Information AboutIbiza |
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Eivissa or '''Ibiza''' is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea , and belonging to Spain . With Formentera , it is one of the two Pine Islands . Major cities are Ibiza Town , Santa Eulària Des Riu and San Antonio . Eivissa is the official Catalan name and the name used by its inhabitants; but the name used by Spanish speakers and the rest of the world is Ibiza (usually pronounced using the Castilian morphology: ih-'bee-thuh). HISTORY In 654 BC Phoenician settlers founded a port in the Balearic Islands, as ''Ibossim'', later known to Romans (as "Ebusus") for its wine, marble, and lead (from the Phoenician ''ibshim'' "island of pines"). The Greeks who came to Ibiza during the time of the Phoenicians were the first to call the two islands of Ibiza and Formentera the ''Pitiusas'' ("pine-covered islands"; a translation of the Phoenician name). With the decline of Phoenicia after the Assyrian Invasions , Ibiza came under the umbrella of Carthage , also a former Phoenician colony. The island produced dye, salt, fish sauce ( Garum ), and wool. A shrine with offerings to the goddess Tanit was established in the cave at Es Cuyram, and the rest of the Balearic Islands entered Eivissa's commercial orbit after 400 BC . Ibiza was a major trading post along the Mediterranean routes. Iberia began setting up its own trading stations along the nearby Balearic island of Mallorca, from which great quantities of the renowned Balearic slingers were hired as mercenaries for the diverse wars Carthage was fighting. During the Second Punic War the island was assaulted by the two Scipio brothers 209 BC but remained loyal to Carthage. With Carthaginian military luck running out on the Iberia n mainland, Ibiza was last used by the fleeing Carthaginian General Mago to gather supplies and men before sailing to Menorca and then to Liguria. Ibiza managed to negotiate a favorable treaty with the Romans , who spared Ibiza from further destruction and allowed it to survive with its Carthaginian-Punic institutions well into the Empire days, when it became an official Roman municipality. This survival made Ibiza an excellent place to study Carthaginian-Punic civilization in later years, but also turned the island into a sleepy imperial outpost as it became more and more detached from the important trading routes of the time. The island was conquered by James I Of Aragon in 1235. TOURISM Eivissa is a very popular tourist destination, especially due to its legendary riotous nightlife (mainly in Ibiza Town , the island's capital on the eastern shore). The most famous clubs include Privilege (the world's largest club which holds the weekly event known worldwide as Manumission on Monday nights), Es Paradis (famous for its water parties), Amnesia (famous for its foam parties and what goes on there), Space (opens at around 8AM), Pacha and DC10 (less commercial than the biggest clubs with famous Circoloco party all day on Monday). These clubs have become the center of the worldwide electronic music movement. World class DJs perform at the various clubs on weekly schedules, in between touring to other worldwide cities. Some of the most innovative electronic music (e.g. house, trance, and the variations of each) is presented as fresh anthems each summer in the Ibiza club scene. Clubbers find themselves in a blissful cycle for their time on the island that starts with a day at the beach around noon, to a nap in the early evening, to a late and pleasant dinner and drinks, to clubbing after midnight (and often after 2 a.m.), to watching a "disco sunrise," and to settling in for sleep around 6:00 a.m. or later. The cycle repeats and clubbers lose themselves in a carefree blending of days and nights peppered with interesting people, sounds, food, and sights. Ibiza has acquired the sobriquet, " Gomorrah of the Med" due to its notable tolerance toward misbehavior by young adult tourists. Ibiza is also famous for Café Del Mar , a chill spot in Sant Antoni De Portmany where many people watch the sunset every night. There is a relaxing side to the island too with 72 beaches to chose from combined with wonderful countryside and some of the best restaurants in the Balearics. One of the most popular beaches is Benirras Bay in the north of the island with its wonderful view of "Gods Finger" a piece of rock jutting out of the sea. It has also beach restaurants and shops including "Podenko" a 'salty sea shack' selling fine beach clobber and mens' clothes. The island is used a lot for photo and film shoots by companies from all over the world because of its incredible locations and stunning villas. MUSIC There also exists a genre of Trance Music named for Ibiza dubbed Balearic Beat , similarly to the way Goa Trance is named for Goa, India . The style tries to reflect the atmosphere of Ibiza, and listeners often say they can see a Mediterranean sunset when they hear its euphoric, uplifting melodies. The atmosphere is brought on with the use of synthesized string instruments, the sound of waves, mandolins and guitars, and wispy vocals. Popular tracks in this genre include:
Mike Oldfield , a prominent British musician, owned a house on Ibiza, where he worked on a couple of his albums. After being exposed to the vibrant dance scene, he gradually incorporated dance-like elements into his subsequent works, such as Tubular Bells III. EXTERNAL LINKS
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