Page 518 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

516  SP AIN ’ S ISLANDS

The unspoiled coastline of Formentera, seen from La Mola
5 Santa Eulària Two art and craft markets, Punta From the fishing port of Es Caló
Arabí (Wed) and Las Dalias (Sat), the road winds upwards past
Baleares. * 36,000. @ g n Carrer
Mariano Riquer Wallis 4, 971 33 07 28. held just outside town, feature the Restaurante Es Mirador,
( Wed & Sat. _ Fiesta (12 Feb), Cala hundreds of stalls. with its panoramic view, to the
Llonga (14–15 Aug). village of Nostra Senyora del
E Museo Etnológico de Ibiza Pilar de la Mola on top of the
The town of Santa Eulària des Riu y Formentera plateau. About 3 km (2 miles) to
(Santa Eulalia del Río), on the Can Ros, Puig de Missa. Tel 971 33 28 the east is a lighthouse, Far de la
island’s only river, has managed to 45. Open Mon–Sat. Closed mid-Dec– Mola, sited on the highest point
hold on to its character more mid-Jan. & 8 of the island. Nearby stands
than many other Spanish resorts. a monument to Jules Verne
The 16th-century church, with (1828–1905), who used For-
its covered court yard, and the 6 Formentera mentera for the setting of one
surrounding old town were built Baleares. * 10,700. g from Ibiza. n of his novels, Hector Servadac.
on the top of a little hill, the Puig Estación Marítima, Puerto de La Savina, Although there are many
de Missa, because this site was 971 32 20 57. ( Sun. _ Fiesta Sant purple road signs indicating
more easily defended in times Jaume (25 Jul). ∑ formentera.es places of cultural interest on
of war than the shore below. Formentera, most lead only to
Ajdacent to the church is the An hour’s boat ride from Ibiza disappointment. But one sight
Museo Etnológico de Ibiza y will bring you to this largely well worth seeking out is the
Formentera, a folk museum unspoiled island where waters megalithic sepulchre of Ca Na
housed in an Ibizan farmhouse. are blue and way of life is slow. Costa (2000 BC) near Sant
The exhibits (labelled in Catalan From the small port of La Francesc, the only one of its
only) include traditional cos- Savina, where the boat docks, kind in the Balearics. This
tumes, farming implements, toys there are buses to other parts monument, a circle of upright
and an olive press. A collec tion of the island, or you can hire stone slabs, predates the
of photographs covering 50 years a car, moped or bicycle from Carthaginians (see pp52–3).
shows how Ibiza has changed. one of the shops nearby. However, the island’s great
Sant Francesc Xavier, strength is its landscape, which
Formentera’s tiny capital, is has a delicate beauty and some
situated 3 km (2 miles) from of the Medi terranean’s last
La Savina. Most of the island’s unspoiled shorelines. More than
amenities are in this town, plus a 60 per cent of the island’s land-
pretty 18th-century church in the scape is protected by law. The
main square, and a folk museum. finest beaches are, arguably,
From Sant Francesc, a bumpy Migjorn and Cala Sahona, south-
minor road leads for 9 km west of Sant Francesc. Nearly all
(6 miles) southwards, ending beaches have nudist areas.
at Cap de Barbaria, the site of Illetes and Llevant are two
an 18th-century defen sive beautiful beaches on either side
tower and a lighthouse. of a long sandy spit in the far
Formentera is entirely flat, north of the island. To the north,
apart from the small plateau between Formentera and Ibiza,
The domed roof of Santa Eulària’s of La Mola, which takes up the is the island of Espal mador, with
16th-century church whole eastern end of the island. its natural springs.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp574–5 and pp602–4

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