Formentera is essentiality. Pure landscape. As the Ibizan poet Marià Villagómez wrote, a sea of brilliant turquoise tones, calm weather and never-ending sunsets.
Formentera is solitude, stone, isolated houses, stone walls and huge fig trees.
1. Ca Na Costa
Ca Na Costa is the most spectacular megalithic gravesite on the Balearic Islands, located between the lake known as Estany Pudent (formerly known as Estany des Flamencs) – Flamingo Lake) and the Es Pujols settlement, in the parish of Sant Ferran de ses Roques. Ca Na Costa is located in an extraordinarily lovely site which is part of the Ses Salines Nature Preserve of Ibiza and Formentera.
2. Castellum de Can Blai
The castellum is a defensive structure, which poses two doubts as to its historical interpretation. It is clearly a building dating from the Roman period based on both its structure and the building techniques used, and it belongs to some period within the long Roman Empire.
3. Flour Mills of Formentera
On Formentera, flour windmills were the most common. In Sant Francesc Xavier, in the “venta des Pi des Català”, lies the En Teuet mill, built in 1760 and regarded as the oldest mill on the island. In Sant Francesc, too, in the “venta de sa Miranda”, lies the En Jeroni mill built in the late 18th century. In the parish of El Pilar de la Mola lies the old mill built in 1778, which only stopped operating in 1964
4. La Mola Lighthouse
From the La Mola lighthouse you can enjoy a magical sundown or sunup gazing out over the immensity of the sea. It is the most important and oldest lighthouse on Formentera, built atop a cliff 120 metres high. Here is where Jules Verne set a brief episode from his novel Héctor Servadac, as recalled by a commemorative plaque dating from 1978 located near the lighthouse.
5. Torre del Cap de Barbaria
This tower is located 65 metres over the sea, at the point called Es Garroveret on the Cap de Barbaria. It is the southernmost watchtower on Formentera and Ibiza, the one that is the closest to Africa, from which navigation between the southern and western parts of Formentera can be monitored.
It is nine metres tall and is divided into two floors. From the upper platform – which has a sentry box – the views are spectacular.
6. Sant Francesc Xavier Church
In 1726 construction on the new church got underway, which has a totally fortified appearance in order to serve as a refuge for the island’s inhabitants. The church was the only place of refuge until the Sa Guardiola defence tower was built in S’Espalmador in 1749, which had cannons which ended up being sent to other newer defence towers.
7. Cala Saona
Cala Saona is one of the most beautiful beaches in Formentera. Situated on the west of the island, this is an enclosed cove, surrounded by mountains, pine groves and dunes. From this family beach you can walk to the cliffs of Punta Rasa, about 10 minutes from the beach. The sea beds, as around almost all of Formentera, are rich in Posidonia, and with a snorkelling mask you can see a whole host of fish living in this ecosystem.
8. Ses Illetes
Waters all possible shades of blue. This is an unspoilt area surrounded by Phoenician junipers and dune vegetation. Its sea beds are covered with meadows of Posidonia oceanica, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the high level of visibility means that the spot is a paradise for scuba divers.
9. Illa de S'Espalmador
It forms part of the Natural Park of ses Salines d'Eivissa and Formentera. Its coast is sheer, although to the south and northwest there are two magnificent coves. The best known beach is the beach of s'Alga, considered to be a natural harbour due to its enclosed shape. The waters surrounding the islet are crystal clear, due to the abundance of Posidonia oceanica on the sea beds.
10. La Gavina tower
This tower is believed to have been finished in 1763. It was built as part of the plan to ensure the security of the island that was implemented during the second half of the 18th century, which on Formentera led to the construction of a total of five towers. The location of the La Gavina tower, on the point of the same name, enabled the ships sailing in to Es Freus straits to be monitored from the west.
11. Sa Guardiola Tower
The sea crossing from Ibiza to Formentera harbours a point of special interest: the Sa Guardiola tower in S'Espalmador. The boats that cover this line often pass quite close to this tower, which in the waning light of the day is tinged spectacular reddish hues, as it is located atop a 24-metre tall cliff that boasts warm tones.
12. The Flamingos of Ses Salines
The flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is the most representative bird of the Natural Park of Ses Salines. Between the months of August and October, hundreds of these birds arrive, and some three hundred will spend the winter here. In February they begin to move towards the Lagoon of Fuentepiedra (Málaga) or the French Camargue, which has the largest breeding colonies of the species in Europe.
13. Punta Pedrera
Strange and unusual rock formations make up a desert of stone known as Sa Pedrera which, where it meets the sea, has been christened the "natural swimming pools". If you are lucky enough to be able to sail along the coast, you can enjoy views and cliffs cut by magnificent half submerged caves and, at the same time, you will get a complete view of the island of Ibiza.
14. Estany des Peix
The Estany des Peix is a small lagoon with a narrow opening to the sea, allowing small boats in to anchor there. It has stretches of beach where it is possible to swim. It is ideal for water sports with boats of low draught: windsurfing, kayaking, sailing. We recommend going around it to enjoy its natural environment.
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Consell insular de Formentera.
