One of the places to travel on my bucket list is Ibiza. I
decided to study the history of this fascinating place to discover what made it
into the city that it is today. Here’s what I found:
Ibiza is
one of more than 50 western Balearic Islands. Ibiza has had many inhabitants
throughout history as “many tribes saw the beauty of the island, its minerals,
and its strategic position” (Ibiza Inside). The first settlers to the island
were the Phoenicians in 654 BCE. The Phoenicians had a trading culture with
their main source of income coming from the production of dye, salt, fish
sauce, and oil. From the time of the Phoenicians until modern day, Ibiza has
been known for exporting a salt known as “the white gold”. Following the
Phoenicians, Ibiza became inhabited by the Carthaginians who further exploited
the salt beds of the area making Ibiza a major trading route of this period. In
123 BCE, the Romans took over Ibiza naming it Ebusus. In 707, the Arabs
occupied Ibiza and remained there for over 5 centuries. The Arabs greatly
influenced the architecture and culture of Ibiza and created a trading
connection between Ibiza and the Spanish mainland. The area was eventually
reclaimed by the Spanish and experienced many rough times trying to remain a
part of Spain. In the late 1950’s, Ibiza was populated by “hippies” who brought
along their free-thinking to the city. These liberal thinkers, including
musicians, artists, and writers, fled the Spanish mainland due to the fascist
ruler of the time bringing a new flare to the island. This “hippie movement”
ignited the formation of many big clubs and markets hence turning Ibiza into
what is now known as the “party capital of the world”.
Interesting Fact about Ibiza: “There are no ‘dangerous’
animals on the Island: no poisonous snakes, lizards, or spiders.”
