The population of Ibiza is 100,000 (island) although that number grows significantly during the summer time. The island occupies 211 square miles. The climate is mild, with typical seasonal averages between 54-81F (extremes can be colder or hotter) with many sunny days. It does not rain often on the island. The predominant language here is Spanish and an island dialect 'Ibicenco'. Similiar to other parts of Europe, many people on the islands can also speak English.

Ibiza has three larger cities named Ibiza Town and Santa Eulalia in the east and Santa Antonio in the west. There are many tourist attractions on the island. D'Alt Vila (the Old Town) is found in Ibiza town and is a walled city and fort. Numerous beaches, churches and windmills dot the landscape.

There is an airport in Ibiza that services a number of major Spanish cities as well as European cities. The other way to get to the island is by the sea. The Spanish company Trasmediterranea has a regular ferry service between Ibiza and the ports of Barcelona, Palma de Majorca and Valencia. Mass transit is provided by bus service throughout the island.

Las Islas Baleares economy is based on fishing and agriculture, limited industrial goods and tourism. Citrus fruit, grapes, olives, almonds, vegetables, wheat and figs and some livestock are grown. The chief industrial products are shoe and majolica pottery manufacture. Tourism fills the islands in the summer time where much of Europe empties onto the islands.

Ibiza was settled by the Carthaginians in 654 BC, making it one of the earliest European towns. The burial grounds at Puig des Molins in Ibiza Town is home to the world's largest collection of punic artifacts - most of which have been discovered in graves. The Romans conquered the Balearic Islands in 123 B.C. Even under the Romans it retained its independence as a confederation town. Similiar to the rest of Spain, Ibiza then came under the rule of the Goths, Byzantines and then the Moors. The Arabs stayed for almost 500 years. Ibiza was conquered by the Catalans on the 8th August, 1235. The ruling Catalans (from mainland Spain) rather neglected the islands during the following centuries, which were marked by plundering and marauding by pirates. In order to defend themselves, the villagers built the defensive churches with extra fortified walls, where the village would shelter in the event of an attack. These churches often had cannons on their roofs. In the 16th century, the Italian architect Calvi completed the construction of the walls of Ibiza Town - the same walls that are seen today.

All pictures on this page are from the island of Ibiza, using various film and digital cameras.

The Mediterrean Sea and old city from the fort.
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Mediterrean Sea and cliffs from the old fort.
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The city from the fort.
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The old fort, D'Alt Vila (the Old Town).
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On the island of Ibiza, the family that I was travelling with had relatives on the island. So instead of being couped up in a hotel, we stayed at the relatives house. This is their front lawn of wild flowers as seen in the early spring of 1996.
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Further information can be found at the Ibiza Spotlight Page.