May 2009
[ Ibiza, Spain vacation photos ]
Alison: Ibiza geography and terminology were hard for me to understand at first. It’s confusing! But then, unlike me, you are probably smarter than a fifth grader.
It doesn’t help that to start, the island not only shares the same name as one of its five municipalities but ”Ibiza” is ALSO the name of the capital. Then there is the official Catalan translation versus the Spanish translation … Plus, within Ibiza Town itself, there are two sections. Should I continue?
I am embarrassed to admit that it took me forever to get this straight. Luc claimed to understand immediately (I have my doubts). When I am on vacation, I like to really get “the lay of the land,” otherwise I feel like I didn’t really connect with the place. And that can be really disappointing. Especially when you return home and can’t quite explain to people where you actually were.
So I thought a quick guide might be useful to future travelers. So below are a detailed Ibiza map and an outline of the different names and their geological references.
If you have any input to make this clearer please let me know. Any additions,clarifications and/or corrections to my explanation of Ibiza geography and terminology would be greatly appreciated!
Click this image to get a full size map of Ibiza, Spain.
Ibiza:
- Spanish name of the island
- Spanish pronunciation with a hard “z”
- Catalonian pronunciation “z” becomes soft “th” or Ibitha
Eivissa:
- Catalonian and official name of the island
Ibiza Town:
- Island capital and one of five municipalities
Vila d’Eivissa or Vila
- Catalonian name for the island capital and municipality
Ibiza Town / Vila d’Eivissa divides into two main parts:
- Old Town or Dalt Vila (apt literal translation “Upper Town” with the narrow streets winding ever upward) and
- Eixample, the modern part.
Catalan:
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
As someone with a lot of English friends, I have always heard the name pronounced “eye-BEE-zah,” which I’m sure the locals don’t appreciate. From the photos, it’s reassuring to see that there are great places to see for those people who aren’t part of the night club crowd.