Monday 5th August sees the start of one of Ibiza's most spectacular fiestas with the Patron Saint's Day of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves - the Cathedral in Dalt Vila.
The traditional religious honouring of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows), also known as Day of the Virgin, continues until the 8th August when the Patron Saint of the island, San Ciriaco, is celebrated.
The latter commemorates the Catalan conquest of Ibiza from the Moors in 1235. According to legend, the little chapel situated in the cobbled streets of Ibiza Old Town, is the very spot where the Catalan soldiers first entered the Arab citadel and the conquest of the island by King Jaime I began. The chapel was, therefore, named after Saint Ciriaco, the Patron Saint who is honoured in the ecclesiastic calendar on 8th August - the day of the conquest.
After midday mass in the chapel, the celebrations continue on the streets of Dalt Vila and Ibiza Town, with processions of people in traditional Ibicenco costume, festivities in the park, exhibitions, concerts and theatrical performances.
Organised by the Consell Insular, Ibiza and Formentera's regional government, the celebrations are enjoyed every year by holiday-makers and locals alike, and conclude with a communal feast of traditional food in Puig des Molins and a breath-taking firework display.
Ibiza, of course, is renowned for putting on spectacular fiestas all through the year, but the celebration of San Ciriaco reigns supreme over them all and is certainly not one to be missed.
Should you be lucky enough to be in Ibiza at the beginning of August, do go along and join in the festivities.
