Ibiza is a clubber’s paradise that is known for its fabulous party scene and night life but here are some facts about Ibiza that you are probably not aware of. Well, local people and portals such as rentibizaholidayvillas.com give us some insights!
Ibiza was originally called Ibossim
A group of Phoenician settlers who founded Ibiza in 654 BC called the island ‘Ibozzim’ in honour of Bes, the guardian god of dance, music, safety, female adornment, and cosmetics.
The local name of Ibiza is “Eivissa”
Ibiza is the Spanish name of the city which is correctly pronounced as I-bith-a but the Catalan name of the city is Eivissa. Some of the signs write Eivissa instead of Ibiza.
Have a listen…
Ibiza is smaller than the Isle of Man
Ibiza is only 571 square kilometres which is smaller than the Isle of Man by 1 square kilometre.
Ibiza has its own language
Ibiza is part of the Balearic Islands. All of the Balearic Islands use Spanish and Catalan as their official language but the official language in Ibiza is Eivissenc. It is also the language used in Formentera and S’espalmador which make up the Pityusic Islands.
Ibiza isn’t an island
Ibiza is not an island but an ancient mountain top.
Ibiza is nestled on the Balearic mountain range. 5 million years ago, the Mediterranean basin was flooded during the Zanclean flood allowing the Atlantic Ocean to pour in through what is now the Straits of Gibraltar which created the Mediterranean Sea or Med – Assio Ibiza and left the mountain tops which are now known as the Balearic Islands.
You can clearly see the mountain range here…
Ibiza attracts almost 6 million tourists each year
Ibiza welcomes around 6 million tourists a year accommodated in 57,000 flights a year.
Ibiza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ibiza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its biodiversity, culture, architecture, sea life, and coastline. It has an outstanding natural beauty, a rich heritage and culture, pristine beaches, and remarkable landmarks such as Ibiza Old Town also known as Dalt Vila, the burial grounds of Puig des Molins, the Posidonia of Ses Salines Natural Park, and sa Caleta which served as the settlement for Phoenicians.
Ibiza has a lot of heritage sites dating back to the different settlers who inhabited and tried to claim the island over the centuries.
Experience a mysterious magnetic attraction in Ibiza
Es Vedra is a mystical isle off the coast of Ibiza which is the most famous spot in Ibiza’s landscape. It is a 400 metre uninhabited limestone amidst the Mediterranean Sea that emits a mysterious glow.
It is believed to be the tip of the sunken city of Atlantis, a UFO sighting hotspot, and the home of the wailing sea nymphs and sirens who tried to lure Ulysses in Homer’s The Odyssey.
Ibiza is surrounded by water but doesn’t have fresh water
Drinking water is really expensive in Ibiza which costs around €9 for a small bottle.
Ibiza is “The Entertainment Island of the World”
Ibiza was given this title by the Guinness Book of World Records in the 1990s because of its party status.
The soil in Ibiza is colored orange
Ibiza’s soil is orange in color. Ibiza has a lot of pine trees. The orange color of the soil is caused by the stain from the tannins in the pine needles that fall from the pine trees.
The water around Ibiza is clear because of Neptune grass
The waters in Ibiza are crystal clear because of the seaweed Neptune grass that keeps the water sparkling, clean, pure, and untainted.
Ibiza experiences sunshine 10 hours a day for 300 days per year
It rarely rains in Ibiza, especially during summer. Ibiza experiences a Mediterranean climate which has hot summers and mild winters.
Ibiza has been home to famous DJs and celebrities
Sid Vicious of Sex Pistols lived in Ibiza during his childhood. James Blunt owns a villa in the island. Solomun, Carl Cox, Orson Welles, and Pink Floyd are former residents of the island.
