Ibiza

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File:800px-IBZ Luft.jpg
Flag of Eivissa (Ibiza)

Eivissa or Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea (38°59′N 1°26′E / 38.98°N 1.43°E / 38.98; 1.43), belonging to Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands. Major cities are Ibiza Town, Santa Eulària del Riu and Sant Antoni de Portmany.

Eivissa is the official Catalan name and the name used by its inhabitants and pronounced [əj'vi.sə]; but the name used by Castilian Spanish speakers and the rest of the world is Ibiza (usually pronounced using the Castilian variation [iˈβ̞i.θa], often manifested by English speakers [ɪˈbi.t͡sa]).

History

In 654 BC Phoenician settlers founded a port in the Balearic Islands, as Ibossim (from the Phoenician ibshim "island of pines"). It was later known to Romans (as "Ebusus"). The Greeks, who came to Ibiza during the time of the Phoenicians, were the first to call the two islands of Ibiza and Formentera the Pitiusas ("pine-covered islands"; a translation of the Phoenician name). With the decline of Phoenicia after the Assyrian invasions, Ibiza came under the control of Carthage, also a former Phoenician colony. The island produced dye, salt, fish sauce (garum), and wool.

Eivissa, Cala de sa Galera, with the Puig Nunó in the background

A shrine with offerings to the goddess Tanit was established in the cave at Es Cuyram, and the rest of the Balearic Islands entered Eivissa's commercial orbit after 400 BC. Ibiza was a major trading post along the Mediterranean routes. Iberia began establishing its own trading stations along the nearby Balearic island of Majorca, from which large quantities of renowned Balearic slingers were hired as mercenaries who fought for Carthage.

During the Second Punic War, the island was assaulted by the two Scipio brothers 209 BC but remained loyal to Carthage. With Carthaginian military luck running out on the Iberian mainland, Ibiza was last used by the fleeing Carthaginian General Mago to gather supplies and men before sailing to Menorca and then to Liguria. Ibiza negotiated a favorable treaty with the Romans, which spared Ibiza from further destruction and allowed it to continue its Carthaginian-Punic institutions well into the Empire days, when it became an official Roman municipality. For this reason, Ibiza today offers excellent examples of late Carthaginian-Punic civilization. During the Roman Empire, the island became a quiet imperial outpost, removed from the important trading routes of the time.

The island was conquered by Catalan king Jaume I in 1235. Since then, the island has had is own self-government in several forms but in 1715 King Philip V of Spain abolished the local government's autonomy and prohibited the use of Catalan, as did general Francisco Franco in 1939. The arrival of democracy in the late seventies led to the Statute of Autonomy of the Balearic Islands and returned the Catalan its official status. Today the island is part of the Balearic Autonomous Community, along with Majorca, Minorca and Formentera.

Tourism

The beach at Es Canar

Eivissa is a very popular tourist destination, especially due to its legendary and at times riotous nightlife centered around two areas Ibiza Town, the island's capital on the eastern shore and San Antonio to the north. Ibiza Town has become a popular destination for tourists. The most famous clubs include Privilege (the largest club in the world), Es Paradís (noted for its water parties), Amnesia (known for foam parties), Space (an afterparty club), Pacha, Eden, and DC10. These clubs have become the center of the worldwide electronic music movement. During the summer, world class DJs perform at the various clubs on weekly schedules, in between touring to other international destinations. Many of these DJs use Ibiza as an outlet for presenting new songs within the house and trance genres of electronic dance music. A typical schedule for vacationers includes waking at noon, early evening naps, late night clubbing, and "disco sunrises". Due to Ibiza's notable tolerance toward misbehavior from young adult tourists, it has acquired the sobriquet "Gomorrah of the Med". It is also famous for Café del Mar, a long-standing bar where many tourists traditionally view the sunset.

Sant Antoni de Portmany from afar

The island is not just known for its party scenes, though, as large portions of the island are registered as U.N. World Heritage Sites, and thus devoid of the commercialization of the main cities, for example, "God's Finger" in the Benirràs Bay, or more traditional Ibicenco cultural sites. Because of its purported natural beauty, companies and artists alike frequently use the island for photographic and film shoots. A monument ("The Egg") erected in honour of Christopher Columbus can be found in Sant Antoní: Ibiza is one of several places purporting to be his birthplace.

Administration

Sant Josep de sa Talaia

Ibiza is divided into five different municipalities under control of the autonomous Balearic Islands with its headquarters in Palma, Mallorca.

Music

There also exists a genre of trance music named for Ibiza dubbed Balearic Beat, similarly to the way Goa trance is named for Goa, India. The style tries to reflect the atmosphere of Ibiza, and listeners often say they can see a Mediterranean sunset when they hear its euphoric, uplifting melodies. The atmosphere is brought on with the use of synthesized string instruments, the sound of waves, mandolins and guitars, and wispy vocals. Popular tracks in this genre include:

The legendary musicians Michael Cretu, famous for his project ENIGMA and his wife Sandra, have their home and A.R.T. Studios on Ibiza. It is where albums ( including MCMXC a.D. and Le Roi Est Mort, Vive le Roi! ) selling 120 mil., copies were recorded. They also own a 16 century villa and a restaurant Goya in Ibiza city.

A guitarist of ENIGMA and solo artist Jens Gad also lives on Ibiza. He has his own Gad's Studios , where he has recorded 4 Ambient/New Age albums.

The Vengaboys wrote a song about which a party exists on Ibiza and they are currently travelling on an airplane called Venga Airways.

Mike Oldfield, a prominent British musician, owned a house on Ibiza, where he worked on a couple of his albums. After being exposed to the vibrant dance scene, he gradually incorporated dance-like elements into his subsequent works, such as Tubular Bells III.

Ibiza features prominently in several movies, including the 2004 fictional biopic movie It's All Gone Pete Tong about a world famous DJ who loses his hearing and the 2000 comedy movie Kevin & Perry Go Large. The latter, based upon the popular Harry Enfield sketch Kevin the Teenager, is about a young man who decides, along with best friend, that they need to lose their virginity and become, in Kevin's words, "top DJs".

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ibiza.

Official Government portals

Ecologist Ibiza websites

Ibiza Maps

History

"Dance"

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