Ibiza Pirate Towers part 1

History of the Island

Nowadays the pirate towers point the way to some of the most spectacular coastal views of the islands - which was exactly what the builders had in mind when they chose their locations.

Ibiza and Formentera have been a popular destination for visitors from overseas for thousands of years, but unfortunately it is only during the last few decades that these frequent visitors have brought money with them on their visits to the islands!

Previously their interest was inspired by the important strategic position of the islands - midway between Africa and the European mainland. In times when all trade and travel was waterborne Ibiza was a perfect place to break a long journey to or from ports all over the Mediterranean . It also attracted hungry invaders and pirates on a regular basis with its fertile soils, rich harvests, valuable salt and a far flung population that could be sold as slaves.

For this reason island dwellers recognised the importance of protecting the island with a surveillance system almost 3,000 years ago. The tenants in those days were the Phoenicians, who already used high points on the island as lookout posts to warn of impending visitors.

As the centuries rolled by and the population of the islands slowly grew the matter of defence was taken more seriously and eventually culminated in the construction of the fifteen pirate towers that ring the islands' coastline to this day. Read more in the 2nd part of Ibiza towers.