calm on that place.
 
The easy access to water from the docks make this an attractive place for sunbathing or swimming, or even diving, because here there is a high concentration of marine plants "posidonea" and aquatic life.
 
At the above footage, we can see all the bay of "La Xanga", from here it seems very rocky...
 
...but if we go a little further, we note that although is not a sandy beach, there is a pebble beach, in any case always we can use the docks that will help us to lie down, sunbathing or simply read a book. From the situation of some docks located at one end of the xanga we can see the Torre des Carregador de sal, which is located between La Xanga and Playa den Bossa. But the tower is another thing which, I will developed in the next post.
 

WACHT TOWER OF SALT ROSSA

 TORRE DE SA SAL ROSA O DES CARRAGADOR DE SAL 

 

The history of Ibiza is full of raids, especially from pirates, so, anxiety filled its inhabitants on those days, and to avoid those dangerous attacks on the population of the island, the inhabitants built around the coast a serie of defense towers that are now as silent witnesses of those dangerous times. The name of this tower has changed over its long history, before was called among other names "Torre des des Carregador" or "Carregador roxo vei".

This tower was built on the XVI century, located almost in the southeast of the island, guarded the entrance to the city from the south. This tower was designed to protect the inhabitants of the area and as well the salt mines workers in case of attack. The Tower could shelter up to 200 people inside. Along with the Torre de Ses Portes were designed to cover the entrance to the city by the south.

 This tower is the closest to Ibiza salt mines, and one of its names, the salt rossa (pink salt) refers to the proximity of saltmaking ponds with this name. Is located at one end of the long Playa den Bossa, on a small and rocky hill which dominates the den Bossa beach. From that place we can admire the fabulous views of Dalt Vila which appears far in the distance.

 

The sea the place where came a lot of livelihood for many families, as well as such dangers came from there too, such dangers for people who resided on the island. And those Towers as giants, stand vigils and the watchtowers, some armed with powerful guns or others as mere lookouts warned by smoke to the population that danger was approaching.   

 

As a peculiarity should be noted that is the unique tower available in Ibiza that had a home usage. It is visible from here the nearby island of Formentera and is located in an area called "la xanga". Here too was where there was a salt charger, hence one of its denominations. This charger with salt, then stood further south in the area of Sa Canal (see next entry). Between 2007 and 2008 this tower was refurbished due it was partially damaged, and it is noteworthy that it is the oldest of the island.

It´s really near of the Salt ponds and as well to the Ibiza city, which means is also near of the Ibiza Airport. That´s why sometimes we can see some aircrafts flying around. The tower is only 20 meters above sea level. It is said that in this tower he hid for a time of civil war the poet Vicente Alexandre, and also this Tower was engineered by Juan Bautista Calvi in 1,575

SA CANAL AND SALT PORT CHARGER

SA CANAL


It is neither a town nor even a village, but does not lack charm to the place. This is a handful of houses that may not know which form the habitation of the most southest of the island.

This is a set of beautiful houses that should belong in the past (or perhaps now too) to the company that operated the salt mines. Perhaps officials formerly lived in them, and is unique in its architecture, but also has a certain aesthetic joint all over the place, especially doors and windows most of them in turquoise or in green colors.

Some houses on the outside are lined with stone, and other property such as white lime so abundant on the island of Ibiza, all this forms a striking aesthetic place.

Some of the old department store where salt stored in the past, and some of them now has come to use as an exhibition place. Anyway a walk in to this area is a pleasure, as also we are just a few meters from the sea and the famous beach of Salinas.

Even sometimes seems that we are at a small outdoor museum, and here we can see -for instance- the old small locomotives circulated by the only railroad tracks that never has been on the island, but instead of carrying passenger they were loaded with salt on the way to nearby port of Sa Canal (which today is still active).

Nowadays, there are not more locomotives in use, but with another modern transport the salt is accumulated and will wait to go out of Ibiza on boat to different destinations, most of them into Europe.

While waiting to be loaded and transported off the island, the salt is piled in white mountains forming impressive contrast with the blue sky and sea, and even we can imagine mountains of snow.

And among these mountains of salt, we see the background of the famous beach of Las Salinas, although his real name is the Platja de Mitjorn or Migdia (Midday).

The nearby port breakwater will be responsible for receiving cargo ships that carry salt, once loaded, although there is usually enough ships to come, the day of my trip there were none.

Old strings that were formerly used for loading salt, are currently enjoying his retirement on a green background of the nearby Mediterranean turquoise.

And on the coast of this place, there are rocky sections also, where if the temperature is warm, one can take a bath into the sea.

From here is very easy to see the shores of the nearby island of Formentera, and of course the islets area is Freus which is located between the two big islands. Here, for example, through this palm tree, is easy to invisioning the silhouette of the lighthouse and the little island of Es Penjats (the hanged men).

The houses in this place, give a bucolic touch because they are profusely decorated with shrubs and plants and also maintain that philosophy of small manor houses.

The courtyards of the houses and the bright turquoise somewhere ... A door, window, or the bars of the balcony, from which also hang some fishing equipment, meanwhile wait to go back out to sea. Anyway it is a quiet, silent and lovely place that has a special charm.