History of Formentera

History of Formentera

During their occupation of the island, they used it primarily to grow wheat and called it Frumentaria, meaning "Wheat Island." But the Romans were not the first inhabitants, far from it.As in the entire Mediterranean, Formentera has a long history. Megalithic tombs and a dolmen tell us that there were people on Formentera at least 4,000 years ago.Later, in 64 BC. C., the Phoenicians arrived, but it seems that they mostly occupied Ibiza and left Formentera relatively intact.The Greeks followed and collectively called Ibiza and Formentera the Pitiusas, the "Pine Islands."

Around the year 200 BC. C. the Romans arrived and built a fortress in Es Caló, whose foundations are still visible, and occupied the island until the collapse of their empire in the 5th century.The Visigoths invaded the Iberian Peninsula after the fall of the Romans, as well as the Balearic Islands, but it is not known to what extent they occupied Formentera since they left almost no trace on the island.Next to arrive were the Byzantines but, again, there are few traces of their time, and it was not until the Moors settled that the island had a stable population around the 10th century.They brought with them advanced agriculture and irrigation, as evidenced by the numerous stone walls, wells and cisterns they left behind, shaping the island's landscape to this day.Even the Vikings arrived in 1109 and plundered the island, but they did not stay because they were on a crusade to the Holy Land.

In 1235 King Jaume I conquered Formentera for the Crown of Aragon and later, in 1469, the marriage between Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon united the two crowns and effectively created what would become Spain.In 1235 King Jaume I conquered Formentera for the Crown of Aragon and later, in 1469, the marriage between Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon united the two crowns and effectively created what would become Spain.After the “discovery” of America in 1492, the new transatlantic trade caused the Mediterranean to lose some importanceand Spain largely ignored the Balearic Islands to the point that Formentera was virtually abandoned and left to Barbary pirates for a couple of centuries and occasionally occupied by Ibizans.

In 1695, with the worst of the pirate threat over, a concerted effort was made to repopulate Formentera with the construction of a fortress and watchtowers,as well as the first church on the island, a sure sign that this time the population planned to stay. They did it by living from agriculture, fishing and salt,although life was never easy and many islanders emigrated to the Americas. Formentera opposed Franco's nationalists during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and several islanders were executed.After the war there was even a concentration camp on the island until 1942 for political dissidents from mainland Spain awaiting execution.Tourism began to develop in the late 60s and 70s, attracting mainly those seeking an environment of relaxation and tranquility,which was probably as good as there was no electricity until 1968! Many of those who came in those early days were part of the hippy movement, something that is still evident in the character of the island today.

For years the inhabitants of Formentera fought to resist dependence on Ibiza and to have their own Island Council, and in 2007 they finally achieved it.There is a small ethnological museum in the village of Sant Francesc but, as far as museums go, that's it;So, for the most part, if you want to spend your time sunbathing on the beach, drinking mojitos and eating seafood, and not feel guilty about not visiting the local museums, Formentera is the island for you!