Architecture that rose out of the earth – relish its beauty
Tradition, fear, and the needs of a bygone society. The singular elements of Santa Eulària’s architecture reflect the historical nature of the centuries that created it. Because, in our heritage, nothing arose by chance. Wells, springs, defence towers, mills, limekilns, olive presses, farmhouses… When you venture forth to explore our municipality, allow your eye to rest on the legacies that embellish our landscape. And listen to their story…
Traditional architecture is one of Santa Eulària’s main attractions. Through it, and through its characteristic elements, you will discover the island’s history, its agrarian traditions, its folk customs, and the grass-roots wisdom that made Ibiza’s farmhouses among the most distinctive in the Mediterranean. During your holiday, take the opportunities made available via our hiking and cycling routes to explore a centuries-old inheritance. At your disposal, you have the themed circuits of the River Route and the Great Route, or, if you prefer to travel by car, set out on the Cultural Route!
The farmhouse: a treasure handed down from generation to generation
Architects, intellectuals, and artists have sung the praises of Ibiza’s traditional country dwelling, captivated by the simple unique beauty that became a source of inspiration for many of them. Ibiza’s farmhouses, built by the farmers themselves with their own hands, are characterized by their versatility and adaptation to the land as well as by their resistance to outside aesthetic influences until well into the 20th century. One way to admire these heritage treasures as you sightsee around our municipality is to visit the museums that are actually located in restored farmhouses, such as the Can Ros Ethnographic Museum of Ibiza, the Ca n’Andreu de Es Trull museum-house, or the River Interpretation Centre at Can Planetes. Another option is to stop for a meal at one of the restaurants included in our gastronomic catalogue, Tradition à la Carte, inasmuch as many are lodged in converted farmhouses.
Springs and Wells: Our hydraulic heritage
Ibiza’s geographic crust is characterized by its high permeability as well as by the existence of underground water tables which have supplied the island with freshwater for centuries. On your excursions through our municipality, you are sure to see a number of architectural elements associated with water, among them: the windmill for grinding grain at Es Puig d’en Valls, the pou de Gatzara (a well), the font de Peralta (a spring), and the archaeological remains of an aqueduct built by the Romans in s’Argamassa. As you take to the country roads and byways of our municipality, you will discover Santa Eulària’s hydraulic heritage and the traditions that grew up around it, such as ballades de pou, or well dances.
Defence and refuge towers: Pirates on the horizon
Today our beaches are synonymous with fun and relaxation, but not so in the 16th to 18th centuries, when islanders were continually scanning the horizon for pirates, and would run for shelter when these were spotted in the offing. The Tower of Valls, near Pou des Lleó, is the only surviving coastal watchtower in Santa Eulària today, although there are still a number of inland defence towers that were raised by well-to-do families to protect themselves from pirate attack. Why not visit the Tower of Ca n’Espatleta, restored and made into a museum? Or explore the towers at Can Montserrat, Can Jaumet, and Can Rieró as you wind your way along the Great Route? Whether they’re perched on the coast, or tucked into the hinterland, our defence and refuge towers are sights to behold!
