Take a walk on the ancient side

The route can be done any order, the way it’s laid out here has you ending in the middle of Ibiza’s old town, perfect for a lunch or dinner stop, or if you walk it the other way you’ll end closer to Es Figueretes beach, if you want to soothe tired feet with a paddle in the sea.

Start on Avenue D’Espanya where Via Romana turns off, from there you can follow the signs to our first stop, the Necropolis del Puig des Molins, Ibiza’s ancient cemetery site.

The Necropolis is an archaeological grave-site where evidence of burials and funeral rites have been discovered dating back to the 7th century BC and continuing through hundreds of years through changing civilisations as the Ibizan population evolved. The Necropolis has a museum attached which is full of artefacts uncovered at this site and has plenty of information dotted around to help you understand what you are looking at. Entrance to the site costs €2.40 for an adult and the site is accessible for wheelchairs and buggies, except for the underground caverns which are accessed by a steep stairway.

After you leave the Necropolis, turn right and then left to find yourself back on Avenue D’Espanya, walk towards the town centre and the road will turn into our second stop; Vara del Rey, one of Ibiza towns prettiest streets; wide, tree lined and home to some beautiful and elegant town houses, with ornate shutters and wrought iron balconies. Pavement cafes line the street and it’s a great spot to stop for coffee and a pastry with a view of the Vara del Rey Monument, erected in honour of General Joachim Vara de Rey, an Ibizan born General who died in battle in 1889.

Next up, follow your nose to the port where you’ll spot the Corsiars monument, a stone obelisk dedicated to the privateers once hired to defend Ibiza against pirates. Then if you can avoid the lure of the port’s picturesque promenade, weave your way back through the streets following signs to Dalt Vila’s Portal de ses Taules. Directly opposite this entrance to the old town you’ll find Mercat Vell, a covered neoclassical market place that’s been in use since 1873. Wander around it and you’ll find stalls dotted between the columns selling all manner of locally sourced products including fruit and vegetables, olive oil and wood, flowers, jewellery, wine and local spirits. Again the pretty square around the market place is lined with cafes; perfect if you want to sit watch the traders at work for a while.

When you tire of watching the world go by head on to the highlight of the day, Ibiza’s old town and UNESCO heritage site, Dalt Vila. The fortified walls and ramparts that wind their way up to the cathedral perched at the summit, you can access it from several gates but the Portal de ses Taules is the most impressive entrance.

Once inside Dalt Vila your route is up to you, you can walk around the entire stone ramparts in less than an hour, but with signs pointing you to various points of interest and winding alleys ways promising hidden sights you’d have to be fairly single minded to do so. Make sure you visit the cool and peaceful Cathedral and the Madina Yabisa interpretive Centre for a view of what the town was like as a medieval Arab city. Dalt Vila also houses the MACE Contemporary arts museum and the Musea Puget, Ibizan art museum.

Dalt Vila is mostly residential but there are some boutiques and cafes dotted around, the majority of the town is wheelchair and buggy accessible but some of the streets are steep with slippery cobble stones, so wear sensible foot wear and carry water if visiting in summer.

This route by no means encompasses all the cultural points of interest in Ibiza town but hopefully gives you a glimpse into the rich and varied history of this beautiful island. Enjoy.