Entering the La Marina Hostel these days, you'd be forgiven for not realising that it has one of the longest histories of any accommodation in Ibiza. Its colourful walls, funky and occasionally quirky design features and modern conveniences detract from its almost 150 year's antiquity!
In business facing Ibiza
port since 1862, it started life as a 'fonda,' an establishment which provided food and accommodation at reasonable prices, the equivalent of 'guesthouse' in English. Obviously, its prime position
at the marina attracted the attention of many nautical coves who would stay or dine there in the tavern.
One of the first mentions of the Fonda de la Marina is made by one of the most famous Mediterranean travellers, the Austrian Archduke Luis Salvador who navigated the sea in his own super yacht, The Nixe, whose name lives on on one of the Balearia ferry company's current fleet.
Then called the Fonda d'es Coix, The Archduke recounts that it was full of raucous and noisy Ibicencos, many of whom used to live there, 'dicussing' politics and playing cards as night fell.
Other accounts of
the place are given in a book published in 1893 – Las Islas Olvidadas (The Forgotten Isles) – by Frenchman Gas Vuillier. He tells of the landlord Jose Roig, the 'es coix' (it means lame) from the
fonda's name, striding bearlike between the tables in the tavern, spitting and smoking vile smelling tobacco. Even better, he describes the waitress, Vicenta, as a witch dressed up as a servant!
Sometime between then and 1907, when an English lady, Margaret D'Este published her book 'With a Camera in Mallorca' the Fonda had become known as La Marina. You can actually read this book online and see how the Balearics looked at the turn of the last century, it's quite fascinating.
As possibly the
only accommodation in Ibiza town in those early years, it was home to many visitors to the island, Government officials on business, businessmen, teachers, engineers, and the first visiting
tourists who arrived by steamer from the mainland.
Many visitors still arrive by boat from the mainland and the Hostel is superbly situated for them. It's even better for those who want to experience the hustle and bustle of life around the busy port by day, and by night when the area explodes into action – bars, restaurants, shops and markets abound – as the sun sets.
Even now, with its trendy rooms and décor, the La Marina still has one of the most traditional restaurants – tavern style- in Ibiza with a great choice of hearty fare but alas, no smoking, spitting, bearlike landlord and a witchy waitress!
