The Parador de Ibiza – the state-owned chain’s first property in the Balearic Islands – has opened its doors. Housed in the restored Castle and Almudaina complex in Dalt Vila, the project began in 2009 and required an investment of €47 million.
After nearly two decades of waiting, visitors can now explore the facilities, although the first guests will not stay overnight until 10 March. Those who choose this complex will sleep above archaeological remains recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, who inaugurated the new parador – the 99th in Spain – said it would become a public benchmark for quality and respect for culture, heritage and sustainability.
The parador's history began in 2004, when plans were approved to convert the 16th-century Dalt Vila fortress for tourism use, after it had stood closed since the 1980s. Works began in 2009, but significant archaeological remains were uncovered, requiring a complete redesign and a substantial increase in budget. The initial allocation of €21.1 million eventually rose to €47 million.
The hotel offers 41 rooms across five buildings, with a wellness area, outdoor pool, solarium, café, restaurant, lounges and terraces. The courtyard – covered by a lightweight, fabric structure and equipped with a small auditorium overlooking the port and the cathedral’s bell tower – extends the facilities and provides a striking setting for evening events.
One of the project’s major milestones has been its ambitious plan to transform nine archaeological digs into museum displays within the parador itself, scheduled to open to the public later this year.
Through infographics, panels and audiovisual projections, the most significant remains uncovered during the excavations will be explained, as several of the restored test pits will be accessible to both guests and the wider public.
This cultural offering is complemented by a carefully curated artistic programme featuring painting, sculpture, photography, installation and ceramics, with works by established and contemporary artists. Inspired by the light, the sea and Ibiza’s cultural traditions, the programme turns the historic building into a vibrant gallery in dialogue with its surroundings.
Together, these spaces position the Parador de Ibiza as a strategic asset for the island’s cultural development and the diversification of its tourism model.
