Ibiza: To the Battlements!

constructed in the 16th century

Yesterday saw the end of 9 years of hard work restoring the battlements of Sant Pere in the old walled town of Ibiza. The former defences of the city are now a new cultural space which was officially opened by Ibiza's Mayoress Lurdes Costa with a concert by percussion group Tumbuka.
Originally constructed in the 16th century by the Italian engineer Jean Battista Calvi the battlements overlook the entrance to Dalt Villa known as Portal Nou, by the Reina Sofia park. It's not that long ago that they housed a discotheque – what else this is Ibiza – but nothing much else had happened since then and they were in a state of some decay.
The restoration work has in part been carried out by students of the council's craft workshop which has been set up to preserve the old skills like dry stone wall building. The work is part of a grand plan to renovate all the historic areas of the city and its World Heritage site and the general public are cordially invited to view the works from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Published 5 August 2007 Stephen White.

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