Santa Eulària des Riu. The calm interior
© Redacción Book Style
Ibiza
Santa Eulària des Riu

Puig de Missa is the emblematic heritage complex of Villa del Río. The villages of Santa Gertrudis and Sant Carles are in this municipality.

Santa Eulària, known as Villa del Río, has a well-deserved reputation for tranquillity, a beautiful seafront promenade and predominantly family and cultural tourism. In this regard, the church and urban nucleus of Puig de Missa are jewels worth discovering. From the church you will have the best views of the village, overlooking the sea and the fertile fields beside the river, the only one in the Balearic Islands. You will also find the Ethnographic Museum of Ibiza here, a hundred-year-old peasant house with exhibitions of traditional tools, utensils and implement.

Another interesting cultural visit is the Barrau Museum, located in Paseo de S’Alamera, in the centre of the village and dedicated to the painter Laureà Barrau i Buñol, who arrived in Ibiza in 1912 and lived here for more than 20 years captivated by the island’s light, colour and customs. 

In the municipality of Santa Eulària we find Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, a very popular meeting place for lunch or dinner. 

Another recommendable trip is to Sant Carles de Peralta, in the north. This is the area the first hippies came to, and perhaps this is why one still breathes an air of culture, colour and freedom here. The beautiful whitewashed church (1785) and two hippie ‘temples’ (the legendary Bar Anita and the no-less-famous Las Dalias Street market) are also unmissable.

A break in the centre
Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera  lies in the centre of the island, at a crossroads that connect it to Eivissa, Sant Miquel, Sant Llorenç or Sant Mateu. This tranquil inland village, traditionally devoted to farming, has become one of the most delightful rural towns on the island. The atmosphere in the pedestrian square and the lively bars make for a relaxed ambience which contrasts with the hustle and bustle of the south of Ibiza. It is famous for its ham sandwiches, but also has a wide variety of bars and restaurants serving both local and international cuisine.