Solo Ibiza
The rural ensemble of Balàfia, Ibiza at its most rural
The rural ensemble of Balàfia is a group of buildings that reflect Ibizan life in the countryside
As with many of the island’s listed heritage sites, getting to the rural ensemble of Balàfia can turn into a small odyssey if you don’t know the way: signs are few and far from clear.
To get your bearings: Balàfia lies in the rural village of Sant Llorenç, a small place made up of a church and a few houses, on the road linking Sant Joan de Labritja with Ibiza Town. About six kilometres from Sant Joan, a small turn-off leads to Sant Llorenç.
When you reach the church of Sant Llorenç you’ll see a lane on the right leading to a house with a defence tower. That’s not it: carry on along the dirt track, which is not in very good condition. A few hundred metres further on you’ll find the signpost and a narrow dirt path that takes you to the ensemble. There is a car park further ahead, but it’s private, so try to leave your car on the stretch before it, or take the next turn-off on the right, which brings you to the back of the hamlet, where there’s more room.
What you’ll find at the rural ensemble of Balàfia
The ensemble is made up of five farmhouses clustered around two defence towers, the well-known towers of Balàfia. They were built to protect the settlement from raids by Turkish pirates, who came in from the north of the island, an area with few mountains to offer shelter.
The beauty of the rural ensemble of Balàfia
But its archaeological value is not Balàfia’s greatest treasure. The street that runs through the settlement, between the towers and the houses, which are private, has a rare beauty and is reminiscent of the narrow lanes of old towns, with stone walls, tight passageways and flowers. The bread ovens show the most typical features of Ibizan building, and the white crosses painted on the walls recall the tradition of warding off evil spirits.
Rural Ensemble of BalàfiaOpen interactive mapGet directions ↗Other places to discover around the rural ensemble of Balàfia
From the rural ensemble of Balàfia you can reach other places of cultural interest
Church of San Lorenzo Less than 1 km away
The church of Sant Llorenç, or San Lorenzo, belongs to the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja, in a village of the same name.
Statue of Marià Villangómez 5 km away
Marià Villangómez (1913-2002) was one of the most important writers in Ibizan literature.
Church of Sant Miquel 5 km away
According to the official version, this fortified church dates from the 17th century, although many authors date its construction to the 13th century, built on the foundations of much earlier structures.
Nearby villages
Sant Llorenç
Sant Llorenç de Balàfia, or San Lorenzo, is a rural village with practically no town centre, located in the municipality of Sant Joan.
Sant Miquel
Sant Miquel is a small village, almost a hamlet, halfway between Sant Joan, the municipality it belongs to, and Sant Antoni.
Sant Joan
Sant Joan de Labritja lies at the northern tip of the island, in one of its most unspoilt and least known areas.
Beaches near the rural ensemble of Balàfia
If you fancy a swim, the beaches of Sant Joan are close by.
You’ll find Cala Benirràs in the municipality of Sant Joan, between the villages of Sant Miquel and Sant Joan, on the road that links the two parishes.
Puerto de San Miguel lies at the northern tip of the island, in the municipality of Sant Joan.
How to get there by bus
- A10Eivissa-Santa Gertrudis-Sant Llorenç-Sant MiquelStops at Sant Llorenç
- T4Santa Eulària-Sant Llorenç-Sant Joan-(Portinatx)Stops at Sant Llorenç
- T6Eivissa-Sant Llorenç-Sant Joan-(Portinatx)Stops at Sant Llorenç