Our local paper the Diario de Ibiza has just featured the history of one of the hotels on Ibiza Spotlight's pages and an interesting history it is too. The Buenavista was the first hotel in Santa Eulalia and so named because of its position on the church hill which commanded a 'good view' of the sea and town.
Back in 1933 when it opened it was described as being 'in full countryside,' though its style was decidedly luxurious for the time. Its founder Antonio Marí Torres had spared no expense in building and kitting out the Buenavista and its attractions included a luxury dining room, a reading room and its rooms all 'exquisitely furnished' even had bathrooms! Guests even had the use of extensive land and a private beach that Marí Torres had bought specially for the purpose. Add to this heating, running water and electricity, all courtesy of a giant generator, and a chauffeur driven car (brought over on the steamer from Barcelona) for the use of the guests and you can see how ahead of its time it was.
Early guests, who paid 8 or 10 pesetas for full board, included the Marqués de Lozoya, who liked the view so much he bought his own house on the same hill. A famous diner there was General Franco, Military Commander of the Balearic Isles, whose letter of thanks for the excellent meal was displayed in the hotel until the Civil War started in 1936 when it was occupied by the Ibiza Militia.
Thankfully, after the war the Buenavista returned to its intended use, and now known as a Hostal, has been run by the same family throughout its history. The building itself still has the same appearance as back in 1933, but inside are all the modern touches in style, décor and facilities that are associated with hotels in this day and age.
Still typically Ibicenco with its wooden beams and stone walls, its lush tropical gardens house new 'rural' superior rooms with a touch of 'chill out' and all mod cons and it still has a superb restaurant whose main feature is an old mill dating back nearly 200 years.
And it still has great sea views!
