Es Vedrà is arguably Ibiza’s most iconic and recognizable landmark. The 400 tall limestone behemoth rises imposingly from the islands south-west seaboard off the shore of Cala d’Hort. It lies beneath the flight path of the airport greeting and bidding farewell to all who land on Ibiza’s shores, stark and beautiful from a bird’s eye view.
In an act of seismic violence 155 million years ago Ibiza rose from the ocean into existence, Es Vedrà in its incongruous beauty is a wonderful reminder of the geological tumble that brought this magical place into existence.
Contrary to the urban myth Es Vedrà has no magnetic properties, none of the physical kind anyway. However, the mythology behind the island is colorful and extensive. As are the many UFO sightings.
The island is said to be home to sirens and sea-nymphs, who tried to lure Odysseus from his ship in Homer’s Odyssey. It is also thought of as the holy island of the Tanit the Phoenician lunar goddess, worshiped as the patron goddess and of fertility, who became Ibiza’s patroness. Legend has it that specific sacrifices were made to Tanit during full moons on the shore of the island. Es Vedrà is also the setting for one of Ibiza’s popular fables. Es Gegant des Vedrà (The Giant of Es Vedrà) is the tale about two brothers who, to cure their father of an incurable illness, had to go to Es Vedrà island to gather rock samphire and face the huge giant who lived on the island, huddled in one of the island’s many caves. The two brothers’ ingenuity, along with the help of sea urchins, managed to debilitate the giant, and thus collect the samphire for the cure.
Many people have reported UFO sightings in the skies around the island and some believe that there is a secret UFO base under the sea there, it has been claimed that Es Vedrà is their gateway or navigation beacon. One such sighting is famously known as Caso Manises. On November 11, 1979 a commercial flight between Mallorca and Tenerife was redirected to make an emergency landing in Valencia. The pilot reported a strange rapid moving light accosting his aircraft close to the island of Es Vedrà. He sent out an SOS signal and as the air traffic controller was unable to identify the object he was urged to change his flight path. The incident was recorded and documented in the film below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCo3-1E5EUw
Cover image by Marc De Groot.
