Tourist information - Ibiza
If it is history that lends its character to people this is just what happened to Ibiza, that has forged its character from a number of different people that passed by.
The first traces of native settlements in Ibiza, we still do not know if they were Iberians or even Celts, etc., date back to year 1600 BC based on archaeological discoveries of ceramic rests at the COVA DES CUIERAM, in between San Juan and also San Vicente; the cave drawings of SA COVA DES VI DE SES FONTANELLES, near to San Antonio, together with the stone tombs of CAN SARGENT in Ses Salines.
Thus Ibiza became a strategic point at the commercial crossroads of people that even now would be considered economic powers: Greeks as well as Phoenicians arrived to the coasts of this small island in the East of the Mediterranean Sea for their supply.
We owe the Greeks the first name known: PITIUSAS, name of the two minor islands of the Balearics Islands, Ibiza along with Formentera, land of pines.
But it was the Phoenicians who considered Ibiza the best place for stopping for their supply on their journeys to the most top commercial destinies; they even built their own factories, for example they manufactured garun, a pastry created from remains of fish, to feed the crew.
When Cartagena was an independent kingdom from the Phoenicians of Tiro, started Ibosim (Ibiza) within the year 654 BC.
Founding Ibiza as being a city was justified for two reasons: it was port along with fortress. Port because it was a stopping point for all goods from the Tartessus, the North of Africa and also England along with fortress because it had an top military presence, which guaranteed the exclusive right of the goods that the island supplied to the Carthaginian ships with.
From all the goods from the island (lead, food, ceramics, wood!) one of the most precious was the salt, which they used to preserve foods through the long maritime journeys.
Although the Carthaginians take material advantage of the colony, they even contributed to the economy and cultural life of the metropolis. They grafted the olive tree having a plant from Ibiza and created also the naval industry.
The Punic language (Phoenician-Carthaginian dialect) and also the religion as well as all gods and rituals connected to it were founded. As an example, the God Bees and also the goddess Astarté, gods of love and happiness. The goddess Astarté altered her name to Tanit, for which we know her these days. Ibiza owes its name to the God Bees.
MasterCarsDirect offers car hire around the following locations in Ibiza
Arenal Castell, Biniforcal, Cala Blanca, Calan Bosch, Cala Galdana, Calan Porter, Efamer Fornells, Lago, Mahon Airport, Mahon, Menorca Star, Santo Tomas, Sur Menorca, Talayot Victoria, Playa Vista Blanes, Vista Picas, Cala Llonga, Cala San Vicente, Cala Lena Es Cana, Cala Tarida, Ibiza Airport (IBZ), Figueretas, San Miguel, Playa Den Bossa, Santa Eulalia, Puerto San Antonio. and also other areas.