The History of Formentera Island
Prehistoric sites on Formentera indicate that there were people living on the island four thousand years ago. Throughout history people have been attracted to the island: the Phoenicians, were followed by the Carthaginians, who were then followed by the Romans. Even though there is no natural water on the island it has its attractions. The island was called Ophiusa by Strabo, a Greek geographer, a name designed to suit an island teeming with lizards.
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.
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.
Formentera was occupied again in 1697 under the instruction of Carlos II of Spain, who sent explorer Marc Ferrer to get things going again. With the building of defense towers Formentera was better able to protect itself and by 1889 it was an independent municipality.
Until the twentieth century Formentera was sustained by farming of dry fruit trees and the manufacture of salt, but these days it is the tourism sector that makes the biggest contribution to the island. That is thanks to the hippies that came in the 1960s, from whom the word spread. Thanks to the hippies we have a great tourist destination to enjoy – thanks Bob Dylan!
From when you arrive at Lasabina formentera port you are delighted by a beautiful island. For more information visit: http://www.squidoo.com/Sabina-Formentera
