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Cabrera

is one of the minor Balearic Islands belonging to Spain, just south of Mallorca, in the Mediterranean Sea, at approximately 39° 9' N, 3° E.

It is the largest of a small archipelago of islands and islets, including (from south to north) the Estells de Fora, L'Imperial, Cabrera itself, Illa de ses Bledes, Na Redona, Conillera, L'Esponja, Na Plana, Illot Pla, Na Pobra, and Na Foradada.

The whole archipelago is a Spanish national park (Parque Nacional del Archipiélago de Cabrera). Cabrera is a cruising destination, and boats may anchor in the island's natural harbour. Boats may not anchor anywhere else due to the fragile marine life around the island. Many species survive on Cabrera that are rarely found around the Balearics, such as dolphins and sea snails. Diving is strictly forbidden and a licence must be sought, in advance, from the government, for a one day pass only. Thus, excursions to the island are a rare event and are treasured by the diving community. Hiking is available, and there is a tourist information office, a museum, and a 14th-century castle as well as a gift shop and café. The park covers 100 km² (13 km² land) but attracts few visitors due to its remoteness. The permanent population is below 100.

Dragonera

is an emerged part of the geologic system running southwest-northeast in the Iberian Peninsula. This runs from the Málaga province through Cabo de la Nao and then gets submerged under the Mediterranean Sea. It surfaces again to form the island of Ibiza, the tramuntana Range in the island of Majorca and Sa Dragonera itself.

Sa Dragonera is approximately 3,200 metres in length and a maximum width of 500 mts. Despite its highest hill Pico Popi is a mere 360 mts high, the overall the island's relief is very abrupt, especially considered its reduced dimensions, which made the islet of little importance in historic times.

The island is a part of the municipality of Andratx, which is, along with San Telmo, the closest towns to the island.

Dragonera has a small natural port in the Cala Lladó area.

There is a Roman necropolis in the Es Lladó area, but there are no other signs of historical permanent settling.

During the 18th century two defensive watchtowers were built in the island to watch for the numerous Barbary pirates operating in the area.

In 1910 the lighthouses of tramuntana (north) and Llebeig (southwest) began to operate, replacing the Faro Viejo or old lighthouse, which was built in a lower part of the island, in an area often surrounded by mist.

In 1941 Juan Flexas bought the island and started farming activities in the Es Lladó area.

By mid 20th century, the islet was often used by estraperlo smugglers for their illegal activities.

Between 1960 and 1975 the lighthouses were improved and became automatic, which meant that the only permanent and tiny population (that of the lighthouse keeper and family) left the islet.

In 1974 the islet was bought by a Spanish company in order to build a touristic resort. The original plan included a luxury residential, a hotel, a casino and, to serve all these, a manmade port. These plans were heavily contested by the ecologist movements and a harsh and long legal battle followed. The ecologists managed to get all the plans on hold until the legal controversy was cleared. It only finished ten years after, in 1984, when the Audiencia Nacional finally barred any building activities on the island.

Part of the 1982 film adapting Agatha Christie's mystery Evil Under the Sun was shot in Sa Dragonera, presented as an island of the fictional Tyrania by the Adriatic.

Then, in 1987, the Consell Insular de Mallorca bought the island. In 1995 the Balearic regional Government declared the island natural park along with the nearby islets of Pantaleu and Isla Mediana.

Minorca or Menorca

Spanish and Catalan: Menorca); from Latin: Insula Minor, later Minorica "minor island") is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca.

Minorca has a population of approximately 88,000. It is located 39°47' to 40°00'N, 3°52' to 4°24'E. Its highest point, called El Toro or Monte Toro, is 358 m/1174 ft above sea level.

The location of Minorca in the middle of the western Mediterranean was a staging point for the different cultures since prehistoric times. This Balearic Island has a mix of colonial and local architecture.

The current population is an extremely ethnically diverse mix of Moors, Greeks, Turks, and Arabs.

Minorca is especially well known for its traditional summer fiestas, which intrigue many visitors. The 'Festes de Sant Joan' is held annually in Ciutadella. The festes lasts for three days. On the first day, a man bears a well-groomed sheep upon his shoulders and parades around the local streets. In the late evening, main streets are closed and bonfires held upon them.

