San Antonio (Sant Antoni de Portmany) |  |
Sant Antoni de Portmany is one of the most popular resorts among
European tourists on account of its stunning Bay and the spectacular
sunsets on the Ses Variades coast line. Tourism has completely
transformed this town, whose inhabitants used to live on farming,
fishing and ancient traditions only a century ago. Nowadays, Sant
Antoni offers a wide range of hotels, hostels and apartments, among
other services for tourists.
By the sea, next to the promenade, it is the Passeig de ses Fonts, Sant Antoni's centre. Here you will find the Town Hall, the Tourist Office, pavement cafes, and taxi ranks. You might also be able to enjoy outdoor concerts. If you follow the Passeig de ses Fonts it will lead you inside the town through streets crammed with retail stores, bars and restaurants.
Outside Sant Antony's centre the visitor will find the Cueva de ses Fontanelles, a cave with a collection of prehistoric paintings. Located in a sheer area between Sa Forada and Cap Nono, this cave, accessible from Cala Salada, is also known as sa Cova des Vi (the Wine Cave), since it was used as a wine cellar in the past. According to the French Archaeologist Henri "Abbé" Breuil, who discovered them in 1.917, the paintings date back to the Bronze Age (1.000 b.C.). Paintings of ships can be observed on the Eastern wall. Following the coast line to the North, the visitor will enjoy the magnificent view of the cliffs bordering the entire municipality.
By the sea, next to the promenade, it is the Passeig de ses Fonts, Sant Antoni's centre. Here you will find the Town Hall, the Tourist Office, pavement cafes, and taxi ranks. You might also be able to enjoy outdoor concerts. If you follow the Passeig de ses Fonts it will lead you inside the town through streets crammed with retail stores, bars and restaurants.
Outside Sant Antony's centre the visitor will find the Cueva de ses Fontanelles, a cave with a collection of prehistoric paintings. Located in a sheer area between Sa Forada and Cap Nono, this cave, accessible from Cala Salada, is also known as sa Cova des Vi (the Wine Cave), since it was used as a wine cellar in the past. According to the French Archaeologist Henri "Abbé" Breuil, who discovered them in 1.917, the paintings date back to the Bronze Age (1.000 b.C.). Paintings of ships can be observed on the Eastern wall. Following the coast line to the North, the visitor will enjoy the magnificent view of the cliffs bordering the entire municipality.
Another place of interest is the Capilla de Santa Agnès. To reach this chapel, you must go through the Calle Obispo Torres (Street), then through Calle Ramón y Cajal, up to the Camino de cas Ramons, until you are 1,5 Km far from the city centre. You will then find the underground Chapel of Santa Agnès, which is built inside a hill. According to the legend, a ship was about to sink with all its passengers inside. One of them, who carried the statue of Santa Agnès, promised to build her a chapel if they survived. The miracle occurred and the chapel was discovered in 1.907. It has been used as a place of worship by different peoples, since many Punic, Roman and Islamic objects have been found inside. |  |
Two kilometres far from Sant Antoni's centre, very near Cala Gració and next to the main road, you will find the route to es Cap Blanc Aquarium, also known as sa Cova de ses Llegostes, sa cova des Peix or sa Cova des Vell Marí. This latter name is how locals call the Mediterranean Monk Seals, which used to hide in this beautiful natural cave not long ago. Popular festivities were held in this place in the past. Nowadays it is a natural aquarium where the visitor can contemplate a wide range of the Pitiusas' Marine Fauna.
Although Sant Antoni's Bay is the most popular place among tourists, towns and villages such as Sant Rafael, Sant Mateu and Santa Agnès de Corona also belong to the this municipality.
Departing from Sant Mateu you can reach Ses Torres d'en Lluc, an archaeological site composed of two ancient towers and a defensive wall that dates back to the Middle Ages, according to some Historians. The Eastern route towards Cala d'Aubarca leads the visitor to a series of cliffs of great beauty and difficult access. These cliffs are used as a shelter by many birds, such as Eleonora's Falcon, which migrates from Madagascar, and the Ferruginous Hawk. There is not a main road to get to Cala d'Aubarca by car; all routes have to be done on foot.
There are different routes that hiking lovers can follow from Sant Antoni, going through cultivated fields, pine woods, beaches and cliffs, a wide range of landscapes where nature and beauty live together.
Sant Antoni is a reference point for hikers. Different sorts of facilities can be found here, so that they can practise several sports, from cycling to nautical sports.
There are many beaches in the municipality. Cala Salada, for example, 5 km from Sant Antoni's centre, is a series of sandy coves where you can enjoy a very friendly atmosphere while protected from the wind. Cala Gració and Cala Gracioneta, two beautiful little coves joined by a small rocky promenade, are located 2,5 km from Sant Antoni's centre. Another example is Caló des Moro, one km to the North-East from the city centre, which has become a popular place to contemplate the sunset. Bordering Sant Antoni's promenade you will find S'arenal beach, a series of long and narrow beaches, from where the whole Bay can be seen. There is another small sandy beach near the city centre called Es Pouet, which can be reached through the road that runs along the Bay towards Port des Torrent.
