una vista magnífica sobre el idílico mundo rural, donde destacan edificios blancos y tres torres de piedra. Pertenecen a Balafia, un pueblo fortificado del siglo XVI, hoy en día en manos privadas. El nombre es de origen árabe: Balafia significa “que hay agua”. Los campos de naranjos y limoneros bordean la carretera hasta Sant Miquel de Balansat. Por encima de las luminosas fachadas se alza la joya del pueblo: la iglesia fortificada, donde a menudo se practica el baile payés. Quienes buscan el sol han de visitar el Port de Sant Miquel, mientras para los interesados en la cultura está la Cova de Can Marçà. Dicen que esta cueva, labrada por las corrientes y cascadas de agua, tiene unos 100.000 años. Se ofrecen visitas guiadas acompañadas de luces y música de forma regular. La vista desde la terraza de la cueva a la isla Murada con sus aguas turquesas es espectacular. La cercana Cala Benirràs, donde “el dedo de Dios” se alza sobre las olas y los veleros bailan sobre el agua es un maravilloso lugar desde donde ver la puesta de sol.
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Los domingos, gente que toca los tambores y que hace malabares con fuego se reúne aquí, mientras los jóvenes bailan a la luz del atardecer y celebran la magia de Ibiza. Una isla que es punto de encuentro de mentes afines.
Sant Joan de Labritja, a place that exudes the charm of a mountain village nestled amongst hills and terraced fields,
Jagged steep coasts, deep blue water and thick pine forests – the landscapes that define the township of Sant Joan are wild and romantic. Tucked away behind a small chain of mountains lies the holiday town of Portinatx. Rocky shores flank the natural harbour, a lighthouse rises above the sea in black and white, while restaurant terraces provide enchanting views across the bay. From Portinatx a pretty ancillary road winds through the Serra de la Mala Costa, the “mountains of the bad
with a church made of natural stone amidst wild gardens. The winding road continues even more impressively towards Cala de Sant Vicent. Here the beach is fringed by sheer cliffs; the island Tagomago – a destination for boat trips – sits on the horizon in the sea. Above the bay is the Cova des Culleram, mysterious and shady, a cult site where the Carthaginians worshiped their goddess Tanit. Southbound along the coast lie dark sandy beaches with their own flair: the small coves of S’Aigua Blanca serve the nudists, and more mainstream is the holiday settlement Es Figueral. The road Sant Joan – Eivissa or “Road for Gourmets”, is famous for its culinary delights. Cosy taverns serve Ibicencan home cooking and comfy places for bon vivants. The island’s
coast.” An El dorado for hikers, often with fantastic vast views of the North of the island. This way you reach
interior fascinates in other ways, farming is still cultivated traditionally here; often you see farmers in oldfashioned dress. In the middle of fields of red earth is Sant Llorenç de Balàfia. The elevated church square provides a beautiful view over the idyllic rural landscape, where white buildings and three towers stand out. They belong to Balàfia, a fortified village from the 16th century, today privately owned. The name is originally Arabic: Balafia means “there is water”.
Orange and lemon groves line the road to Sant Miquel de Balansat. Above the luminous façades rises the village jewel: the fortified church, where folk dances are often performed. Sun seekers visit the Port de Sant Miquel, those interested in culture the Cova de Can Marçà. The dripstone cave with authentic trickles and waterfalls is said to be around 100.000 years old. Guided Tours accom-