Dalt Vila Gates Ibiza - entrances to Ibiza's Fortified Old Town
Descriptions & photographs of the 5 ways into Dalt Vila (High town), Ibiza
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Dalt Vila Gates Ibiza - entrances to Ibiza's Fortified Old TownDescriptions & photographs of the 5 ways into Dalt Vila (High town), Ibiza |
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Dalt Vila Gates Ibiza - entrances to Ibiza's Fortified Old TownThere are 5 gates or entrances in Dalt Vila the fortified Ibiza old town.
1. Gate Portal de ses Taules or Porta de Mar (Sea Gate)Portal de ses Taules is the main gateway into Dalt Vila, the old town of Ibiza (Eivissa). Of the 5 entrances this is the most spectacular with it's drawbridge and thick wooden gates. Access is gained from a steep ramp that starts in C. D'Antoni Palau by the town market (Mercat Vell) . Ladies should note that this ramp and the streets, many steep, throughout Dalt Vila are made of shiny cobbles that can be extremely slippery. I therefore recommend sensible shoes instead of high heels. The top of the ramp is a good place to view the 2 niches located on either side if the gateway containing roman statues , and the large coat of arms of Felip II and inscription below. Looking to the right you can see how the canon positions protect the gateway. On the left are the terraces of some gay bars that look good at night with there external coloured lighting. A portcullis used to protected the gateway. Notice the thickness of the wooden gates, there are 2 sets. Also notice the thickness
of the walls as you walk
through into a courtyard, Placa d' Armes. Immediately opposite the gate way you will see a recess, this is where the guards could sit down
on two benches and the enclosure contained a fireplace.
2. Gate Ballard de St Joan.The only gate that allows cars to & from Dalt Vila enters through the St Joan bastion, Ballard de St Joan.
3. Gates Portal Nou .This gate is located on next to Sant Pere Bastion on it's the hill side and gained through the small park, parc Reina Sofia. The gateway is tucked away in a corner and well protected from cannon fire by the bastion in front of it. The actual gate is recessed into the wall further protect from cannon. When in the recess look up to see the wide murder hole covering the full width of the recess. Inside the gate there is another murder hole in the ceiling of the passage that has gates. notice the thickness of the walls, the passage is uphill and fairly fairly steep.
4. Tunnel to Cathedral.The external entrance is near the highest of the car parks that are at the rear of Dalt Vila accessed by C. del Calvari. The entrance built into the curtain wall by the right side of the Sant Bernat bastion is hidden by a mound of rock that would have also protected the entrance from cannon fire. The long steep tunnel winds up inside the walls doing a 270 degree twist. See drawing. The tunnel exists onto the rampart walkway against the walls of the castle / Casa Govermental. To go to the Cathedral continue in the same direction as you exit the tunnel and take the first turning to your left. Before doing this go in the other direction to the bastion and enjoy the magnificent view from this the highest bastion.
5. Tunnel to the Town hallThe external entrance to the Tunnel to the Town hall is only 100 metres from the external entrance to the Tunnel to the Cathedral and accessed from the slightly lower car park. From the Car park at the very end of C. del Calvari go down the flight of steps and the tunnel entrance is in front of you in a hole in the ground. This tunnel goes steeply downwards to a much lower level within Dalt Vila and exits into the Placa D' Espanya opposite the Town Hall, Ajuntament d' Eivissa. The Placa D' Espanya is one of the bus stops for the Vilabus on route 45
Because of the location of the tunnel entrance in the ground rather than the wall. I wonder if this tunnel is a modern addition or if it was a secret entrance to the old town. Murder HolesMurder holes are holes in the ceiling of a passage or gateway allowing, well protected defenders to hurl stones, fire muskets or pour boiling water or oil , red hot sand or other nasty substances onto besiegers. Another use of murder holes allowed the defenders to pour water onto gates if attempts were made to set them on fire by attackers
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