The villages of Formentera make up a Mediterranean paradise of locations to visit and a wealth of fauna and flora that make this island an attraction worth knowing beyond its beaches.
Formentera is located in the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands which, together with Ibiza, make up the so-called Pitiusas islands. The stretch of water that separates these two islands is called Es Freus and is 6.3 km long. The nearest point of Formentera in the whole Iberian Peninsula is the city of Denia, in Alicante, about 100 km away.
Formentera has 5 main urban centers which are:
- Sant Francesc (considered the capital of the island)
- La Savina (where the port is)
- Sant Ferran
- Es Pujols
- Es Caló
- The Pilar de la Mola
Formentera has a population in 2021 of 11,708 people, 69 km of coastline and is the fourth largest island of the Balearic archipelago (the smallest).
If you want more information you can read our page about the island of Formentera.
For the moment, let’s take a tour of the areas or towns of Formentera and the best attractions that can be enjoyed in each place.
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The Pilar of La Mola
El Pilar de La Mola is one of the most charming villages of Formentera and the one that offers the most tranquility of the whole island, as it is located on top of the plateau of Mola, which gives it the distinction of the most isolated urban center.
But it is not isolated all year round because every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, in the months of May to October, the handicraft market of La Mola makes this village the busiest of Formentera.
Getting to the village is easy, just follow the main road of the island, which climbs up to the plateau where the village is located. After crossing the pine forest and some fields of vineyards you will find the town. The plateau where the Pilar de la Mola is located is surrounded by a series of imposing cliffs of more than 100 meters high, being a neuralgic point of gathering of tourists to observe the horizon the place where the Faro de la Mola is located.
If you want, here you have all the places and businesses of this town that you can find in our directory:
What to see in Pilar de la Mola?
Here we list the main attractions of the town of Pilar de la Mola.
La Mola Lighthouse
It is part of the architectural and cultural richness of Formentera, being one of the most visited places.
It is the first lighthouse to be built in Formentera. The interest that the world has had in La Mola Lighthouse was demonstrated by Jules Verne, who titled his novel “The Lighthouse at the End of the World” when he was inspired by this lighthouse.
La Mola Church
It is one of the three churches on the island, was built in 1784 and was declared an asset of cultural interest in Formentera in 1996.
Getting to know this church involves more than just listening to a mass or congregating with other parishioners; it involves getting to know the religious value that the people of the area have and their beautiful internal art.
The molí Vell de la Mola
The Molí Vell de la Mola is the most visited mill in Formentera for a simple reason: it is a restored mill that allows visitors inside.
The Molino de la Mola keeps all its original machinery so you can see what a handmade flour mill was like.
La Mola flea market
Undoubtedly the most popular event that brings together more people in the village of Pilar de la Mola is its flea market.
This is the best known flea market in Formentera, held every Wednesday and Sunday from May to October.
Es Caló
Es Caló is the smallest village of Formentera. Access to Es Caló is easy: it is right on the road leading to La Mola, just before starting the climb on the left hand side. Es Caló is a small urban nucleus with only 3 streets that was formed around the old jetties that are still used by fishermen and boat owners.
From Phoenician times (before the arrival of the Romans) until the mid-twentieth century, and before the completion of the current port of Formentera, the pier of Es Caló was the main port of entry and exit of Formentera. The wharf was used for trading goods and transporting people to and from the island.
If you want, here you have all the places and businesses of this town that you can find in our directory:
What to see in Es Caló?
Es Caló is so small that it does not have much to offer in its urban core. But here are the main tourist attractions around Es Caló.
Castellum Romano de Can Blai
It is an archaeological site that often goes unnoticed and is not well known among tourists that was discovered in 1979.
It is a Roman fortification measuring 40 meters by 40 meters with five towers measuring 4 meters by 5 meters in plan.
Ses Platjetes
They are three beaches facing north and whose environment has an extraordinary beauty that enchants visitors. They are characterized by turquoise blue water and fine white sand that harbors the most beautiful reefs.
Es Pujols
Of all the towns of Formentera, it is the one with the most movement in terms of tourism, which is why you have great availability of accommodation, many restaurants, cheap hotels and apartments. It is also the area where most of the nightlife is concentrated.
Es Pujols is located in the north of Formentera and is the ideal area to taste the delicious and characteristic gastronomy of the island with an Italian touch (it is the town with the highest concentration of Italian tourism and businesses in Formentera). It has all the services and is by far the cheapest area for tourism in the towns of Formentera.
In addition, you will be by the sea, enjoying the beach at its best.
To reach the village of Es Pujols you must take the road that goes along the Estany Pudent, leaving the Port of La Savina. You can also get there from the west side, from San Ferran.
Check all the places of interest in Es Pujols here:
What to see in Es Pujols?
In Es Pujols you have a daily market, beaches, archaeological excavations … here we summarize the highlights of this town of Formentera.
Es Pujols flea market
It is a night market that is installed on the promenade of Es Pujols. In this flea market you will find jewelry, clothing, accessories and much more. Since Es Pujols is a very touristic area, this is one of the busiest markets in Formentera.
