Ibiza's Tiny Chapels

Published 5 December 2006 Stephen White.

Tags: Ibiza News, Villages

no bigger than garden sheds

Ibiza's churches are well known for their simplistic architecture and fortress like design because they dominate the villages in which they are located. Less noticeable because of their diminutive size and almost secretive location are Ibiza's four tiny chapels, no bigger than garden sheds, which are situated in San Antonio, San Jose, Santa Eulalia and San Augustin.

It is the Capella d'en Beia in San Augustin - it can be seen in the garden of a villa just off the main road from San Jose to San Antonio - which makes the news today. Constructed in 1850 by local man Antoni Ribas Cardona and given the status of Good Cultural Interest a couple of years ago, it has now been renovated from top to bottom at a cost of €38,000.

This seemed an awful lot of money to re-plaster and paint such a small construction so we hailed a passing English builder who reckoned he could knock it down and build a proper one and still have change left over from 38 grand!

The chapel does however still have a feeling of calm devotion about it; a little plastic chair to sit on as you meditate over the religious icons and paintings whilst a candle gently flickers. It's a worthwhile stop on any cross-island journey, but please don't all go at once!

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