Just three kilometres from Ibiza Town, on the road towards Cala Llonga, Jesús is technically part of the municipality of Santa Eulària, but feels like a quiet neighbour of the capital: a white church, a square and a cluster of bars and restaurants that locals know well.
What it’s like
The village grew around its church, founded by Franciscan friars at the end of the 15th century and used at first by sailors and fishermen who lived outside the city walls. It has been altered and extended over the centuries, but from the outside it is a classic Ibizan church, simple and whitewashed.
Inside is its treasure: a Gothic altarpiece of the Nativity of the Virgin, painted in 1498 by the Osona family of Valencian painters. Restored in recent years, it is considered a masterpiece of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance painting. The church opens mainly around Mass times, so the best chance to see the altarpiece is shortly before the evening service, from Tuesday to Sunday, or on Sunday at noon. It is closed on Mondays.
What to see and do
See the altarpiece, then stay for lunch or dinner: Jesús has a good choice of restaurants and bars, popular with residents all year round. The village celebrates its main festival on 8 September, with music and traditional dancing in front of the church.
Getting there
Jesús is a few minutes’ drive from Ibiza Town, and two buses link it with the capital: the A2, which continues to Cala Llonga, and the U2 town bus. The beaches of Talamanca and Cala Llonga are close by.
Good to know
Being so close to town, Jesús is an easy escape for a meal away from the busier streets of the capital.