Es Pujols Beach
It is one of the busiest beaches in the towns of Formentera. The bay has a beach in the northwest, a central beach and one in the east, and has very calm waters because it has reefs that protect it. Es Pujols beach is usually quite busy and crowded throughout the summer.
Punta Prima Tower
Ca Na Costa Archaeological Site
La Savina
The town of La Savina corresponds to the port of Formentera and the town that has formed in the area around it. All visitors must pass through this port (and town of Formentera) to enjoy the magic of the island of Formentera.
From the port you can see in the distance the popular island of Ibiza and the different ferries that come and go every day connecting the population of both islands.
This urban center has a wide range of stores, restaurants and other nautical services. In addition, on the pedestrian promenade you can enjoy a daily craft market so you can buy your last minute souvenirs before leaving Formentera.
In this link you have all the places of interest and businesses in La Savina:
What to see in La Savina?
In La Savina, although it may not seem so, you have several places of interest and archaeological remains that are worth visiting.
La Savina flea market
The Mercadillo de La Savina is a daily flea market that is located on the promenade of the town. In this market you can buy your souvenirs before leaving Formentera if you have not bought them in some of the other markets of Formentera.
Abandoned seaplane base
It is a seaplane base that was used during the Franco regime, from 1937 to 1953, and is now part of the history of Formentera.
The planes that operated this base belonged to the Spanish Army and performed surveillance tasks, although German and Italian planes also landed occasionally during the Second World War.
Lighthouse of La Savina
The lighthouse of La Savina is the smallest of all the lighthouses of Formentera. It is used not only to guide ships arriving or leaving Formentera, but also as a reference point for planes landing at Ibiza airport.
Until recently it was also used as a beacon for helicopters arriving in Formentera, as the island’s heliport was right next to it. This heliport is currently located next to the Hospital de Formentera.
Sant Ferran
Sant Ferran is one of the most special villages of Formentera. This town is the link between the rest of the towns because it is located in the center of the island and therefore the road passes right through it.
During the time of tourist opening, in the 60s and 70s, Sant Ferran became a meeting point for tourists and hippies who came to the island looking for peace and tranquility.
Precisely one of the places that became famous during that time, which is still open and you can not miss if you go to Sant Ferran is the Fonda Pepe, where artists like Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan passed through.
The church square of Sant Ferran is one of the most popular meeting points at night in Formentera. It is also common to organize concerts of great musicians in the summer.
Here you have all the places and businesses we have in our directory in Sant Ferran:
What to see in Sant Ferran?
Sant Ferran has several attractions that make it one of the busiest villages of Formentera, especially at night.
Baster Cove
It is one of the most beautiful coves of Formentera. Cala en Baster is located on the outskirts of Sant Ferran and is a small bay surrounded by cliffs and caves carved into the wall that serve to protect you from the sun and protect the boats of fishermen.
Cala en Baster has some of the cleanest and turquoise waters of Formentera. As there is a rocky bottom, marine fauna is common, which makes it ideal for snorkeling.
Sant Ferran Art Market
The Sant Ferran Art Market is the main nighttime attraction in this town.
Every night of the week (except Wednesdays, as it is a day of rest) you can find in the streets around the square of the church of Sant Ferran a night market with pieces designed and manufactured by different artists living in Formentera.
Sant Francesc
Sant Francesc is the capital and one of the villages of Formentera with the richest architectural and historical legacy of the island: this is considered the first of all the villages of Formentera. That is why Sant Francesc houses the Consell de Formentera (the island’s government) and is where the first church on the island was built, the Church of Sant Francesc.
Sant Francesc is also the largest of the villages of Formentera: it has a population of 3,000 people and in summer it is multiplied by the tourists who come to visit.
Getting to Sant Francesc is easy: take the main road of the island, after leaving the port, and after about 3 kilometers you arrive at Sant Francesc.
More information in this link with all the places and businesses in Sant Francesc:
What to see in Sant Francesc?
The village of Sant Francesc is where you will find all the services and specialized stores of Formentera. It is also the largest of all the villages and the first village to be built in Formentera.
Church of Sant Francesc
The capital of the island has the oldest church among the towns of Formentera. Its high and thick walls will take you back to the time when it was also used as a defensive fort.
The church of Sant Francesc was built after the simple chapel of Sa Tanca Vella became too small for a growing population.
Mills of Sant Francesc
In the surroundings of Sant Francesc you have two old flour mills that you can visit. The most interesting of all is the Molí d’en Jeroni, which although it is not open to the public and its interior is not open to visitors (as is the interior of the Molí Vell de la Mola) you can take a look at the outside of it.
The molí d’en Jeroni is located in camí de Dalt de Portossaler, you can reach it on foot by a walk of no more than 15 minutes.
Sant Francesc street market
The Mercadillo de Sant Francesc is a daily market that is installed in the center of town, along its streets.
If you are in Sant Francesc this market can provide you with a souvenir of Formentera while strolling through the alleys and streets of the capital of Formentera.
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