On the second day, locally bred black horses are the star of the show. Dressed up for the occasion with ribbons and rosettes. The riders, or caixers, ride the horses through the streets and encourage them, along with a tumultuous crowd of people, to rear up on their hind legs. The brave can be found running underneath them as they do so.

The third day sees intense competition between the riders in a harmless form of jousting that involves spearing a suspended ring with a lance at considerable speed. The festes is brought to a close with a firework display.

The fiestas take place throughout the summer in different towns around the island, and have their origins in the early 14th century. The international opera week and international organ festival in Mahon and, the summer music festival and Capella Davidica concerts in Ciutadella are the main events of the island.

Minorca’s cuisine is dominated by the Mediterranean diet which is known to be very healthy. Whilst many of the locals have adopted modern attitudes they still uphold certain old traditions like chivalry, courtesy and of course hospitality.

Pine Islands or Pityuses

(Catalan: Illes Pitiüses; Spanish: Islas Pitiusas) is the name given collectively to the Balearic Islands of Ibiza  (Catalan: Eivissa) and Formentera, in the Mediterranean Sea.

The islands are situated approximately 100 km southwest of the island of Majorca, and approximately 80 km east of the Cap de la Nau in the Iberian Peninsula.

In antiquity they were known as the Pityussa islands, listed in Claudius Ptolemy's Geography, under the names Ophiusis and Ebyssus, which had a town of the same name. The islands were used by Cilician pirates as a base. The Roman general Annius drove them out with a large fleet and with them the Roman renegade general Quintus Sertorius, who was seeking refuge there.

The Pine Islands are sometimes grouped together as part of the Balearic Islands, or else considered separate with the Balearics proper being Majorca and Minorca. Politically, they are part of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.

Ibiza

(Catalan: Eivissa) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Iberian Peninsula, Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. Its largest cities are Ibiza Town (Catalan: Vila d'Eivissa or simply Vila), Santa Eulària des Riu and Sant Antoni de Portmany.

Panoramic view of Cala d’Hort

Nightlife

Ibiza is a whole world of lights and colours as a life ceremony.
Daylight, nightlight, there is always a beam that surrounds us, grabs us and takes us to the music, dance and fun. This is the Ibiza of the fiesta, fun and hanging out. It is the rhythm that attracts thousands of visitors longing for being dragged by it.
Ibiza, a sound, wildness, music, sensations factory. All of this is surrounded by clubs, dj's, beaches, sun, heat. Ibiza becomes an endless fiesta.

The circle starts to reach the horizon line and arrives to the climax. It is nine o'clock at night and the sun starts to submerge into the sea, right next to the Conejera islet. Hundreds of people look at it from different cafés on the coast of Sant Antoni. It is a daily ritual that captivates you, embraces you with the nature and at the same time lifts you up over the beach and rocks, with background music by the dj's devoted to perfection. This is the ceremony of sunsets in summer Ibiza.
More than 20 discos, with capacity of thousands of people, huge parties, indescribable ambient, stars and famous people, luxurious decorations, drag-queens and above all music, music and music.

Discos such as Pachá, Privelege, Space, Amnesia, Es Paradis Terrenal, El Divino, the West End area in Sant Antoni and many more are well-known around the world.

Ibiza is considered a popular tourist destination, especially due to its legendary and at times riotous nightlife centered around two areas: Ibiza Town, the island's capital on the southern shore and Sant Antoni to the West. Well-known nightclubs are Privilege (ex Ku), Eden, Es Paradís, Amnesia, Space, Pacha, Underground, Gala Night and DC10. During the summer, the top producers and DJs in dance come to the island and play at the various clubs, in between touring to other international destinations. Some of the more famous DJs run their own weekly nights around the island. In 2009 Carl Cox continued to dominate Space every tuesday with 'Carl Cox & Friends', Pete Tong had his second year at Eden hosting 'Wonderland' every Friday night, Tiesto managed to fill Privilege every monday and newcomers Swedish House Mafia took over mondays at Pacha with 'Dark Forest'. Many of these DJs use Ibiza as an outlet for presenting new songs within the house, trance and techno genres of electronic dance music.