Ibiza, Historic port city in southeastern Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza, also known as Vila or Eivissa, is a historic coastal settlement on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean island of the same name. The settlement is divided into the fortified Dalt Vila on the hilltop and the newer harbor district by the water, both linked by steep staircases and narrow lanes.
Phoenicians founded the harbor settlement in 654 BCE as a trading post in the western Mediterranean. Moors expanded the site during the early medieval period, before Christians captured the town in 1235 and built the present fortifications in the 16th century.
The old town holds UNESCO World Heritage status since 1999 and draws visitors through its cobblestone alleys and whitewashed houses. The Archaeological Museum preserves Punic and Roman artifacts that tell the story of the island's long Mediterranean past.
Ferries link the town regularly with Barcelona, Valencia and Denia, with crossings lasting between two and eight hours depending on the destination port. Access to the fortified quarter is either through the main ramp on the southern side or via steep stairways from the harbor promenade.
The harbor quarter houses a monument to corsair captains who defended the coasts against North African raids during the 16th and 17th centuries. The town also preserves an underground passage from Moorish times that runs from the old town center to the former water reservoir.
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