Reknowned for its vibrant parties and spectacular beaches, the second largest of the Balearic Islands is also home to places with their own unique mystique. One excellent example is the enigmatic Ibiza Atlantis, officially known as Sa Pedrera de Cala d’Hort (Cala d´Hort being the popular nearby beach). Located outside the town of Sant Josep de sa Talaia on the island’s southwest coast, a 40-minute drive from Eivissa (aka Ibiza Town), this singular landmark not only attracts the attention of thousands of visitors for its compelling natural charm, but also for the legends and myths that surround it.
A Gem Hewn from Rock
The most outstanding features here are a series of pools in indentations in the cliffs, which once served as the quarry for the stone used to build the walls and other parts of Eivissa´s Dalt Vila (Old Town), especially in the 16th century. These indentations become seawater pools when the tide comes in, and during the 1960s and 1970s the area also became a kind of spiritual refuge for the hippie and “seeker” communities, who were attracted by the harmonious energy it´s felt to emit. In fact, it was the visitors themselves, who settled in the area, who named the cove “Atlantis”, in honor of the mythical lost city, Atlantis, due to the mysterious aura that surrounds the place (it is, of course, just a name). It was imbued with a special energy thanks to the fact that these seekers put up small altars, and carved figures and wall paintings of Buddhas and Hindu gods.
The Influence of the Enigmatic Es Vedrá
This section of coast is also home to another feature with its own legends and myths: the offshore limestone islet of Es Vedrá, rising 413 metres (452 feet) out of the sea just off the beach of Cala d´Hort and also visible from Atlantis/Sa Pedrera. Apart from providing a spectacular and emblematic view, the islet has been said to be home to sirens and sea nymphs who would lure sailors to their deaths, and was considered sacred to the Punic goddess Tanit during the rule of the ancient Phoenicians up till the 1st century BCE. In more recent years, it´s been a focus of UFO sightings by fishermen and aircraft pilots as well as odd phenomena including strange shadows under the sea; extraordinary magnetism,
What ´Atlantis´ Is Like Today
Sa Pedrera attracts its share of nudists (although its rockiness doesn´t exactly make it a comfortable place to lounge), as well as those who come to practice yoga, mediation, and snorkel in the surrounding waters full of vibrant marine life. It must be said, though, that it takes a little doing to access – a 30-minute hike – steep at times – down from the parking lot. We advise you to bring enough food and drink for the whole day, because you´ll want to hang out in this dreamlike spot for a good long time!
Photos | Martin Silva Cosentino Helena GH