The Island of Ibiza is one of those exceptional places in the world whose cultural and natural assets are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Candidates for consideration as a World Heritage Site are evaluated by the  UNESCO Committee on the basis of criteria, adopted at the World Heritage Convention in 1972, examining both cultural and natural features, delegates from the 21 countries that form part of the Heritage Committee were unanimous in their vote that the enormous historical and ecological importance of the largest of the Pitiüsa Islands well deserved such an award.

 Dalt Vila, the walled town, is an exceptional example of Renaissance military architecture. Constructed during the reign of Felipe II, the walls were designed in the 16th century by the Italian engineer Giovanni Battista Calvi and subsequently enlarged by Jacobo Paleazzo. Covering some 300.000 they were declared a National Monument in 1946 and has become one of the main historical attractions of Ibiza. Many different civilisations have left their imprint on the town with its Almudaina, Castle,  Cathedral and other interesting buildings.

The Phoenician settlement of  Sa Caleta and the  Puig des Molins Nekropolis bear witness to the importance of the Island in the Mediterranean economy, particularly during the lengthy Phoenician-Carthaginian period. The necropolis, the biggest in the world, covers 50,000 square metres. Its major attraction is the 3,000 Punic tombs in underground vaults. Located in the Municipality of Sant Josep, the sa Caleta settlement offers an incomparable opportunity to discover the Phoenician way of life some seven and eight centuries before Christ.

But Ibiza is also an excellent example of the interaction between marine and coastal ecosystems. The value of the  Ses Salines Nature Reserve has been preserved as a result of using traditional methods in extracting salt.

The meadows of Poseidon, a species of grass found only in the Mediterranean basin, are of incomparable ecological importance as these meadows form natural reefs that protect the coast and facilitate the generation of beaches and sand dunes. In addition, they contribute to the purification of the water so that they can be considered to be the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea. Fringing the perimeter of ses Salines, their extension and pristine condition only adds to their importance. Other notable features include the wetlands at ses Feixes, a relic of Moorish agricultural methods, and the natural area of de Soto. However, the Island also offer visitors interesting historical sites, evidence of a long and glorious history.

 ©  Medien Service Mallorca S.L. / Ibatur 2002-2007