Page 135 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

IBIZA  133

have neither telephones nor
any other modern conveniences.
The island authorities set up the
Camp d’Aprenentatge here,
where pupils from local schools
learn about the old ways of
rural life and about Ibiza’s
natural environment.
Environs
About 3 km (2 miles) east of
town is Cala de Sant Vicent.
This beautiful cove has become
a modern resort, with quiet
hotels and good restaurants.
Visitors love the beach with its
clean water and rugged scenery,
surrounded by green pine forests.
From here, signposts point
towards the famous Cova d’es
Culleram, discovered in 1907,
which was a temple to the god-
dess Tanoit during the days of
the Carthaginian rulers. The
caves can be visited and the finds
unearthed here can be seen in
the Museu Arqueològic at Dalt
Vila, in Eivissa (see p122).
Another interesting desti nation
for a walk is Punta Grossa – a
Coastal boulevard in Sant Vincent de Sa Cala headland situated a little way to
the east, which has a lighthouse.
apartments, souvenir shops, coast of Ibiza. Running to the The view from here includes the
restaurants and numer ous cafés. south of it is the range of the Illa de Tagomago and the eastern
It is an attractive, quiet place Serra de Mala Costa mountains. cost of the island. Tagomago
with four beaches – Sa Torre, The only local historic building island lies 6 km (4 miles) south-
S’Arenal Petit, S’Arenal Gran and is the modest 19th-century east of Cala de Sant Vicent. It is
Es Portitxol – separated from parish church, open only uninhabited and has no regular
each other by rocky protrusions. during service hours. ferry links with the main island
It can become busy during high Sant Vicent de Sa Cala is but it is often visited by cruise
season, but instead of baking nevertheless worth visiting for boats and yachts. The clear
on a beach you may prefer to a different reason. The passage waters around the island are
go water-skiing or take a trip of time seems almost to have popular with scuba divers.
in a glass-bottomed boat to ground to a halt here. The locals
admire the life lurking beneath work on the land using age-old } Cova d’es Culleram
the clear waters. methods and tools, and they Open Apr–Dec: Tue–Sun. &
Environs Hippies
Nearby, just 4 km (2 miles) west
of Portinatx, is Cala Xarraca, a Hippies began arriving in
beautiful beach with views Ibiza in the 1960s, drawn
along the north coast. The by the beaches, people and
beach provided the setting unhurried lifestyle. It soon
for the film South Pacific. became the “in” place and
tour operators were quick to
catch on. Most of the hippies
q Sant Vicent moved on long ago, but the
de Sa Cala hippy style – or, rather, its
New Age descendant – has
8 km (5 miles) east of Sant Joan found its way into the island’s
de Labratija. culture. A small number of
New Age families still live on
Sant Vicent de Sa Cala lies along the island; one community
the main road leading from Sant is near Balàfia. Stall selling jewellery
Joan de Labratija to the east

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