Tourist information - Ibiza
If it is history that lends its character to people this is what happened to Ibiza, that has forged its character from many different people that passed by.
The first traces of native settlements in Ibiza, we still do not know if they were Iberians or Celts, etc., date back to year 1600 BC according to archaeological discoveries of ceramic rests in the COVA DES CUIERAM, between San Juan and San Vicente; the cave drawings of SA COVA DES VI DE SES FONTANELLES, near to San Antonio, as well as the stone tombs of CAN SARGENT in Ses Salines.
Thus Ibiza became a strategic point in the commercial crossroads of people that even today would be considered economic powers: Greeks and 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 and Formentera, land of pines.
But it was the Phoenicians who considered Ibiza the right place for stopping for their supply during their journeys to the most important commercial destinies; they even built their own factories, for example they manufactured garun, a pastry made of remains of fish, to feed the crew.
When Cartagena was an independent kingdom from the Phoenicians of Tiro, founded Ibosim (Ibiza) around the year 654 BC.
Founding Ibiza as a city was justified for two reasons: it was port and fortress. Port because it was a stopping point for all goods from the Tartessus, the North of Africa and England and fortress because it had an important military presence, which assured 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!) the most precious was the salt, which they used to preserve foods during the long maritime journeys.
Although the Carthaginians take material advantage of the colony, they also contributed to the economy and cultural life of the metropolis. They grafted the olive tree with a plant from Ibiza and created also the naval industry.
The Punic language (Phoenician-Carthaginian dialect) and the religion and all gods and rituals linked to it were established. For instance, the God Bees and the goddess Astarté, gods of love and happiness. The goddess Astarté changed her name to Tanit, for which we know her nowadays. Ibiza owes its name to the God Bees.
MasterCarsDirect offers car hire in 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 other locations.