San Antonio, Santa Eulalia, Santa Ines, San Miguel … One of the things that surprises visitors the first time they come to Ibiza is that most of the villages are named after saints.
Is it to make up for that dark and ‘sinful’ part of the island? To make sure that they don’t end up “balconing”? Well … obviously not.
Most of the villages of Ibiza are named after saints because they were formed around a church and they were named like the name of the saint to whom the church was dedicated.
For an island so small there many small villages with a special charm, today I want to point out five that you must visit when you come to Ibiza on holiday.
Santa Gertrudis
In the centre of the island, this village always makes you feel at home. It is quiet and yet full of colourful shops that make it very lively all year round. The church, the small square and the sandwiches make Santa Gertrudis a must visit.
Can Costa sandwiches have become so popular that they have become one of the biggest attractions of the village, even of the island. However, I have to say that the sandwiches of the nearby bars even if not so famous are also to die for.
San Agustín
Small and beautiful. With its church and a couple of restaurants with a lot of magic, San Agustin is worth a visit to get to know the more introverted Ibiza.
San Carlos
The first meeting point for hippies that came to the island, this village still retains some of its free and multicultural essence. It is small and its pedestrian streets flaunt shops full of details to conquer every tourist.
San Juan
Every Sunday the village of San Juan is full of life, art, organic products, crafts and music. The flea market, open Sundays all year round has a very special ambience for every visitor, just let yourself go and start to feel like you’d want to stay to live there all day.
Es Cubells
The village of Es Cubells is so small that it only has a church, a library, a parking and two restaurants. A viewpoint on the cliff top from which you can admire the wildest part of the island completes this this not touristy yet spectacular site.
Having a snack in of the restaurants in this unique place makes you doubly enjoy each bite. One of the best giltheads I’ve ever had was at the restaurant nearest to the viewpoint, fished only a few hours before it was incredibly delicious.
These are my five favourite island villages, now it’s your turn to decide which are your favourite ones. So enjoy every visit because you’ve still got a lot of Ibiza to discover.