Ca na Costa and Cap de Barbaria
Explore prehistory through the megalithic tomb and the remains of settlements.
One island, many stories
History of Formentera
Before becoming a holiday destination, Formentera was an island of farmers, fishers and salt workers. Its archaeological sites, churches and paths reveal a history shaped by the sea, periods of depopulation and the efforts of those who made it their home.
Around 2000 BC
The first inhabitants
The megalithic tomb of Ca na Costa records the presence of prehistoric communities on Formentera. Its large stone slabs form a collective burial chamber, offering evidence of the organisation and beliefs of those inhabitants.
The settlements at Cap de Barbaria add to this picture of prehistory. The island’s story begins long before the arrival of the Romans.
Antiquity
Formentera in the Roman Mediterranean
The island was part of the Roman world, connected by sea routes. Can Blai preserves the remains of a late Roman fortification dated to the late third or early fourth century AD.
These remains bear witness to Roman presence, rather than the beginning of human settlement on Formentera.
Middle Ages · 1235
From al-Andalus to feudal conquest
Following the Andalusi period, the conquest of the Pitiüses in 1235, led by Guillem de Montgrí, brought the islands into the Crown of Aragon.
In later centuries, Formentera experienced periods of depopulation and intermittent use from Eivissa. Maritime insecurity and corsair attacks made lasting settlement difficult.
From 1695
Resettlement and village life
The first royal grant of land to Marc Ferrer, dated 24 December 1695, forms part of the process of permanent resettlement. Further grants and the arrival of families from Eivissa helped establish a lasting population.
During the eighteenth century, rural life and village communities became more firmly rooted. Churches, houses and defensive structures help explain the effort to remain on the island.
19th and 20th centuries
Working the land and living by the sea
Farming, fishing and salt production supported many families. Fig trees, fields, dry-stone walls, cisterns and windmills preserve the memory of a life adapted to the resources available.
Emigration was also part of this history. Looking at the rural landscape helps us recognise the work of generations who lived before tourism expanded.
20th century to today
Memory, tourism and institutions
The Spanish Civil War and Francoist repression left painful scars. The prison known as sa Colònia or es Campament operated beside la Savina. Research into the prison and remembrance of its victims form part of understanding the island’s past.
In the second half of the twentieth century, tourism transformed the economy and society. Travellers and people associated with artistic and countercultural movements brought new experiences to a community with roots of its own.
The Consell Insular de Formentera was established in 2007. Today, the island’s archaeological and rural heritage, together with its sites of historical memory, deserves to be understood and cared for.
Where to discover this history
Connect each period with the landscape you can see today. Check visiting arrangements and respect archaeological sites and private property.
Can Blai
An archaeological site that places Roman presence within Formentera’s landscape.
Sant Francesc Xavier
The church and the chapel of sa Tanca Vella reveal different periods of religious life on the island.
Windmills and salt landscapes
Molí Vell de la Mola and the surroundings of ses Salines introduce farming and the history of salt production.
Take time to get to know the island
Find your accommodation and set aside a few days to discover Formentera’s places and stories.
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