Art, crafts and fashion
The handicrafts in Ibiza are very diverse. Leather goods, bags, leather jackets and belts are on sale in all the specialist shops. In Ibiza, while many craftsmen work with leather, basketry and rope sandals remain the island's trademark, not to mention Adlib's fashion clothes and accessories! In the 1960s, Iberian fashion was influenced by both traditional dress and the freedom of the hippie movement. Indeed, the island stands out for a mixture of freedom and tolerance that the AdLib movement (from the Latin ad libitum, which can be translated as "at will, at choice"), created by Smilja Mihailovitch. The Yugoslavian actress, at a time when freedom was being conquered, favoured by the emergence of the hippie movement, launched the slogan: Viste como quieras pero con gusto (Dress as you like, but with taste). Today, this fashion is still in vogue, and there is no shortage of shops, especially in the centre of Eivissa. The various hippie markets of Ibiza (and Formentera) also offer some good products, either locally made or imported from India or Latin America.
The hippy markets of Ibiza
In Eivissa, along the marina, every evening, small stalls set up and offer you jewellery, paintings and various souvenirs. This market is not very hippy, but rather like so many others that you will have had the opportunity to meet on your holiday resorts.
The Hippy Market is held in Es Canar every Wednesday. Here you will find a large number of craftsmen exhibiting their creations, among other things.
In Sant Carles, the Las Dalias market is held every Saturday. Most of the merchants offer handicrafts that they have made or brought back from their travels in India. Beautiful and varied products for the most part (stoles, jewelry, clothing, leather...), and the vendors are relaxed. You can even relax with a mint tea, sitting on cushions under a tent sheltered from the sun.
In Sant Jordi on Saturday mornings there is a flea market where more and more hippies sell their goods. Interesting for those who like the atmosphere of a garage sale.
In Sant Joan on Sunday mornings from 10.30am, one of the most recent and yet one of the most authentic markets. Sale of handicrafts made by the locals, from food to art and medicinal plants. Concerts from noon. Very rootsy atmosphere.To eat...
Although Mallorca and Menorca enjoy a greater gastronomic reputation than the Pityuses, Ibiza still has some culinary specialities, such as the famous Ibizan salt that can be found in all the island's grocery stores and restaurants. Although the salt works in the south of the island were long shunned by the locals, they have been revived in recent years for the production of top-of-the-range food salt. This salt is sold under the commercial name Sal de Ibiza. Closely linked to the salt pans, dry fish
is an ancient speciality of the fishermen of the southern islands, which consists of drying fish so that it can be eaten all year round. Although dried fish can be made from all types of fish, nowadays it is mainly prepared from cartilaginous fish. This is the case with skate, which makes up the majority of the island's dried fish preparations. Once dried, the fish is grilled over a fire and then crumbled before being packed in olive oil. It can then be preserved for months. All you have to do is eat it, in a salad or on a slice of toast. As far as olive oil is concerned, it should be noted that it is one of the quality products of the Iberian Peninsula, with the two largest manufacturers on the island being Joan Benet and Can Miquel Guash. Although it is originally from Mallorca, the ensaimada, a sweet pastry baked in the oven, can be found all over the archipelago and is without doubt the most emblematic gift to bring back from the Balearic Islands. Equally famous, and also native to Mallorca, is the sobrassada, a sausage seasoned with salt, paprika and aromatic herbs, made from a soft dough that can easily be spread on a slice of bread. It's a treat! These two products are widely consumed on Ibiza and deserve a place in your suitcase!... And to drink!
While Menorca's gin may have a certain aura, the Balearic Islands' great liquid speciality does come from Ibiza: Hierbas Ibicencas ( Ibizan Herbs). The drink behind this name is a popular, slightly aniseed-flavoured spirit that has been prepared for centuries by the island's families in an artisanal manner, no doubt inspired by the preparations of the monks who populated the Balearic Islands in the Middle Ages. Among the many fermented local herbs and plants used in the recipe, rosemary, thyme, mint, lavender, fennel, verbena, sage, juniper, orange and lemon peel are almost always added. Since 1997, the name Hierbas Ibicencas
has only been awarded to producers registered with the Ibiza Council, which is supposed to guarantee a certain quality of the product. A very good gift idea! Ibizan wine is also a very good gourmet souvenir. Although the cultivation of vines has been documented on the islands since ancient times, since November 1996, following the approval of a decree by the Balearic Government, the wine region of "Ibiza" has been created with the official name Vi de la terra de Ibiza. In 2003, a new decree was issued to clarify the previous one, authorising four grape varieties for red wine (Cabernet, Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah) and two for white wine (Malvasia and Chardonnay), and introducing new quality control standards for the wines produced under the name Vi de la terra de Ibiza. Today, four wineries produce wine under this designation: Ibizkus Wines, Sa Cova, Can Maymó and Can Rich, the latter being the only one to produce a so-called ecological wine. You can visit the facilities of most of these wineries and organise a tasting session with the possibility of buying some good bottles.
