Follow the trail of the ‘riu’ and discover what’s in a name

Traditional architecture, Puig de Missa, our history as a centre of flour milling, riverside scenery the merges into the sea, even a playful imp. Don’t miss the surprises that await you on this simple walking route that runs along the Santa Eulària River. A perfect plan that can be enjoyed any time of year – with your family, with your partner, or with friends. You decide.

The ‘riu’ of Santa Eulària is the only river in the Balearic Islands, a watercourse which measures barely 17 kilometres in length and has its source in the west of Ibiza on a slope just opposite our municipality. As it happens, the lie of the land at the spot where the various currents that form this river come together incline the waters to flow not toward the nearest coast, but rather to the east, thus giving birth to our river. Known by different names as it meanders across the terrain, it is not until its final stretch that it acquires its most popular denomination: the Santa Eulària River.

Route R13, also known as the River Route, allows visitors to discover how this waterway influenced the development of our town, while also revealing curiosities, legends and points of cultural interest in Santa Eulària. The itinerary forms part of Santa Eulària’s catalogue of hiking routes, which also includes other suggestions for skill levels ranging from low to medium to advanced.

The River Route: A self-guiding walk for all ages

The fact that the river carries the name of the municipality and we carry the name of the river speaks volumes about the importance it has had in our development. Its waters flowed continuously until the mid-20th century. They irrigated the crops that grew in the Santa Eulària Horta and powered the watermills clustered at the foot of Puig de Missa. Discover its importance as you walk along this enjoyable self-guiding route, a simple 3-kilometre circular tour lasting roughly 1.5 hours and encompassing 19 sites of interest.

Moreover, by following this itinerary, you will get to know one of the most peculiar characters inhabiting Ibicenco mythology: the fameliar. Small, bald and large-headed, this imp could be of great help to the farmer by helping him with his work, but he could also be his ruin due to his voracious appetite. But, don’t worry! He’ll only appear on the informative panels to explain things and tell you interesting stories. If you want, you can also follow the route as you listen to the downloadable audios you will find on this page.

Stops on the River Route (R13)

The River Route itinerary (download PDF) starts and finishes at the Santa Eulària Town Hall, although, being circular, you can pick it up at any point. From there, it goes along the waterfront until it reaches the estuary, where it goes inland following the course of the river up to Puig de Missa.

1. Santa Eulària Town Hall. Built in the 19th century, this civic structure exemplifies traditional Ibicenco architecture. Beneath the plaza there exists a bomb shelter built in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.
2. The Barrau Gallery. This permanent exhibition is devoted to the work of the Catalan painter Laureà Barrau i Buñol (1863–1957), which shows what island life was like in the first half of the 20th century.
3. Es Broll and Es Pou de Baix. Both the well and the spring date back to the time when the waters of the Santa Eulària River were channelled to provide water for the town.
4. Posidonia. Although we don’t actually go into the sea, at this point we stop to consider the marine plant known as Posidonia oceanica, which grows in meadows of great ecological value and whose proliferation accounts for the beauty and transparency of our waters.
5. From the waterfront you will see the various islets that surround the Santa Eulària coastline. These spits of rock are home to a large variety of birds and reptiles, among them several indigenous species of lizards.
6. The river. This stop signals the beginning of Santa Eulària’s flour-milling past, an activity carried out on the banks of the river until the 20th century thanks to continuous flow of water which allowed the mills to work very productively.
7. Torrent des Lerns. This is one of the most important streams that fed into the Santa Eulària River. Its waters were used for decades to irrigate the fields that spread out along its banks.
8. Molí de Baix (Lower Mill). This was the last of Santa Eulária’s mills and was fed by the waters of Canal des Molins. Along with all the other mills, it was protected from attack by Barbary pirates by the cannon set up on Puig de Missa, which pointed toward the sea.
9. Pont Vell and Font d’en Lluna. At this stop next to the 18th-century bridge, you’ll learn about two legends: one featuring the devil and the other a fameliar.
10. As you walk along the river, pay attention to the birds. If you see a blue flash just above the surface of the water, it will almost certainly be a blauet pescador (kingfisher), a highly skilled hunter who can catch fish with its eye closed.
11. Pont Nou (New Bridge). When this bridge was built in 1927, it became the main entranceway to town, although today access is via a third bridge, built later.
12. The Horta of Santa Eulària. Our town’s fertile fields were irrigated with water drawn from the river by means of canals dug between the watercourse and the hill on which the fortified church stood. The largest of these is the Canal des Molins, dating back to Moorish times (10th century).
13. The River Interpretation Centre at Can Planetes. The mill at Can Planetes, also called Molí de dalt (Upper Mill), is today the site of an interpretation centre which shows what a traditional farmhouse with a watermill was like. This one is probably of Moorish origin (10th century) and was in operation until the 18th century.
14. River lookout point. From this spot you can enjoy an excellent panoramic view over Puig de Missa, the River Interpretation Centre at Can Planetes (Molí de dalt), the irrigation ditches, the planting fields, the mills, the river, the bridges, and in the distance the waterfront, the beach adjacent to the river, and the sea.
15. Sèquia des Mallorquí. In the 1920s, for the purpose of extending irrigation to the upper part of town, an offshoot of the main Canal des Molins was built. It was called sèquia des Mallorquí, a name that fell out of use when tourism began to gain traction.
16. Camí des Novells. This is but one example of the different roads to Mass (camins de missa) that were used for centuries by local inhabitants to reach the church on Puig de Missa, where they would arrive on foot or by cart.
17. Puig de Missa Church. Built in 1565 on the ruins of an older church that had been destroyed by Turkish pirates, this is an outstanding example of the fortified Ibicenco church.
18. The river seen from Puig de Missa. From the vantage of this lookout point you can enjoy a breath-taking panoramic view over the river, the surrounding hills, the coast, and the town of Santa Eulària.
19. The Ethnographic Museum of Ibiza. The last stop takes you to Can Ros, a restored farmhouse and an excellent example of Ibiza’s traditional rural architecture. Inside there is a wide-ranging display of popular island culture.