Once a slab of virtually uncharted and unvisited land in Spain's Balearic Islands, Ibiza, Spain became a vibrant art colony in the 1950's. Today, the 225 square mile island, the largest of the Balearic sect, is a nightlife-lovin stomping ground for thrill-seeking young Europeans, gay travelers, and posh crowds from Scandinavia, England, France, and Germany. Middle-class tourists visit Ibiza for a concentrated blend of sunny Mediterranean beaches, swinging discos, and towering mountains. Sidewalk cafes are a popular staple in Ibiza, where the coastline is jagged and whitewashed homes dot the secluded bays and cliffs.
Beach bunnies flock to Playa Talamanca in the North and the white-sand filled oceanfront at Playa d'en Bossa on the island's South End. Nude sunbathers travel to Ibiza's Playa Cavallet and Aigues Blanques. Other travelers venture out for a day trip via forty-minute ferry to the Southern Balearic Islands at Formentera, where limited restaurants and nightclubs offer a gentle reprieve from the busy tourist districts of Ibiza.
History lovers visiting Ibiza find solace in touring the living history museum that is Old Town Ibiza, or visiting the Roman ruins, Ibiza Castle, or the National Monument at the Ibiza City Walls.
