iBiza History
The first settlements on iBiza date back to over 3000 years ago. In the year 654 B.C. the Carthaginians discovered the island and founded iBiza Town, making this one of the earliest towns in Europe.
The Carthaginians were merchants and they used iBiza as a trading hub. It had a large harbor and they built strong city walls. The mainly traded salt made in salt pans in Salinas. You can still see them today and the process of making salt by evaporation largely remains unchanged.
iBiza was also used by the Carthaginians as a burial ground. There are few wild animals on the island to bother the corpses and it’s thought this is the reason iBiza was chosen.
The Romans took the island by force in 123 BC. The bridge the Romans built can be seen in Santa Eulalia crossing the river bed 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.
Then the Arabs arrived and stamped there culture on the island. You can still see there influence in the architecture, traditional costumes and the local language 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.
The island is now only invaded in the summer season by holiday makers and clubbers. Who are made much much more welcome than previous uninvited guests.
