Originally, Phoenician and Muslim settlers laid the foundations for the architectural development of the city. But it was not until the 16th century when the engineer Juan Bautista Calvi, under the mandate of Felipe II, took over the direction of the works of what is today one of the largest and most complete walled enclosures in the world. Begun in 1555 and completed 30 years later, today they contain one of the island’s greatest historical and tourist attractions.

Dalt Vila is worth a leisurely stroll, taking time to contemplate its architecture and historical legacy. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes to tackle its many slopes and stairs.

Although there are several entrances to the walls, the main entrance is the Portal de Ses Taules. The majestic gateway is crowned with the imperial coat of arms and crown of the Habsburgs, with an inscription dating its construction. Once you cross the drawbridge over the moat, you will enter the porticoed parade ground, where the guard corps was housed. After passing through another arch and walking along the cobblestones, you will reach the plaça de Vila. A charming elongated square full of restaurants with a varied gastronomic offer, shops and galleries. We continue to the left to enjoy a route around the periphery of the walls, from bastion to bastion. To do so, we will head towards Sa Carrossa street, which has a secluded tree-lined park and where the sculpture of the historian and priest Isidor Macabich is located. Continuing along the slope, we reach the bastion of Santa Llúcia, a large bastion in the centre of which is an old gunpowder magazine, now converted into an exhibition hall. It is the closest viewpoint to what were once the fishing quarters par excellence: Sa Marina and Sa Penya.

If we continue along the cliff line towards the south, we can enjoy beautiful views over the bay of the city, the port and the Botafoch lighthouse. This leads us to the Plaza España, opposite the historic town hall building, with a viewpoint overlooking the cliff. A statue of Guillem de Montgrí, the conqueror of the islands under James I of Aragon, reminds us of the Christian legacy that began in 1235. We go round the town hall building, with its cloister attached to the convent of Santo Domingo, and we will reach some stairs that, after a gradual ascent, will take us to the innermost and highest part of Dalt Vila, the most palatial and stately if possible. Cross the original medieval wall through the Sa Portella gate and continue climbing to the left. After just a few metres you will reach the Cathedral Square, on the perimeter of which stand buildings full of history: the Diocesan Museum, the Casa de la Curia, the Madina Yabisah interpretation centre and, of course, the Cathedral. The viewpoint gives us even wider views of the port and the Pla de Vila. Crossing to the other side of the Cathedral, you will come to a walkway on the wall that will lead you to the bastions of Sant Jordi and Sant Bernat, from where you will have a complete panoramic view of the sea surrounding the city. We can see Formentera, the tourist area of Playa d’en Bossa, and much closer, the area of Puig des Molins. Behind us, the solemn castle, soon to be the Parador Nacional. If we follow the Calvi roundabout, this time downhill, the views we are offered are those of the urban expansion of the modern city of Ibiza and its surrounding mountains. The Sant Jaume bastion marks the halfway point of the route, and the Sant Pere bastion marks the point where the wall folds towards the east. There, in the charming Plaza del Sol, is another of the outstanding entrances to the wall, the Portal Nou. Closing the route, we can continue on to the bastion of Sant Joan, with another access, this one by car, and in the immediate vicinity of which is the Museum of Modern Art. A few metres away, the Plaça de Vila indicates that we have completed the route.