San Antonio Game Changer

Summer is in the air, the roads are getting busier, flip flops are flapping and white milky skin is on show everywhere. Ibiza is back baby. 

The difference between ‘winter’ and ‘summer’ is palpable and it all changes within the space of a few days when wholesale direct flights start courtesy of Ryanair and their fellow low cost competitors. 

It’s an exciting time of the year where anything and everything seems possible, dreams are there to be grabbed and for those returning a few changes are noticeable. 

Top of the list this summer is a former sleepy fishing village known for its stunning sunsets, lively nightlife, and laid-back Mediterranean charm. Now work is in motion to connect all of those things like never before.

Since the tourist boom of the 1970’s San Antonio has transformed into a global hotspot for partygoers, beach lovers, and travellers seeking a mix of relaxation and revelry however it’s fair to say it suffers from an identity crisis. The haters are never far away and with some justification but now tangible plans are afoot that will change its perception for years to come.

The hot potato that is the West End is going through an image overhaul with a makeover that has at times been polarising but opinions are starting to change now that the talking has stopped and the artwork is taking shape. Okuda San Miguel’s colourful and vibrant street art is the talk of the island, it’s eye catching in the extreme and looks to be a canny decision by the local government. Mayor Marcos Serra said himself that it’s a crazy idea but well worth a punt especially as it’s being paid for by European funds. 

Yet while social media is alive with the West End’s artistic transformation the biggest game changer has gone under the radar. A new pedestrianised boulevard is underway that will link San Antonio ‘old town’ to the sunset strip. 

This new connection will bring footfall in both directions opening up the urban town centre with easy accessibility. The work has already started from both ends (in front of Mambo on the sunset strip and in front of the old Amsterdam bar the West End) and will meet up in the middle.

Construction work can be annoying but it’s a necessary evil to get things done and improve the infrastructure. The new pedestrian boulevard is 3 phase project that will take 11 months to complete so should be finished by February 2026.

In a change to the norm the contractors are hoping to carry on working through summer as the work will go past 2 junior schools which will be closed for July and August. The total cost of the project is €4.8M of which €1.4M is financed through the Ibiza Council’s Strategic Municipal Investment Plan, €1.25M through Next Generation EU funds and €1M through the Balearic Islands Tourism Tax (ITS).

Neus Mateu, San Antonio Councillor for Public Works told me “This is a project that will bring a leap in quality for San Antonio. It will beautify an area that connects the seafront with the urban centre creating a sustainable and accessible boulevard for residents and visitors”. 

New amazing street art, a new pedestrianised boulevard linking the town with the sunset strip and the promenade that stretches from Calo des Moro to Es Puet. San An is coming together like never before so whisper it quietly….a game changer.