Sa Caleta Phoenician Settlement
Sa Caleta Phoenician Settlement, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spans over 10 acres and contains the foundation remains of simple stone buildings – the last remnants of an ancient Phoenician settlement dating back to the 8th century BC.
The Phoenicians arrived from the Iberian coast, and whilst the site may initially have been used a seasonal or provisional base for economic and geographic expeditions, they eventually settled there, utilising the area until around 600 BC, when they appear to have intentionally abandoned Sa Caleta, relocating to Ibiza bay. The site’s location was probably chosen due to its proximity to the island’s natural salt marshes. The Phoenicians harvested the natural salt crystals to use as a currency for trade – the first commercial enterprise of the island.
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