The History of iBiza

We have evidence that settlements on iBiza date back over 3000 years. In 654 BC the Carthaginians discovered the island and founded iBiza town making it one of the earliest towns in Europe.

The Carthaginians used iBiza to manufacture salt by allowing the sea to evaporate in large salt pans. You can see the salt pans they built in Salinas. iBiza became an important trading center with a large harbor and big city walls.

The Carthaginians also used iBiza to bury there dead. It’s thought they chose the island as there were no wild animals to dig up the corpses.

The Romans conquered iBiza in 123 B.C. Evidence of the Roman occupation can still be seen in Santa Eulalia, where the old Roman bridge crosses the now dried-up river at the entrance to the town.

After the Romans, between the 5th and 9th centuries A.D. Ibiza was invaded and conquered by the Vandals, the Barbarians and the Byzantines.

The Arabs came in the 9th century A.D. and stayed for almost 500 years. The Arabic influence can still be felt strongly today in many customs, such as the construction of the houses, traditional costumes and the island dialect ‘Ibicenco’.

iBiza was conquered by the Catalans on the 8th August, 1235. They demolished down the Arab mosque to build the Cathedral on its foundations. It’s still standing. The villages of the island were renamed after Christian Saints, and the church building began The oldest churches can be found in Santa Eulalia, San Miguel, Sant Jordi and San Antonio.

iBiza has had more than its fair share of invaders and the invasions continue in the form of stag and hen parties in San Antonio every weekend during the summer months. I think I’d prefer the Vandals.

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