Sant Llorenç de Balàfia is set deep in the green heart of Ibiza. This little corner of the larger of the two Pitiusa islands consists of a few houses built around its church and the rest is rural countryside. All this little village has is one bar, one restaurant, the church and a school, but it is celebrated throughout the island for its merendero or picnic site where people can relax and enjoy a picnic among the pines.
During the month of August, the parish celebrates its patron saint with traditional dance, cultural and gastronomic activities, with a programme enshrined in tradition. The festivities also coincide with the Perseids, a shower of shooting stars that happen every year and which reach their peak at this time, and which are known locally as the tears of Saint Laurence. This annual phenomenon is at its best from 11 to 13 August which is precisely when this picturesque village holds its fiestas, and where one of the main attractions is admiring this natural phenomenon.
The event is the perfect excuse to visit Sant Lorenç de Balàfia and enjoy a full programme of musical and artistic events, including theatre, live concerts with different local groups and bands, or displays of traditional Ibizan dance. Sport also has a prominent role in the proceedings, with a cycling day, archery contests and hiking excursions and rural walks over the surrounding fields.
The main day in these village festivities is 10 August, when the church bells peal out and a mass is celebrated, followed by a procession in honour of the village’s patron saint. There is also a parade of horses and carts, traditional folk dancing and a special tasting of local sweets such as orelletes or doughnuts accompanied by a glass of local wine. In the evening, there are plenty of activities along with a firework display, with the “Rock Night” as one of the main events, featuring sounds of the 80s and 90s in a flower power fiesta. The festivities take place alongside the shower of shooting stars where at peak time, two meteors per minute can be seen flashing by.
Make the most of your visit and check out the rural settlement of Balafia with its architecture dating from the Muslim period, and which is considered a Historic Heritage Site of the Balearic Islands, because it embodies local architecture in its purest form. When visiting, be sure to respect the area, as although it is a tourist attraction, you should nevertheless remember that the houses are people’s homes as well.