Back at the turn of the century the Greek writer Strabo referred to Formentera as the land of reptiles, or Ophiusa. 2,000 years later and there are still plenty of lizards around! But even before Strabo’s days there were people living on Formentera, and there are site on the island suggesting that inhabitants date back 4,000 years. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans have all seen the attractions of Formentera. [I:http://www.uniquearticlewizard.com/extras/pics/gusa100173thumb5.jpg]
It was the Romans that named the island Frumentaria, but even though this means island of wheat, they mainly exported fig via the Es Calo port. On a hill behind Es Calo are the remains of a Roman port that used to keep watch for pirates. [youtube:D7iTjiaN1ho;[link:Formentera Sunset];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7iTjiaN1ho&feature=related]
The Romans were followed by the Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, and Normans, but it wasn’t until the Catalans arrived that things really started to get organized. This was back in 1235 when the Catalan-Aragonese crown decided to occupy the island, and started by taking the unfortunate decision to kill most of the local Muslim population. They went on to form an administration, but the whole thing ended in disaster with the island being abandoned in the 1300s under endless pirate attacks and illness.
Following the abandonment of the island it was decided to settle again in 1697, and the island has been inhabited ever since. It was King Carlos II of Spain who saw the potential in the island and appointed a sea captain to go and build some defense towers to keep the pirates out. The remains of the five towers can be visited today.
The modern Formentera was shaped by the wave of hippies who came in the 1950s. They spread the word about the island’s natural beauty and tourism has since grown to be the island’s main business. Gone are the days of fig and olive growing. Of course, you still see plenty of farmers out and about, but the truth is that they could make nearly as much money by renting out their farmhouses to the tourists that want to visit this island.
From when you get to at Lasabina formentera port you are enraptured by a beautiful island. For further information visit: http://www.squidoo.com/Sabina-Formentera
