Solo Ibiza
Ibiza Cathedral. Watching over the town
The Cathedral towers over Ibiza Town: a view like no other.
One of the best-known sights for anyone visiting Ibiza is the majestic Cathedral crowning the entrance to the harbour. You can see it from almost anywhere in the municipality. The church stands inside the walled town, and you can reach it along Calle de la Universitat or Calle Mayor.
The story of the building as you see it today begins in 1235. After the Christian conquest, the church of Santa María was built on top of the Yebisah mosque. It was dedicated to Santa María la Mayor, or Our Lady of the Snows, because she was the patron saint whose feast day fell closest to the date of the conquest.
Ibiza Cathedral and its bell tower above the walls of Dalt Vila
Bell tower of Ibiza Cathedral between the façades of Dalt Vila
Dalt Vila crowned by Ibiza Cathedral under a cloudy sky
Ibiza Cathedral with festival bunting in the square
Bell tower of Ibiza Cathedral lit up at night beside the walls
White nave and decorated vault inside Ibiza Cathedral
Acrobats hanging from the bell tower of Ibiza Cathedral
Acrobat abseiling beside the clock on the bell tower of Ibiza Cathedral
A Dalt Vila street during the festivities with Ibiza Cathedral in the backgroundA tribute to history
In the 14th century the bell tower was added, along with the chapels of San Jaume, Sant Miquel, Santa Tecla and Sant Antoni, Sant Joan, and Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The other chapels date from the 16th century, as does the main door. In 1782 the Diocese of Ibiza was created and the church became Ibiza Cathedral; its first bishop was Manuel Abad y Lasierra.
The main entrance is on the square. Look out for the round clock on the tower, which replaced the old square clock in 1930, and the statue of the Virgin above the door. Higher up you can see the walls that divide the main nave into chapels. Most visitors stop at this view, but we recommend walking round the bell tower: first for the views you will find, and second because you will get a perfect look at the stained-glass windows that light the altar, which give a very different picture of the church. A good spot to see this side is the exit of the Archaeological Museum.
The interior can be harder to see, because it is not always open: check the visiting hours before you go.
Ibiza CathedralOpen interactive mapGet directions ↗More places to discover around Ibiza Cathedral
The Cathedral is the cultural heart of Dalt Vila: from here, other places of interest are close at hand
Archaeological Museum of Ibiza Less than 1 km away
If you love mythology, a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Ibiza is less a duty than something you have been meaning to do.
Madina Yabisa Less than 1 km away
Madina Yabisa was the name Ibiza went by during the Muslim period.
Museum of Contemporary Art of Ibiza
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Ibiza (MACE) is in Dalt Vila, in the old armoury.
Nearby villages
Ibiza
Tourism came to Ibiza hand in hand with sun, parties and beaches.
Puig d’en Valls 3 km away
Puig d’en Valls lies at the southern tip of the municipality of Santa Eulària, next to Ibiza Town.
Jesús 3 km away
Jesús is one of the parishes of the municipality of Santa Eulària, right next to Ibiza Town.
Beaches near Ibiza Cathedral
From the cathedral square you can look out over the beaches of Ibiza Town.
Talking about Playa d’en Bossa means talking about one of the best-known places on the island of Ibiza.
