San Antonio

Ibiza	Bars	Restaurants
San Antonio Bay	Beach	San Antonio Hotels

The second largest town on the island, San Antonio was originally called Portus Magnus by the Romans. Its full title is Sant Antoni de Portmany or San Antonio Abad (Castilliano & Catalan respectively).

San Antonio town fountains

The older part of the town extends from the 16th Century church down to the port area, as this was originally a fishing village. This is the area known nowadays as the West End - and fishermen are scarce. The port, being a natural harbour in a strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean, played an important role in the island's history for many centuries as different civilisations invaded the island.

Old Smugglers Inn Banyan Palace Hotel Orosol Hotel Club Paraiso Ibiza Diving Clapes - San Antonio

Unfortunately still recovering from a sleezy reputation, courtesy of bad press in all forms of media, this used to be the main tourism centre of the island back in the early days. This was because the other towns of the island encouraged people to cover all exposed flesh, even in the height of summer, and discouraged dancing other than on fiesta days - meaning complex folk dancing only!

Marina		More of Marina

San Antonio was then more permissive and attracted tourists from mainland Europe to the island, to the extent that it became the San Tropez of the Balearics - if not the southern Mediterranean. In those halcyon days the West End was the best place on the island to find the finest restaurants and rub shoulders with the often aristocratic yacht owners whose craft were moored in the beautiful, unspoilt bay.

Older photo of Cafe Del Mar		Cafe Del Mar - San Antonio

These days, during the main clubbing season of July & August, it heaves with young people enjoying their first holidays without their parents - learning about adolescence, drinking, music, dancing and the opposite sex etc. The two months before and after these two are dominated by families, with big smiles on their faces, enjoying the incredible range of entertainment options available and the beautiful nearby beaches, just a short ferry ride away.

Windmill		Beach - San Antonio

Different to the other main towns of the island, but every one has a different character...

Beach
More on San Antonio Beach

Hotels
More on San Antonio hotels

Apartments
Apartments in San Antonio

Restaurants
More on San Antonio Restaurants

Fiesta
San Antonio festival day with firework display.
August 17th - 24th More

Post
No Post office, lots of post boxes!

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