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FORMENTERA
Formentera is much more than the last Mediterranean Paradise
where classic summer holidays can be enjoyed. It is an island
oasis surrounded by peace and tranquillity, enhanced by a surprisingly
well-conserved natural environment.
Formentera offers visitors an assortment of simple pleasures
which ensure a pleasurable stay on the island at any time
of the year. Its mild climate (with an average temperature
of 16ºC between November and April) allows for swimming
in the sea year round, while our renowned autumns and springs
paint the island in magnificent shades of light and incredible
colours.
The hues of the landscape are rendered more harmonious and
limpid when the island is relieved of the dazzling light that
invades it in the summer season. Watching the sunset or simply
gazing at the sky and the sea become unique experiences which,
in and of themselves, justify a trip to Formentera
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Towns
and Villages:
The harbour of La Savina is the first town to come under our
consideration since it is the sole point of entry the tourist
has to the island and therefore of vital importance. If anything
characterizes La Savina it is the continual coming and going
of sea vessels: ferries that travel to and fro bearing tourists
and islanders; fishing boats of every imaginably size; and in
summer an incredible number of leisure boats captained by people
who have decided to spend their summer holidays exploring the
Mediterranean coast.
Situated three kilometres from the harbour we find Formentera’s
most important town, San Francisco, considered the capital of
the island due to the fact that the Town Hall is located in
its main square. Directly opposite the Town Hall stands the
church which, in the 18th century was used as a fortress against
pirate raids from the nearby Barbary Coast, eventually becoming
a refuge and shelter for the parishioners. The most important
festivals and events are celebrated in the main square, where
equal numbers of residents and tourists converge in a cheerful,
peaceful and above all welcoming atmosphere. San Francisco is
at its busiest during the day owing to the large number of shops
and bars that line its streets. The town’s special highlight
is its charming boulevard where numerous hippie stalls can be
found, enticing tourists with a multitude of typical island
wares. As the main commercial and administrative centre, San
Francisco is a sightseeing must in the daylight hours. |
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Following along the same road that heads out from the
harbour and passes through San Francisco, the next stop is San
Fernando, or Sant Ferran in Catalan. In addition to the fact
that it is necessary to pass through this junction in order
to reach La Mola and Es Pujols, the village offers a wide variety
of bars and restaurants where one can have a meal, or perhaps
just some cold refreshment, and watch the world go by. It is
here that we find one of the island’s most legendary venues:
La Fonda Pepe, which, in the 60s opened its doors to the public
and since then has been serving a steady stream of customers
who come to enjoy the island’s authentically laid-back
hippy atmosphere. Despite the passing of years, this is one
of the few places that has remained unchanged. |
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This is the last town and no doubt the one that caters most
energetically to tourism. It can be reached by two roads, either
directly from La Savina harbour or via Sant Ferran. Immediately
upon arrival one notes that the atmosphere is very different
from the rest of the island, especially at night. The wide variety
of shops, restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs make this resort
a tourist paradise. Whether by day or by night, the flow of
people to and through Es Pujols is continual; During the day
people come to enjoy its beaches and its shopping. After sundown
the party scene begins to buzz, especially in the pubs and on
the waterfront where the hippie market attracts people and the
night crowd mixes and mingles in the sea air. |
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Without getting off the main road, the next stop after Sant
Ferran is La Mola. This is the most distant village, located
at the highest geographical spot on the island, some 15 kilometres
from Sant Ferran. It can easily be said that this is one of
the quietest villages because, as it is the farthest from the
centre, it is not visited as often as the others and so has
few shops and restaurants. Its main attraction is the hippie
market that sets up twice a week and draws a great throng of
people. Another of its attractions is the lighthouse perched
on the solitary cliffs, the perfect lookout point for soulful
sunsets in the calm of twilight. |
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