The Balearic Islands (and Ibiza in particular) are a long standing item on my travel to-do list. I’ve wanted to go there and party for years now, as by many accounts, Ibiza is one of the world’s top party locations. It’s got beautiful beaches, beautiful women, and an unending flow of delicious alcoholic beverages. What you may not know, is that Ibiza also has a rich history, and some interesting (and well hidden) historical sites to go with it.
Atlantis is a stone quarry that was carved out by the Phoenicians for use as building material on Dalt Vila, the old town of Ibiza. Though it bears the same name as the mythical undersea city of the same name, this little known Ibizian historial site is far less watery, and makes for an excellent place to relax and get some sun.
Beneath the Cliffs at Sa Pedrera… Atlantis
Though it certainly doesn’t look like it in this photo, Atlantis is supposed to be blisteringly hot in the summer months. All accounts I’ve read have suggested bringing plenty of drinking water, and some sunscreen as well. I had a friend who left his pet iguana on a rock out in the sun, and let’s just say that Izzy was sent on an express elevator to animal heaven. You don’t want to turn into a crispy critter like Izzy.
I know it’s just a bunch of stone, but the scenery really does look beautiful. Imagine lounging here in the hot sun (wearing your sunscreen to avoid turning out like Izzy) after a long night of dancing and drinking. When you’re done lounging, you can take a swim in the beautiful blue water, and well… you get the idea. It’s really not even that expensive.
Since Ibiza is a party hotspot, flights can be had for relatively money through a wide range of booking sites, whether you’re in the UK, Canada, or even the United States. A bit of searching can help you keep the cost even lower. As for the alcohol? Well, you’re on your own there.
It’s interesting how modern this looks… modern in the “this could have been carved away just days ago!” sense. Just like the great pyramids of Giza, some historical sites hold up better than others, and this seems to be one of them. Given all the drunkards that have surely visited this place over the decades, well… consider me pleasantly surprised.
Okay, I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that these little inukshuks probably aren’t original to the Phoenician people. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing they were too busy hauling off massive blocks of stone to bother piling up rocks nearby.
CodeBeer’s Trip to “The Secret Beach Atlantis”
Visiting “Atlantis” in Ibiza
By now you’re probably wondering how exactly to visit the quarry, and thankfully it’s not very complicated. Having said that, it is a bit of a hike; bringing appropriate footwear (no sandals for the hike itself) would probably be a wise idea, lest you slip, fall, and plummet into the ocean below.
- Travel from Es Cubells to Cala d’Hort
- Once you reach the crest of the hill, make a left onto the small camino – right before the road turns to the right towards es Boldado.
- Continue on this camino, and you’ll see es Vedra ahead of you.
- Park your car at the end of the road, and walk down the mountain. You’re there, so give yourself a hand of applauds and then do some relaxing.
That’s all there is too it. If you’ve got a trip planned to Ibiza, or even if you’re simply trying to decide where you’ll go for your next vacation, I hope you find this useful. Since Ibiza is a hot travel spot, you’re bound to find a good deal on tickets by browsing around. There are a ton of interesting, lesser known spots in Ibiza, and I’ll be sure to cover all the great ones as I continue to discover them.
(Photos by Vallis Clausa)
Interesting place to visit, I should think, thanks for sharing your pictures and experience. (Sorry to hear about Izzy though)