People have been living on Formentera for more than 4,000 years, and there are archeological sited on the island that demonstrate this. Even without natural spring water Formentera attracted Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans. The Greek Stabo who died in 24AD referred to the island as Ophiusa, which means land of reptiles. When you walk along the paths today the geckos are still darting around 2,000 years later.

Formentera was called the Island of Wheat by the Romans who farmed it. It\’s curious that they named it in this way since their main export was figs! The remains of Castell Roma de Can Blai are testament to the fact that the Romans invested a lot of resources into the island.
Formentera has never been an easy place to occupy, as the Byzantines, Vandals, Arabs, and Normans who followed the Romans all discovered. When the Catalans finally stamped their authority in 1235 they did so by exterminating the local Muslims, and dividing the island into four administrations, but after years of sickness and pirate attacks they decided to leave the island in the fourteenth century.
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 delighted by a great island. For further information see: http://www.squidoo.com/Sabina-Formentera







