Image:Ibiza flag.svgIbiza (Catalan: Eivissa) is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea about 80 km off the coast of Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands autonomous community (Spain). With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands. Its largest cities are Ibiza Town (Catalan:Vila d'Eivissa or simply Vila), Santa Eulària des Riu and Sant Antoni de Portmany.

Eivissa is the official Catalan name (pronounced locally [əiˈvisə] and [əiˈβisə] in Standard Catalan), but the name in Spanish is Ibiza, usually pronounced using the standard Spanish variation [iˈβ̞iθa]. In British English, the name is usually pronounced the Spanish way (IPA: /ɪˈbiːθə, iː-; aɪ-, -sə, -tsə/), while in American English the pronunciation is more varied (IPA: /ɪˈbiːzə, -sə; -ˈviːθə, -θɑː; aɪ-, -tsə/).

The island of Ibiza is well-known for its summer club parties which attract large numbers of tourists, but the island and the Spanish Tourist Office have been working to shed the prevailing "sex-and-alcohol" image in order to promote more family-oriented tourism. Noted clubs include Space, Pacha, Privilege (ex Ku), Amnesia, DC10, Eden, Es Paradis, and the famed Cafe Del Mar. It is also home to the 'West End' party district of Sant Antoni, a popular stop for many tourists. 


 

World Heritage Sites

Though primarily known for its party scene, large portions of the island are registered as U.N. World Heritage Sites, and thus protected from the development and commercialization of the main cities. A notable example includes "God's Finger" in the Benirràs Bay as well as some of the more traditional Ibicenco cultural sites. Because of its rustic beauty, companies and artists alike frequently use the island for photographic and film shoots. A monument ("The Egg") erected in honour of Christopher Columbus can be found in Sant Antoni: Ibiza is one of several places purporting to be his birthplace.However, any time other than summer, the whole island is empty of tourists and most clubs are not open (only Pacha is open all year round). Tourists who plan to travel to the island prior to June or after September should expect a quieter time with more unsettled weather. 

 

Administration

Ibiza is administratively part of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands, whose capital is Palma, on the island of Majorca. Ibiza comprises five of the community's 67 municipalities. Clockwise from the south coast, these are:
  • Sant Josep de sa Talaia
  • Sant Antoni de Portmany
  • Sant Joan de Labritja
  • Santa Eulària des Riu
  • Ibiza Town (Eivissa/Vila)
These municipalities had a total population of 88,076 inhabitants (as of the 2001 census) and have a land area of 572.56 km² (221.07 sq mi).