Jesús: cliffs, treasure, and visits to Ibiza

Its proximity to the island’s capital was a key factor in both the origin and subsequent development of Jesús, a residential area which is home to two of Ibiza’s heritage jewels: 1) the altarpiece of the village church, Nuestra Señora de Jesús, and 2) the wetlands known locally as Ses Feixes, a series of irrigated growing fields that are a direct legacy from Moorish times.

What to see in Jesús

Visitors often leave Ibiza without having discovered the two jewels that Jesús contains: the altarpiece of the church Nuestra Señora de Jesús and the agricultural wetlands at Ses Feixes. The first of these treasures, the altarpiece, has recently been restored and is comprised by 25 panels painted in 1498 in the Valencian workshop of Rodgrigo and Francisco Osona. This Late Gothic treasure holds the distinction of being the most outstanding piece of religious artwork in Ibiza’s historical-artistic heritage. The church of Jesús presents other points of interest as well in regard to its architectural uniqueness within the rural Ibicenco tradition, among them its side porxo. If you like religious art, put Jesús on your sightseeing route!

The other important heritage site in Jesús is Ses Feixes, the planting fields whose origin goes back to the 10th century, when the Almoravids established a complex system of capillary irrigation on the wetlands bordering the bays of Ibiza and Talamanca. In so doing, they created a fertile expanse of land which remained in use until the mid-20th century. In Jesús, visitors can walk around the grounds known as Prat de Ses Monges, where informative panels explain how this time-honoured system of cisterns, reservoirs, canals and watermills functioned, and why its structure makes it unique in the world. The wetlands of Ses Feixes were classified as a Cultural Interest Asset in the year 2006.

What to do in Jesús: cliffs and hidden coves

The coastline of Jesús is characterized by its ruggedness, with a number of cliffs measuring up to 100 metres in height and rocky protrusions that jut into the sea, such as Cap Martinet, which affords visitors an excellent panoramic view over Ibiza Town and the Bay of Talamanca. Amid the twists and turns of the coastline lay hidden small virgin coves such as Cala Olivera and s’Estanyol as well as other harder-to-reach spots, for which reason this stretch of Ibiza’s coast tends not to attract many visitors. An excellent way to discover this craggy seaboard is by following the hiking routes No. 10 and No. 3, and the cycling routes No. 10 and No. 9, this last-mentioned route passing by the wetlands of Ses Feixes.