The parish church in the centre of the island
Right in the heart of Ibiza stands this church, built in the late 18th century at a crossroads that has now been transformed into one of the liveliest pedestrian areas on the island. Overlooking the locals and visitors enjoying the terraces, stands the distinctive façade of the Church of Santa Gertrudis, whose sand-coloured bell gable is the largest of all those found in the island’s rural churches.
The church, like the other parish churches in the island’s interior, was built on the orders of Ibiza’s first bishop, Manuel Abad y Lasierra. Like its sister churches, it features a defensive design and a portico, although inside you will notice a curious detail that sets it apart from the rest: its single nave with a semicircular vault had to be extended on one side to accommodate a larger number of worshippers, giving it a distinctive ‘L’-shaped floor plan. This alteration was one of several made over time, as were the portico and the bell gable, both of which were added in the 19th century. The parish festival is held on 16 November, the feast day of Saint Gertrude.
A suggestion? Walk round the church and enjoy a lovely view of the building, which features typical elements of Ibizan architecture, such as the small windows and the well.
